NIAAH Patient Advocacy Services

Sickle cell disease (SCD) has been studied for more than a century. In 1949, scientist Linus Pauling showed that it was a molecular disease. Yet for decades, treatment options barely moved forward. Until recently, the main option beyond supportive care was a bone marrow transplant. That has now changed. In the last six years, we’ve seen more progress than ever before. Who is affected SCD is the most common inherited blood disorder, affecting more than 30 million people worldw

What if the real threat isn’t loud? What if it’s slow, deliberate, and dressed up as reform? Across the country, we’re witnessing a coordinated rollback of policies and protections that gave black communities even a foothold in a system never built to include us. It’s not a storm. It’s a slow dismantling — measured, strategic, and mostly ignored by the headlines. This isn’t about politics or partisanship. It’s about pattern. It’s about calculated assaults on our power, our vo

GRADUATION RATES FOR BLACKS ARE LOWER The graduation rate of Black students at most U.S. medical schools is lower than that of the nation’s top-ranked institutions. Across the country, Black medical students are twice as likely to leave medical school without a degree as White students. Black male medical students have the highest rate of dismissal. T hese disproportional derailments continue into residency , where young Black medical residents continue to see a higher dismi

Nikita Wright , Georgia State University When a woman finds a lump in her breast, her doctor’s first move is usually to recommend a biopsy – that is, to remove a small portion of the lump for analysis. If the lump is cancerous, doctors test for three different clinical markers : estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor. The results determine what kind of hormone or growth factor receptor treatment the patient receives. About 15-20 pe

Ryan Huerto , University of Michigan and Edwin Lindo , University of Washington In today’s America, minority patients still have markedly worse health outcomes than white patients. The differences are greatest for black Americans: Compared to white patients, they are two to three times as likely to die of preventable heart disease and stroke . They also have higher rates of cancer, asthma, influenza, pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and homicide. For many of them, structural ra

The 2025 inauguration is here, bringing a mix of emotions and questions about what to expect and what the aftermath may bring. This year’s event, coinciding with MLK Day, has stirred a range of reactions from clients, friends, and family members. Many are feeling anxious, caught up in a “What will happen?” mindset. If this sounds familiar, take a deep breath (SLOW. DOWN. BREATHE RIGHT NOW…good). Let’s reset and focus on five simple steps to help you stay grounded during and a