From Hockey Rinks to Hematology Labs: Bernard Marini’s Mission for Accessible Cancer Care
The world of hockey and the fight against cancer may seem worlds apart, but for Bernard Marini, they share a common ground in simplicity and teamwork. As the coach of his daughter’s travel hockey team, Marini is well-versed in the rules of the game. In his professional life, he is driven by the hope that cancer care can one day be as straightforward as those rules on the ice.
Marini, who is a clinical associate professor of pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacy specialist in hematology at Michigan Medicine, is making strides toward this vision. He is actively involved in providing essential care to patients battling blood cancers, such as leukemia and aggressive forms of lymphoma. In his role, Marini meticulously assesses each patient’s genetic profile and evaluates clinical trial information to devise effective treatment strategies.
“As pharmacists, we are consultants for the physicians because we are the experts in drug therapies,” Marini said. “Cancer and hematology treatments are complicated, and the data is complex, so having a pharmacist on your team to help come to the best decisions for patients is invaluable.”
Given his expertise, Marini is quick to act when treatment plans need adjustments, collaborating closely with doctors to refine them. “We work with the most expensive and dangerous medications you can imagine, but also the most effective — if they’re used in the right setting. We’re there to make sure of that,” he explained.
While confident in the quality of care provided at Michigan Medicine, Marini recognizes the broader challenges many face in accessing similar oncology services. As an advocate for more equitable cancer care, he is a key contributor to Common Sense Oncology, a global initiative aiming to transform cancer treatment to be more patient-focused and universally accessible.
“The founding members of the organizations came from all different areas — patients, patient advocates, people in regulatory positions, leaders of cooperative research groups, oncologists from all over the world, and one pharmacist. That’s me,” Marini said.
Common Sense Oncology works toward these goals by promoting improved clinical trial designs that emphasize survival and quality of life, while also addressing disparities in basic treatment availability. Marini highlighted a significant issue: “Each year, countries like the United States spend billions of dollars on drugs that make a tiny improvement in outcomes while other countries can’t even get access to basic medications that would have a tremendous benefit on their population’s health.”
Marini plays a vital role in the organization by leading a journal club that educates healthcare professionals on the critical evaluation of clinical trials, promoting a patient-centered approach. “I think things like the journal club are small ways that we can change practice over time to make it better for the patients we serve,” he noted.
Since its inception in 2023, Common Sense Oncology has already made headway, publishing guidelines for designing phase-three randomized clinical trials. These guidelines have been presented at national meetings like the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, aiming to foster more patient-centric trials.
Marini acknowledges that achieving a shift toward more patient-centered oncology care will require time and cultural change within the field. Nonetheless, he notes an increasing acceptance of patient-centered trials, which is encouraging for future progress.
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Beyond his organizational efforts, Marini co-hosts a podcast titled “WolverHeme Happy Hour” with fellow hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist Anthony Perissinotti. The podcast serves as an informal platform to delve into topics related to hematology, providing valuable insights and discussions.
“We used to nerd out with the hematologists, fellows, and residents at work. It seemed like we were having the same conversations and teaching the same things over and over, and I realized that we should just start recording it,” Marini said.
Through his roles as an educator and advocate, Marini is steadfast in his mission to advance oncology care, making it more accessible and centered around the needs of patients.
— By College of Pharmacy Marketing and Communications
