Are you confused about Malecare and Healthunlocked?

[Darryl]

I’m Darryl Mitteldorf, the social worker who started Malecare almost thirty years ago. Malecare is about amplifying patient voices, driving research focusing on quality of life and underserved communities, and addressing patients' real-life concerns.

I started Malecare in 1998 when I identified a problem in the healthcare system: the inability to allocate resources efficiently and the siloed nature of knowledge across different stakeholders. Malecare tries to solve two main problems: patient isolation and patients feeling lost.

Isolation, anxiety, and confusion are shared across various stages of prostate cancer. I wanted our small nonprofit patient advocacy organization to tap into that fundamental human need for connection, especially when we feel vulnerable.

Around ten years ago, I became friends with three guys who became the founders of HealthUnlocked. The four of us spent many hours discussing patient needs and how to design user-friendly platforms for patient connection. We agreed that Malecare would develop several communities on the new HealthUnlocked platform with the uncompromised provision that our communities would not have advertising and that our community members would be fully in charge of their privacy. This plan continues brilliantly. It’s worth mentioning that patient communities on other platforms, like Facebook or Inspire, do not have the data security, privacy, and freedom from advertising and pharmaceutical industry influence that Malecare has in our collaboration with HealthUnlocked.

Malecare and Healthunlocked have more than an agreement or partnership. We share a bond based on friendship and an unwavering commitment to our mission. And independence. Even when HealthUnlocked was acquired by a larger company, that commitment to the partnership and Malecare’s autonomy continues.

I hope that answers your questions about Malecare and Healthunlocked. If our communities have helped you in any way, then please consider showing your gratitude here: malecare.org/donate .

Many thanks for the honor of participating in your care.