MINNEAPOLIS --May 25, 2018--Earlier this month, Minneapolis-based non-profit Be The Match® was presented the Innovative Programs award at the 2018 Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA) Health Literacy Conference for its Jason Carter Clinical Trials Program. This award honors projects that demonstrate innovative, practical and effective solutions to addressing limited health literacy.
To qualify to win an award at this conference, the project must empower people to better health, address an aspect of health literacy, aim to solve an identified healthcare problem, be current with a completion date within the past 2 years, and impact or have the potential to affect the greater healthcare community.
"We are proud to offer this program to patients seeking more information and access to available clinical trials," said Scott Kerwin, Clinical Trial Patient Education Specialist with Be The Match. "This program offers hope, education, and personalized assistance to so many patients and their families as they consider treatment options."
The Jason Carter Clinical Trials Program, offered by Be The Match, was made possible by a generous gift from Bob and Diana Carter of Wayzata, Minn., in early 2017 in honor of their son Jason Carter. Jason battled leukemia for 4½ years and passed away in May 2016, at age 28. During this time, he participated in two clinical trials, which gave him more time with his family. Be The Match is honored to partner with the Carters to continue their son's legacy by helping more people participate in clinical trials.
"Jason wanted to make a difference. He tried every new treatment and therapy possible. It was still not enough," says his mother Diana. "But we're thrilled to partner with Be The Match to help other patients find the best treatment options available. Together, we can help save lives."
Every year, thousands of patients are diagnosed with blood cancers and other life-threatening diseases. For many patients, treatment through clinical trials provides hope and a potential cure. However, finding clinical trials can often be challenging. The Jason Carter Clinical Trials Program helps patients with blood cancers or blood disorders and their families find and join clinical trials.
The program offers patient-friendly, easy-to-read descriptions of blood cancer and blood disorder trials, and one-on-one support from a clinical trial specialist via phone and email.
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To learn more about the Jason Carter Clinical Trials Program visit: https://www.jasoncarterclinicaltrialsprogram.org/
About Be The Match®
For people with life-threatening blood cancers--like leukemia and lymphoma--or other diseases, a cure exists. Be The Match connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can contribute to the cure as a member of the Be The Match Registry®, financial contributor or volunteer. Be The Match provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant.
Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research through its research program, CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®), so more lives can be saved. To learn more about the cure, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2.