Fungal infections have received a lot of attention lately. For those impacted by these diseases and those caring for them as caregivers or clinicians, the attention is long overdue. In 2022, the World Health Organization released a priority list of fungal infections, identifying the fungal diseases of most concern. Hollywood also brought attention to fungal diseases through the series The Last of Us, and increased the amount of media attention surrounding these diseases. Often, the challenges of diagnosing and treating severe, chronic or invasive fungal infections (IFIs) is exacerbated by a lack of vetted information, guidance, institutional access, resources, and peer support for patients and their caregivers. Many patients and caregivers suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn when they hit informational, financial, or resource road blocks.
Patients with invasive or severe fungal infections need advocacy, but a pan-fungal advocacy effort has not been available–until now. Drawing upon the seminal patient-directed work of groups such as the Valley Fever Institute and the Mycoses Study Group Education & Research Foundation (MSGERC), we have launched Mycology Advocacy, Research & Education, MyCARE. MyCARE is the first pan-fungal patient advocacy effort. Learn more about our mission and our inaugural event, the Pan-Fungal Patient/Stakeholder IFI summit, being held May 19-May 20th, 2023.