Our Story, Mission, and Vision
Without a story, mission, and vision, our work would have no purpose. Here you will learn what motivates us to work hard every day.
Our Story
In 2005, when Dr. Brian Koffman was diagnosed with CLL, he and his wife, Patty, sought to define and acquire the best possible care for one CLL patient: Brian. Uncovering critical, unmet needs within the CLL community, they created the non-profit CLL Society to function as a conduit, making vital support and credible, cutting-edge treatment information available to all CLL patients and their caregivers. Today, CLL Society serves tens of thousands of CLL patients and their families and caregivers, as well as the CLL medical community around the world. Read our FOUNDERS’ STATEMENT here.
Mission
CLL Society is an inclusive, patient-centric, physician-curated nonprofit organization that addresses the unmet needs of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL / SLL) community through patient education, advocacy, support, and research.
Vision
We envision a world in which the entire CLL / SLL community can equitably access quality education, support, and care, to lead healthier and richer lives.
Our Values
Integrity
We believe in building open, transparent, and supportive relationships. We know that trusting relationships are a vital component of support systems for CLL / SLL patients. We value relationships that are open to participation, transparent in sharing of information, and supportive regardless of a person’s identity and disease stage. In return, we hold ourselves accountable to reflect the same level of trust and accountability in all our relationships and to build programs and services in an ethical manner.
Collaboration
We believe that overcoming CLL / SLL does not happen independently. We partner with patient advocates, healthcare providers, industry professionals, and other patient support organizations. By doing so we increase each other’s knowledge on breaking developments in CLL / SLL treatment, care management, and pressing patient needs. Through partnerships, we increase the breadth and depth of our impact for the CLL / SLL community.
Ambition
We believe that meeting the complex and evolving needs of those with CLL / SLL requires us to be tenacious and innovative when it comes to ensuring that our community has the resources necessary to maintain as healthy of a life as possible, which includes but is not limited to encouraging clinical trials for new and improved therapies and research to address unmet needs, including an eventual cure. We are persistent in the pursuit of educating stakeholders on the necessary actions that must be taken to supply our community with the resources and services they need to thrive. We are not afraid to lead the way into new territory if it means those impacted by CLL / SLL will gain lasting solutions for navigating their disease. We furthermore embrace creativity in the design and continual improvement of our services and adapt to meet emerging and pressing needs.
Equity
We believe that every CLL / SLL patient has the right to quality care. We know negative outcomes in CLL / SLL are disproportionately experienced among communities of color, lesser financial means, and geographic distance from expert care. We acknowledge the harmful impact of racial and economic disparities in receiving care, clinical trial participation, and overall survival rates. In all of our work, we strive to create inclusive spaces for every individual diagnosed with CLL / SLL and advocate for equitable access to care for all.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At CLL Society, we believe all individuals impacted by chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL / SLL) deserve equitable access to quality education, support, and care. We believe that an individual’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability status, age, geographic location, veteran status, or other underrepresented identities should not result in any barriers to accessing quality healthcare and support resources. We believe that only when patients and caregivers touched by CLL / SLL from all types of diverse backgrounds and identities feel welcome and valued can our mission to address the unmet needs of this community be achieved.
Among our staff, board of directors, and advisory boards, we continually work to promote a culture where everyone’s voice is included and valued equally. We believe embracing our differences strengthens our ability to be innovative thinkers in the pursuit of understanding and meeting the unmet needs of people impacted by CLL / SLL. We are committed to learning and growing together so we may improve the lives of all those living with CLL / SLL.
For more information and resources specific to minorities living with CLL / SLL, please visit our BIPOC Resources page.
2021 Annual Report
Listening to the strong voices of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia community.
