Fighting Drug Shortages Together
At the Oley Foundation, our mission for over four decades has been to support people who rely on parenteral and enteral nutrition (PN and EN). As CEO, I’ve witnessed firsthand how fragile our drug supply chain can be—especially for the medically complex patients who depend on life-sustaining therapies every single day.
Until recently, it felt like we were fighting that battle alone.
That changed two years ago, when I first connected with Laura Bray, founder of Angels for Change. Laura had been working closely with manufacturers, distributors, and government agencies to improve access to sterile, generic injectable medications. While her focus spanned many therapies, one kept surfacing in her data: parenteral nutrition.
A single PN bag can contain 40–70 ingredients, each one sterile, and many sourced as generic injectables—often among the most at-risk for shortage. In hospitals, PN is compounded daily. At home, it’s delivered weekly. Any break in the chain can be catastrophic.
A Shared Purpose
From our first conversation, it was clear: Angels for Change and the Oley Foundation weren’t just aligned in mission—we shared values.
Laura’s patient-centered approach, her respect for lived experience, and her deep dive into shortage data resonated with everything we advocate for at Oley. Together, we committed to changing the narrative from quiet resignation—“you get what you get, so don’t pitch a fit”—to one of action, advocacy, and accountability.
Real-World Collaboration
Over the past two years, our partnership has taken many forms:
Emergency Response: In September 2024, when a hurricane disrupted a major manufacturer’s operations, Angels for Change activated its national network, while Oley mobilized our support lines. Together, we ensured that vulnerable home infusion patients didn’t fall through the cracks.
National Convenings: Laura invited me to speak at several supply chain resilience panels—always making sure the patient voice was part of the conversation. In turn, Oley amplified Angels for Change’s proposals at our forums, giving them the weight of real community experience.
Joint Advocacy: In March 2025, I was proud to join Laura in briefing the Republican Doctor Caucus on Capitol Hill. We spotlighted how drug shortages endanger not just PN patients—but our entire healthcare system.
It’s Personal, Too
This partnership isn’t just strategic—it’s personal. Laura and I check in often, not just to share data or plan advocacy, but to support one another. We celebrate the wins—like securing an emergency line item in a state budget—and we troubleshoot the tough moments, when shortages reappear or policy progress stalls.
In a field where organizations often operate in silos, our collaboration stands out. Two women, leading two nonprofits, with one shared purpose: making sure no patient goes without the therapy they need.
Looking Ahead
Our joint goal remains simple and urgent: A day when every patient—no matter where they live—receives their full, customized therapy exactly when it’s needed.
I’m honored to stand beside Laura Bray and the Angels for Change team in this fight—and deeply grateful for the friendship, trust, and shared determination that powers our work.
— Beth Gore, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
The Oley Foundation
