Maimah Karmo is the Founder/CEO of the Tigerlily Foundation (Tigerlily) and a nineteen-year survivor of breast cancer. On February 28, 2006, at 4:45 p.m., Maimah was diagnosed with Stage 2 triple negative breast cancer. She had no family history and was 32-years old. While undergoing her second round of chemotherapy, she made a promise to God that if she survived, she would create an organization to educate, empower, advocate for and support young women affected by breast cancer. After her second treatment, Tigerlily Foundation was born. Tigerlily provides breast health, educational, empowerment wellness and transformational programs to young women; and works to end disparities of age, stage and color.
After working with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to develop the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, she received the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership in Advocacy Award in 2010 and was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women in October 2011, a committee established by the Affordable Care Act, on which she works to develop initiatives to increase knowledge of breast health and breast cancer for women under the age of 45 and those at heightened risk for developing the disease. In 2015, Maimah advocated with Members of Congress to ensure that young women had access to breast screening. Tigerlily Foundation flew young women to Washington, D.C. to meet with 74 members of Congress. The visit resulted in doubling the House and Senate support for the Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screening (PALS) legislation. The bill was signed into law within a month, protecting the lives and rights of millions of women. Maimah has worked with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to launch national campaigns and has served as an Ambassador for National Women’s Health Week, an initiative of the Office of Women’s Health
A first-generation immigrant from Liberia, who has experienced disparities first-hand, she is a leader in the women’s health field, creating and implementing national health initiatives for women and girls, with a goal of eliminating disparities of age, stage and color. Under Maimah’ s leadership, Tigerlily Foundation has launched national and global health initiatives focused on ending disparities, through the #InclusionPledge, partnering with global stakeholders, with a call to action to recognize health disparities as a social justice issue; and working to end disparities for black women in our lifetime. She is a global thought leader, health advocate and philanthropist, committed to justice and equity for all. Maimah also works directly with women and their families to connect the patient with better care an knowledge. through events such as the Annual Young Women’s Breast Health Day on the Hill and other philanthropic efforts and successful educational and support programs.
She has been a frequent speaker at South By Southwest, the FDA, at health equity and diversity in clinical trials conferences, and more. As a thought leader, she is an advisor who works with community-based and global organizations, developing strategic solutions to key healthcare challenges, while enhancing patient care delivery. Maimah is a passion-driven leader, who thrives on developing transformational solutions for pressing health challenges. She provides global leadership in health systems, community-based biotechnology, healthcare, technology and medica industries at Fortune 500 companies and leads strategic initiatives, developing and deploying multidimensional patient-driven campaigns. Under Maimah’ s leadership, she has developed a strategic approach to innovative partnerships to enhance community engagement and capacity building, patient engagement through peer navigation, driving authentic patient stories, addresses financial toxicity, psychosocial support, inclusive clinical trials, policy change and supports diverse workforce development. Maimah is a frequent media expert, in addition to academic contributions that include journal articles and speaking at national and international congress meetings. She has spoken with federal, state, and local legislators to advocate on ways to improve patient care, scientific and research, and to create systemic change.
Maimah has appeared in USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, Black Enterprise, Oprah Magazine, Elle Magazine, Essence Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Redbook, Women and Cancer, Cure Magazine, Traditional Home Magazine and was most recently showcased on the cover of CONQUER magazine in February 2022. She has also been featured on Fox 5, ABC 7, CBS, the Oprah Winfrey Show, OWN, Good Morning America, the Today Show and more.
Most dear to her heart is her 21-year-old daughter, Noelle. Noelle and Maimah dote on their Morkies, Honey, Sugar and Cinnamon. In 2010, Maimah published Fearless: Awakening to my Life’s Purpose Through Breast Cancer. In 2018, she published the “Badass Girl’s Book of Prayers”. She recently published “Divine Downloads: Transforming through Trauma”, followed by “Unicorn Boss”, in June 2020. Visit www.tigerlilyfoundation to learn about how you can support young women – before, during and after breast cancer, and collaborate to end disparities of age, stage and color. You can find Maimah on Twitter @maimah, on Instagram @maimah and on Facebook @maimahkarmoofficial.