Every three to four minutes in the United States, someone hears words that change their life forever: you have a blood cancer. As a physician, I have delivered diagnoses like this and felt the weight of what those words mean for patients and families. Today, as Aetna’s Chief Medical Officer, I want to share why this moment calls for action.
More than 75 diseases, including leukemia and sickle cell disease, can be cured or effectively treated with a blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant. But the science only works if a matching donor can be found.
A real family in need
Recently, I learned of a family whose story stayed with me. Their 15-year-old son, Max has a very rare blood disorder which if not treated by a stem cell transplant in the next couple of months will develop into MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndromes) or AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), which are forms of blood cancer. Max’s Colombian heritage makes finding an ideal donor match particularly challenging.
Like so many families, they are waiting. Hoping. Praying that someone they have never met will step forward in time. And they are not alone. Thousands of patients in the U.S. are searching right now for a blood stem cell donor and, without greater donor diversity, for many of these patients a perfect match may never be found.
Ethnicity and diversity matter when matching
Donor matching is closely tied to genetic background and patients of African, Afro Caribbean, Hispanic, Asian, mixed heritage, or Indigenous descent face significantly lower odds of finding a perfect match. While many hope a match will be identified within their family, seven out of ten patients do not have a fully matched donor among their relatives. For these individuals, the national and global donor registries are their only lifeline. The challenge becomes even more profound for patients from underrepresented communities.
Across global donor registries, white patients have an 80% chance of a perfect match. For Latino and Hispanic patients, it’s less than 50% and for Black patients, less than 30%. This is one of the most urgent and persistent health disparities in modern medicine. As clinicians and scientists, we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in cancer care. But no breakthrough drug or technology can overcome the absence of donors. When no match is found, families are left with heartbreak that could have been prevented. The greatest barrier is not science. It’s awareness.
How donation works
Registering to become a blood stem cell donor is simple. It only takes a few minutes and usually starts with a painless cheek swab. If you are ever identified as a match, the donation process is most often similar to giving blood. Serious complications are rare, and donors are supported every step of the way. Yet myths, fear, and lack of information continue to hold people back, especially in communities where donors are needed most. I invite you to learn the facts by visiting common myths and facts about blood stem cell and bone marrow donation.
You could be someone’s miracle
You could be the reason a parent gets more time with their child. The reason a young adult gets to plan a future. A few minutes of your time could mean a lifetime for someone else.
Let’s turn hope into action and save lives together. To join the donor registry, visit my.nmdp.org/CVSAETNA or for more information, visit NMDP (formerly Be the Match) or DKMS.
NMDP. https://www.nmdp.org, 2026
