Rob Purdie is a lifelong California resident who was diagnosed with Cocci Meningitis in 2012, the most severe type of Valley Fever. Rob relies on daily antifungals to control his disease and has used his experience to help other patients. He has become a leading fungal disease patient advocate.

In 2023 Rob founded MyCARE, the first patient led, pan fungal nonprofit; with a goal to bring fungal patients together to share knowledge and experiences and advocate for better care and increased research for their diseases. Rob is becoming a sought-after speaker and key opinion leader in the fungal and AMR communities. Rob’s legislative efforts have included work on state and federal legislation and appropriations to support fungal research and awareness. Rob is also a member of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors and is part of the workgroup developing a Fungal Priority Pathogen List blueprint to provide guidelines to address the pathogens on the list that was created by the WHO in 2022.