Patient Partner Highlight | Lauren Harris

Lauren joined NL SUPPORT Patient Advisory Council (PAC) in 2021, after hearing from a long-time member and friend Toni Leamon. Toni described the sense of community, ability to make a difference and the involvement on research projects that intrigued her to join.

Lauren is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Collaborative) Program at Western Regional School of Nursing on the west coast in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. She is set to graduate in May of 2024, and is hoping to stay begin her nursing career within Newfoundland & Labrador. Originally from London, Ontario Lauren carries experiences from both urban and rural medical centres. She has a particular interest in mental health, chronic disease management, health promotion techniques, gerontology as well as minority groups/rural communities’ accessibility to health care. Lauren has volunteered in the past with the Aging Research Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARC), at the satellite campus in Corner Brook, NL. In addition, she volunteers with Parkinson’s Society of Southwestern Ontario. She is also the student delegate for the Canadian Nursing Student Association (CNSA) for her school.

“My time with PAC thus far has been life-changing. They have been so accommodating and understanding with my busy work-school-life balance. It gives me the opportunities to participate and influence health research within the province in a meaningful format. I am learning more about the value of incorporating patients with lived experiences in the decision-making process and advocating for change in health research.”

Lauren believes that youth involvement is vital to advocating change within the health care system. As a young person, getting involved in the PAC has allowed Lauren to become more informed about current health care issues, address gaps and to help have a say in the priorities of health research. Lauren believes that by joining NL SUPPORT as a patient partner, she can influence various projects based on her own experiences with the health care system as both a patient, partner, and health care worker. Lauren encourages anyone who may be interested in the PAC to reach out and get involved.

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