By Mickey Shimp, President of Mix Talent
Five years ago, we started a tradition at Mix Talent—one that has become much more than just an annual campaign. Each year, in recognition of Rare Disease Day, we dedicate time to celebrating and amplifying the voices of individuals who are making a difference in the rare disease community: our “Rare Heroes.”
Some of these heroes are patients themselves, bravely facing the challenges of life with a rare disease. Others are caregivers, researchers, industry leaders, or advocates—people who dedicate their lives to advancing awareness, treatment, and support.
So far, we’ve honored 22 Rare Heroes, with five more being added this year. Their stories have reached tens of thousands of people through our LinkedIn campaign, and we’ve been fortunate to play a small role in amplifying their messages.
Beyond the social impact, our commitment to Rare Disease Day reflects something much deeper about who we are as a company and why we do what we do.
What is Rare Disease Day?
In case you are unfamiliar with the organization, Rare Disease Day, founded in 2008 by the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), is a global movement dedicated to raising awareness and driving research for the more than 300 million people living with a rare disease worldwide.
Held annually on the last day of February, the rarest day on the calendar, Rare Disease Day is a chance for advocacy groups, patients, and organizations to shine a light on conditions that often receive little attention.
For many in the rare disease community, this day is about more than just visibility. It’s about ensuring that no one feels alone in their journey. It’s about connecting people to resources, driving policy change, and accelerating research that can lead to new treatments and, ultimately, cures.
How Mix Got Involved
At Mix Talent, our mission is centered on people: finding, developing, and supporting the life sciences talent that brings new therapies to patients. Every hire we help facilitate, every team we help build, every organization we support is ultimately working toward a shared goal: improving and extending lives.
Our involvement in Rare Disease Day is an extension of that mission. By celebrating these heroes, we are not just recognizing their strength and their impact—we are reinforcing the importance of the work being done across the life sciences to develop treatments that change lives.
Many of the organizations we partner with are at the forefront of rare disease research, working tirelessly to bring therapies to market that offer hope where there was once none. For us, Rare Disease Day is a way to connect our work with the patients who are counting on these breakthroughs. It’s a reminder that every role we help fill is another step toward life-changing impact.
Beyond Awareness: Supporting the Rare Disease Community
One of the most meaningful aspects of our Rare Disease Day initiative is the opportunity to promote the advocacy and nonprofit work that our heroes are leading. Many of them have founded or are deeply involved in organizations that provide resources, fund research, or advocate for better healthcare policies.
Rather than simply amplifying their individual stories, we strive to elevate their missions, helping to connect more people to their causes and, in some cases, directly supporting the nonprofits they champion.
This year, we encourage everyone who engages with our Rare Heroes campaign to go beyond “liking” and take action, whether that means sharing their stories, donating to their organizations, or simply taking the time to learn about the challenges faced by those living with a rare disease.
Looking Ahead: Our Commitment Continues
Five years in, our Rare Disease Day initiative is more meaningful than ever. What started as a way to bring visibility to important stories has become an integral part of our identity as a company.
We’re grateful for the incredible individuals we’ve had the privilege of featuring, and we remain committed to using our platform to support the rare disease community—not just in February, but all year long.
To explore the journeys of the heroes we’ve celebrated over the years, check out our past Rare Disease Day campaigns, including our latest for 2025:
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
And if their stories inspire you, take the next step: follow their advocacy, share their missions, and help us continue to build a world where no one faces a rare disease alone.
About the Author
Mickey has over 25 years’ experience with service providers in the pharmaceutical and life science space. Beginning his career in the consumer products sector with clients such as Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s and Nabisco, Shimp joined healthcare and life sciences recruiter Taylor Strategy Partners (TSP) in 1993 and was promoted to President in 2008. As President of TSP, he was instrumental in the development of clinical and commercial businesses and built long-term strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical clients. TSP was sold to Syneos Health in 2017 and Shimp joined Mix Talent in 2020.
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As an entrepreneur, Shimp always asks how something can be done differently or better, and doesn’t settle for conventional thinking being good enough. He loves the challenge of people not believing in him – that his goals are too high or too outside the traditional ways – and he thrives on an underdog mentality. Shimp is best known for helping others be the best they can be, no matter if they are clients and colleagues or friends and family. He believes that being a part of a team means caring for one another, empowering people to do what they do best, and supporting them with the tools to do it.
