Partnerships between biopharmaceutical companies and patient organizations can play a critical role in improving access and outcomes for people with rare diseases. However, to do so, companies must listen to patient communities and address the unique challenges they face. We spoke to Laura Russo, U.S. patient engagement lead for Pfizer, discusses how the company’s patient-facing teams work to bridge health systems and patient communities, how they help people with rare diseases navigate the healthcare system, and how they improve access through customized approaches ranging from providing transportation to care for people with sickle cell disease to providing education and support to community health workers.