On this episode, Rich Thayer and Mickey Urdea are interviewing Mike Richey, the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the National AIDS Memorial, about the barriers that exist which prevent patients from receiving the healthcare they need, be they geographical, economic, or the result of stigma or prejudice, and the efforts that are being made to circumvent those obstacles. He also shares details on the National AIDS Memorial's "Change The Pattern" initiative and how it is being used in communities across the southern United States as a teaching tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mike Richey has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare field specializing in diagnostics and personalized medicine. His areas of focus include medical and government affairs, product development, operations, market development, marketing, sales, and executive management. Mr. Richey's primary emphasis over the past 15 years has been in the development and execution of business strategies that fostered the successful creation of a new, high value segment of diagnostics (therametrics). This movement was driven by conclusive scientific analysis, resulting in the clinical evidence needed to substantiate the role that new metrics play in directing therapeutic intervention. After working as a clinical microbiologist at Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City, he joined Abbott Laboratories in 1978, initially working in research and development for the Diagnostics Division and then served in project management, and sales and marketing management roles. Joining Chiron in 1990, Mr. Richey served as Vice President of Marketing in the Diagnostics Division with responsibility for worldwide sales, marketing, and market development for the company's novel HCV and HIV viral load tests. Most recently, he was Co-Founder and President of Tethys Bioscience, where he was also responsible for medical and regulatory affairs, product development, and laboratory and commercial operations. As a consultant, Mr. Richey focuses on research and development, licensing, business and marketing strategies for biotechnology, genomics, and diagnostic companies. He received his BS in Laboratory Technology from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

Learn more about the National AIDS Memorial's "Change The Pattern" quilting project here: https://www.changethepattern.org/