Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), City of Hope Cancer Center, CA, discusses the disparity in prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) between Caucasian and African American patient populations in the US. Dr Mikhael outlines the International Myeloma Foundation’s African American Initiative which aims to engage with the African American community, educate primary physicians about disparities in diagnosis and to improve understanding of MM in African Americans. This interview was recorded via an online conference call with The Video Journal of Hematological Oncology (VJHemOnc).