Pfizer and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have added star power to their Change the Odds project, partnering with actor Patrick Dempsey to highlight barriers to healthcare access that drive disparities in cancer outcomes.
ACS and Pfizer shared details of the project in February. Pfizer will spend $15 million over three years to help connect people to no- and low-cost screening opportunities. The outlay is intended to help address disparities in access to healthcare and their impact on the health outcomes of people with cancer. ACS and Pfizer are initially focusing on breast and prostate cancers.
Dempsey has joined the project. The actor played the neurosurgeon Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd in the medical drama series "Grey's Anatomy" and was the leading man in the 2007 fantasy romantic comedy "Enchanted."
Away from the screen, Dempsey was with his mother during the 17 years that ovarian cancer was part of her life. The experience informed the creation of the Dempsey Center, a nonprofit focused on helping people affected by cancer in Maine find emotional support and educational resources.
“I’ve seen the positive impact that timely care and support can have on someone’s cancer journey,” Dempsey said in a statement. “But the fact is, too many people are getting left behind—especially those living in areas where healthcare resources are limited. They’re struggling just to get information about cancer and to get screened.”
Dempsey has signed up to support Pfizer and ACS’ work to address those problems. The actor is speaking to people impacted by cancer from rural areas across the country for the “Front Porch Conversations” video series. The goal is to break down barriers and “point people to resources available through patient advocacy organizations like ACS.”