Life-Saving Impact: Help a Stony Brook Alum Pay It Forward

Every three to four minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer like leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma, according to NMDP, formerly the National Marrow Donor Program.

For many patients, a bone marrow or stem cell transplant is their best chance at survival, but with only 30 percent finding a match within their family, most rely on a stranger willing to donate. That’s why Stony Brook University is stepping up and hosting an NMDP donor drive March 24-27 at the Student Activities Center, from 10 am to 4 pm each day.

The effort will provide students and community members the chance to join the registry with a simple cheek swab and potentially save a life — and to potentially join the 37 Seawolves who have already donated with the NMDP Registry.

Few understand the impact of this process better than Evan Gauer ’22, MBA ’23. In 2021, he swabbed his cheek at an on-campus donor drive, approached when he was recruiting for the Stony Brook rugby team. A year later, he got a call that he was a match for a 9-year-old boy battling blood cancer.

“That moment really shifted my perspective,” said Gauer. “After my surgery, I knew I had to do more. Getting involved with NMDP became a mission for me.”

Since his donation, he has dedicated himself to recruiting more donors and raising awareness about the need for registry participants. He attended and organized drives at major events like the Governors Ball Music Festival and New York Islanders games, signing up hundreds of potential donors and talking about his experience as a donor. He also helps to raise funds for NMDP, most recently running in the New York City half marathon for the NMDP team.

“The biggest challenge is awareness,” he said. “People hear ‘bone marrow donation’ and assume it’s painful or risky, but that’s not usually the case. In 90% of donations, it’s done through a process similar to donating blood. The more people understand that, the more likely they are to sign up.”

Gauer has spoken with Stony Brook’s NMDP student group, shared his story in classrooms and encourages fellow Seawolves to join the registry.

“Signing up takes minutes, but it could mean the world to someone in need,” Gauer said. “If my story can inspire even one more person to join, it’s worth it.”

Beyond his volunteer work with NMDP — formerly Be The Match — Gauer is co-founder and CEO of GetTalky, an AI-powered health technology company transforming the way patients connect with providers. His journey to CEO began at Stony Brook, where he participated in WolfieTank and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) competitions, gaining experience in pitching ideas and building a business from scratch. He also met his co-founder (a teammate on the Stony Brook rugby team) and together, they began brainstorming ideas that would later become GetTalky.

“The energy at Stony Brook was all about hustling and working for what you want. That mentality was ingrained in the courses, the competitions, and the people I met,” he said.

One of Gauer’s biggest influences was Ed Fabian, an adjunct professor in the MBA program, who introduced him to the concept of organic networking — building relationships by helping others without expecting anything in return. Fabian’s mentorship helped shape the company’s vision, shifting its initial focus from insurance to healthcare. With guidance from Fabian, GetTalky grew into a platform that uses AI to improve patient-provider communication. Fabian continues to serve as a mentor and sounding board for Gauer.

“The conversations I had with professors, the insights they shared, and their willingness to help — those were the major benefits of my time at Stony Brook. They directly influenced what our company looks like today,” Gauer said.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by the NMDP drive at the Student Activities Center, swab their cheeks and take the first step toward potentially saving a life.

— Beth Squire