Interview with Dr. Brian Koffman
about CLL and the CLL Society
As part of this year’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Koffman for a conversation about his journey from doctor to patient and his ongoing advocacy work.
In the interview, Dr. Koffman talks about the unique challenges faced by CLL patients, the vital importance of a care partner, and how his experience as both a physician and patient has shaped his approach to healthcare.
On both sides of the stethoscope
In 2005, Dr. Brian Koffman, a dedicated family doctor and family man, found himself in a position he never expected: on the other side of the exam table. Diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer, Dr. Koffman’s life was irrevocably changed.
Dr. Brian Koffman was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), after which he co-founded the CLL Society with his wife and care partner Patty
After this experience, he redirected his energy into what has become a mission to educate and empower blood cancer patients, while also working to inform healthcare providers.
His deep understanding of medicine, combined with his personal experience as a patient, gives him a rare perspective that allows him to bridge the gap between patient and physician in an empathetic yet scientific way.
Dedicated to Education and Advocacy
Prior to his diagnosis, Dr. Koffman spent years practicing family medicine, addressing a wide range of conditions from chronic pain to sleep disorders. But leukemia reshaped his career path in a profound way.
Now retired from clinical practice, Dr. Koffman has turned to patient education, becoming a trusted resource for both patients and care partners navigating the complexities of blood cancer.
What began as an online blog quickly revealed a greater need for a more structured approach to supporting people. Now, as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of the CLL Society, Dr. Koffman shares practical, real-world advice on managing CLL.
Patty and Brian Koffman (left) during a Q&A session with Paul Stoffels (right) after Dr. Koffman’s keynote at Galapagos’ Leaders Day
His work focuses not just on the medical aspects of the disease, but on the day-to-day challenges that come with living with an incurable illness. He offers an “insider’s guide” to survival, focusing on what matters most: understanding the journey and making informed decisions about care. As Dr. Koffman puts it: “Smart patients get smart care.”
Dr. Brian Koffman
Executive Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer, CLL Society, Inc.
There is the mistaken impression that CLL is largely a solved problem. While acknowledging the progress, we see remaining unmet needs, for example treatments for patients with Richter’s Transformation, immune system reconstitution and curative – not palliative – therapies for all CLL patients. To use a baseball analogy: please don’t leave us stranded on third base.
“Knowledge is Power”
For Dr. Koffman, education is not just about providing medical facts, it’s about helping patients understand their condition and make empowered decisions. “As a doctor turned patient, I’ve learned that the most important thing in managing a severe disease like cancer isn’t just the treatment, but understanding the journey,” he says. “My mission is to empower others facing similar diagnoses by sharing the knowledge that I’ve gained from both sides of the stethoscope.”
Through blogs, interviews, writings, videos and patient advocacy work, Dr. Koffman shares the scientific and medical advancements he’s learning about, translating them into digestible, understandable information for other patients, encouraging them to take charge of their health and treatment.
He advocates for improved healthcare policies, better treatment access, and more patient-centric research. His advocacy extends to speaking engagements, where he provides both clinical insights and firsthand experience to help shape the future of blood cancer care.
His philosophy is simple but powerful: patients deserve to know as much as possible about their disease. Informed patients are better equipped to advocate for themselves, ask the right questions, and make decisions that align with their personal values and needs.
Learn more about
Dr. Koffman and CLL Society
Learn more about Dr. Brian Koffman’s work and find valuable resources about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)