Joan Durnell- Powell

Joan Durnell- Powell is a dedicated and passionate Patient Advocate since the diagnosis of not a curable Rare Blood disease (MDS) Myelodysplastic Syndromes (Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sider Blasts) in 2014.

As an MDS survivor herself, Joan came into advocacy expressly to change the experiences and outcomes for patients to change the public dialogue about rare blood diseases and other life-threatening illnesses. In this role, she advocates on projects that compare patient-centered approaches to improve the equitability, effectiveness and efficiency of health care.