Kathy Giusti has served as the President of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) since September 1996. The mission of the MMRF is to accelerate the search for a cure for multiple myeloma.

Kathy graduated from the University of Vermont magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science and Harvard Business School with an MBA in general management.

Kathy began her career in 1980 working in sales and marketing for Merck and Company focusing on cardiovascular and infectious disease products. She later joined The Gillette Company in Boston to broaden her marketing skills in the consumer arena. In 1993, Kathy returned to the healthcare field joining GD Searle to focus on the company's new product portfolio. Kathy later served as Executive Director of Searle's worldwide arthritis franchise and Searle' Midwest operations. Kathy was awarded Searle's 1994 Award for Marketing Excellence and Searle's President's award for leadership in 1995 and 1996.

In January of 1996, Kathy was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Kathy founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation with her sister, Karen Andrews, to raise awareness and funding for the disease.

To date, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation has reached millions of families via news and feature reports in all types of media. Most recently, The MMRF was featured on CBS This Morning and Inside Edition. The Foundation has distributed $2 million in research grants to leading scientists throughout the world. The Foundation also organizes and funds the Experts' Roundtable on Immune Therapy — an annual worldwide symposium. The MMRF provides information to patients and family members with its symposia, newsletter and website.

Kathy received the 1998 Healthcare Businesswoman's Association's Woman of the Year in recognition of her efforts in healthcare and patient advocacy. She participates on the following advisory boards: Novartis Oncology, Ortho Biotech Patient Advocacy, IATROS Vaccine Technology, The Cancer Leadership Council and the HBA.

Kathy lives in New Canaan, CT with her husband Paul and two children. Nicole is five years old and David is two.

View the Executive Profile about Kathy from the April 1998 issue of Pharmaceutical Executive.

Scott T. Santarella  
Executive Director
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

In January of 2000 The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation welcomed Scott T. Santarella as its executive director. In this position, Scott will be responsible for overseeing MMRF's daily operations, including fundraising, grant-making, educational programming and public awareness.

Scott began his career in 1987 working in fund-raising for The March of Dimes, National Office in White Plains, New York as promotions manager where he was responsible for acquiring national corporate sponsorships for the organization's largest special event, WalkAmerica. He later joined the Knights of Columbus at their World Headquarters, in New Haven, Connecticut as International Manager of Communications/Marketing broadening his non-profit experience to include a global perspective. In this position he served as the primary liaison between the Knights and the International Special Olympics Committee, managing the Knights $500,000 sponsorship of the event.

In 1993, to further compliment his non-profit career, Scott accepted a grassroots level position as Director of Development/Public Relations at the Nature Center for Environmental Activities, in Westport, Connecticut. Scott was instrumental in implementing the organization's first development office realizing a 40% increase in funds raised through individual cultivation and annual campaign solicitation, while also directing a $600,000 capital campaign.

Most recently, Scott served as program officer at the Educational Foundation of America, a $260 million national family foundation also located in Westport. As program officer he managed the foundation's grant-making process and was responsible for reviewing and distributing more than $15 million in grants annually.

Over the last 13 years, Scott has helped to raise $10 million and his extensive not-profit management, development, and grant-making experience will provide the MMRF with hands-on operational, marketing and developmental leadership.

Scott graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.

Ellen Kaplan 
Program Director

Ellen Kaplan is Program Director of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). Ellen is responsible for running the organizationâs programs including: teleconferences, newsletters, website, and Insitutional Insights Symposia.  Ellen also ensures MMRF representation at all major medical meetings.

Prior to joining the MMRF, Ellen served as Client Services Manager at the Matching Gift Center in New York City where she administered Matching Gift and Volunteer Recognition programs for Fortune 500 companies.  Ellen served as a liason betweeen corporate contributions departments and non-profit recipients. 

Ellen graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Jenny McMahon 
Special Events Manager

Terry Banks 
Office Administrator