Overview
- Bulochnikov-Paul publicly disclosed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and accepted the Medal of Hope at the Race to Erase MS gala, which took place Friday night in Los Angeles.
- She said she will not let MS define her and used her communications experience to ‘own’ the narrative while continuing in her role as executive vice president of communications for Disney.
- Bulochnikov-Paul credited strong workplace support for her early care, noting that Disney president Dana Walden attended her first doctor’s appointment and helped find a physician.
- The gala raised more than $1.8 million for Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls research collaboration, and the organization has raised over $57 million for MS research since 1994.
- Speakers framed the moment as a sign of progress in MS care and a way to reduce stigma for the roughly 1 million Americans with the disease, with possible effects including increased public awareness and donor momentum for research.