Q: How would you define health equity and its importance to MS patients?

A: As Chief Mission Officer at the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA)—and having worked at MSAA for more than 17 years—I can attest that health equity has always been at the core of MSAA’s mission: improving lives through ongoing support and direct services to individuals with MS, their families, and their care partners.

To me, health equity means that every person has the same opportunity to live the healthiest life possible, regardless of who they are, where they live, or how much money they have. For people living with MS, Amanda feels health equity is especially important given the complexity and the costs associated with optimal management and treatment of MS.

Q: What are the biggest challenges you see to achieving health equity for patients with MS?

A: Best practices in MS management involve access to a comprehensive MS care team, which is particularly challenging for those living in rural communities or who may not be able to afford being seen at a comprehensive MS center.

While MS impacts people from all ethnicities and races, research has shown that race can be a factor in the severity of disease progression. To help combat some of these inequities, top 2022/2023 priorities for MSAA include:

  • Ensuring that all people living with MS have access to MRIs, regardless of financial ability (eg, MRI Access Program)
  • Ensuring that the voices and needs of underserved MS communities are driving programmatic initiatives for people living with MS and the MS health care professional community (eg, MSAA’s African American Advisory Board, Latinx Advisory Board, and All Roads Lead to Change)
  • Ensuring that the challenges faced by individuals living in rural communities are addressed through innovative programmatic and core services (eg, Living Rural with MS initiative)

Q: What 3 words best describe why you strive for health equity for all patients?

A: Opportunity, health, and outcomes are the 3 words that most motivate me in my work for health equity. I envision a future where everyone’s journey with MS has the same potential for the best possible health outcomes. “We are so fortunate within the MS community to have such amazing MS nonprofits, patient advocates, and health care professionals working together to try to make health equity a reality for the MS community.”

Equality vs. Equity

To learn more about the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, visit: www.mymsaa.org.