Kathy Giusti is a business leader, healthcare professional, and author.[1][2] She is a two-time cancer survivor having been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and breast cancer. Kathy Co-Founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (the MMRF)[3] where she was CEO and president for nearly two decades. She also co-chaired the Harvard Business School (HBS) Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator,[4] which she helped found, and was a Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School.[5]

Kathy Giusti
Kathy Giusti in 2021
Born1958
EducationBachelor of Science in Nursing
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Co-founder, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
  • Co-chair, Harvard Business School (HBS) Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator
SpousePaul Giusti
Children2

Giusti has been named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the world.[6] and named one of Fortune's list of Worlds' 50 Greatest Leaders.[7]

Career

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Early career

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Giusti held executive positions in consumer marketing with Gillette/Procter & Gamble[citation needed] and in the pharmaceutical sector with Merck & Co. and G.D. Searle & Company (now Pfizer).[5]

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

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In 1998, with her identical twin sister Karen Andrews, Giusti founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (the MMRF). The MMRF’s mission is to accelerate a cure for multiple myeloma patients.[3]

As founder and CEO, Giusti has led the MMRF in establishing the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), the MMRF CoMMpass™ study,[8] CureCloud,[9] the Right Track,[10] and the Myeloma Investment Fund.[11]

Under Giusti the MMRF has raised more than $500 million to fund research, 15 drugs have been approved to treat multiple myeloma, and many clinical trials are underway.[12] These efforts have accelerated the pace at which treatments are brought to patients and more than tripled patients' survival.[1]

Harvard Business School (HBS)

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Giusti joined the Harvard Business School faculty as Senior Fellow, Co-Chairing the HBS Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator, a $20 million endowed program provided by Robert Kraft and the Kraft Family Foundation.[4] The Kraft Accelerator created The Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator Playbook for Cures.[13]

Diagnosis

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In 1996, Kathy Giusti was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. When diagnosed, Giusti was 37 years old and was given three years to live.[14] In 2022, Giusti was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer as well.[15]

Appointments

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Giusti has been appointed to multiple positions and advisory boards, all with a focus on developing cures for cancer. These include:

  • National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB)[8]
  • National Institutes of Health All of US Research Program/Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) Working Group[16]
  • Faster Cures Advisory Board Changemakers[17]
  • IMS Board[18]
  • EQRx Board[19]

Recognition

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Giusti has received numerous awards for her leadership:  

  • Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the world
  • Ranked #19 on Fortune's list of Worlds' 50 Greatest Leaders
  • Recognized as 1 of 34 leaders changing healthcare by Fortune magazine[20]
  • Named an Open Science Champion of Change by the White House[21]
  • Presented the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award[22]
  • Received the Leadership in Personalized Medicine Award by the Personalized Medicine Coalition.[23]
  • Presented the 2021 American Association for Cancer Research Distinguished Public Service Award[24]
  • Named the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association's Woman of the Year Award[25]

Publications

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Kathy has authored or co-authored multiple articles in business, consumer, and scientific publications:

References

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  1. ^ a b Mukherjee, Sy (2016-05-22). "These 3 Former Business Leaders Are Disrupting Medicine". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  2. ^ Kerr, Nancy (20 February 2024). "'Fatal to Fearless': Facing a Deadly Cancer Diagnosis and Fighting Back". AARP. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation | The MMRF". themmrf.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[non-primary source needed]
  4. ^ a b "Kraft Accelerator - Harvard Business School". www.hbs.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[non-primary source needed]
  5. ^ a b Young, Susan (24 October 2016). "Health Care Pioneer Giusti Named McCance Senior Fellow at HBS". www.alumni.hbs.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  6. ^ Couric, Katie (2011-04-21). "The 2011 TIME 100 - TIME". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  7. ^ Goyette, Jay (2014-03-24). "UVM Alumna Kathy Giusti Named One of Fortune Magazine's 'World's 50 Greatest Leaders'". www.uvm.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  8. ^ a b "Giving hope and inspiration to cancer patients around the globe". www.alumni.hbs.edu. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  9. ^ MMRF (2020-07-14). "MMRF Launches CureCloud to Democratize Healthcare for Cancer Patients". themmrf.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[dead link]
  10. ^ Giusti, Kathy; Marcus, Lori Tauber (12 February 2019). "4 Important Steps to Take After a Cancer Diagnosis". Time. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[non-primary source needed]
  11. ^ MMRF (2019-04-23). "Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Launches Innovative Fund to Accelerate New Myeloma Treatments". themmrf.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[dead link]
  12. ^ MMRF (2020-12-04). "The MMRF Drives Unparalleled Advances for Multiple Myeloma Patients". themmrf.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[dead link]
  13. ^ "Use the Tools". www.hbs.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[non-primary source needed]
  14. ^ Kincaid, Ellie (2018-03-26). "She Was Given Three Years To Live. So She Transformed Cancer Research". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  15. ^ Giusti, Kathy (17 June 2022). "I've Been Diagnosed With Two Different Cancers—This Is What I've Learned". Prevention. Retrieved 2022-06-17.Giusti
  16. ^ "Kathy Giusti, M.B.A." National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[non-primary source needed]
  17. ^ "FasterCures Changemakers: Disruptive Philanthropy for Patients". milkeninstitute.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[dead link]
  18. ^ "Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Founder, CEO Receives American Society of Clinical Oncology's Partners In Progress Award". BioSpace. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[dead link]
  19. ^ "EQRx Appoints Kathy Giusti to Board of Directors". EQRx. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2021-09-27.[dead link]
  20. ^ "34 Leaders Who Are Changing Health Care". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  21. ^ Giusti, Kathy (2013-06-20). "Democratizing the Science, Accelerating the Cure". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  22. ^ "Kathryn E. Giusti, MBA 1985". www.alumni.hbs.edu. January 2009. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  23. ^ "Personalized Medicine Coalition - Advocates for precision medicine : PMC Press Releases : Press Releases : Personalized Medicine Coalition Recognizes Kathy Giusti with Award for Leadership". www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[dead link]
  24. ^ "Giusti, Pelosi, and Sawyers to Receive American Association for Cancer Research Distinguished Public Service Awards | News Releases". American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). 2021-04-05. Retrieved 2021-04-21.[non-primary source needed]
  25. ^ "Woman of the Year Past Recipients | HBA". www.hbanet.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.[dead link]
  26. ^ "Reducing Racial Disparities in Cancer Treatment Demands Collective Action". Harvard Business Review. 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  27. ^ "Reducing Racial Disparities in Cancer Outcomes". Harvard Business Review. 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  28. ^ "Addressing Demographic Disparities in Clinical Trials". Harvard Business Review. 2021-06-11. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  29. ^ "A New Playbook for Cure-Seeking Nonprofits". The Journal of Precision Medicine. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  30. ^ "How Nonprofit Foundations Can Sustainably Fund Disease Research". Harvard Business Review. 2020-09-30. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  31. ^ "What It Takes to Lead a Disease Research Foundation". Harvard Business Review. 2020-08-18. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  32. ^ "How Medical Nonprofits Set Winning Strategy". Harvard Business Review. 2020-03-06. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  33. ^ "One Obstacle to Curing Cancer: Patient Data Isn't Shared". Harvard Business Review. 2016-11-28. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  34. ^ "What Cancer Researchers Can Learn from Direct-to-Consumer Companies". Harvard Business Review. 2017-01-12. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  35. ^ Giusti, Kathy; Young, Anne Quinn; Lehrhaupt, Kerri (May–June 2018). "Closing Knowledge Gaps to Optimize Patient Outcomes and Advance Precision Medicine". Cancer Journal (Sudbury, Mass.). 24 (3): 144–151. doi:10.1097/PPO.0000000000000319. ISSN 1540-336X. PMID 29794540. S2CID 44094784.
  36. ^ Giusti, Kathy; Young, Anne Quinn; Winget, Melissa; Lehrhaupt, and Kerri (2017-04-11). "Understanding Differences in Critical Decisions in the Multiple Myeloma Patient Journey in the Era of Precision Medicine". American Journal of Hematology/Oncology. 13 (3).
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