Patient Partner Highlight | Mike Warren

Mike Warren is a Patient Advisory Council (PAC) member with NL SUPPORT and Quality of Care NL. Following his career with the Government of NL in the former Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, he was anxious to contribute to an activity that is important and relevant to the people of the province. Participation in health care research was the answer.

He brings experience as a patient, caregiver and patient advocate. Looking for a challenge, he wanted to contribute his personal and professional experience in planning, policy development, communications, proposal development and evaluation to health care research. Responding to a newspaper advertisement five years ago started him on his journey as a patient partner and advisor.

To better help him contribute to Patient-Oriented Research (POR), he completed NL SUPPORT’s POR Training Program, plus numerous webinars and online courses on health care research including research ethics, and the important topic of research during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also assisted in the development of research proposals and the review of NL SUPPORT funding applications.

Governance: In addition to his participation on the PAC, he is a member of the NL SUPPORT Oversight Committee and the Implementation Committee. He is also a member of the Provincial Laboratory Formulary Advisory Council.

Engagement: Mike has participated in numerous patient engagement activities, including conferences of the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG), the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR), and the National Summit on Patient Oriented Research. Currently, his primary project activity is work as a Patient Partner on a multi-year, multi-province project on the use of Case Management for treatment of patients with chronic and complex health needs. On this project, he collaborates with researchers from the Memorial University Primary Healthcare Research Unit (PHRU), and with patient partners and researchers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Mike has been happy to be a partner in patient-oriented research and patient engagement on provincial and national activities. In his five years associated with NL SUPPORT, he has been part of the emergence of a culture where patients are seen as valuable members of research teams. As a result, he believes that health care research will better meet the needs of patients, as well as their families and caregivers.

Mike encourages others who have an interest in health care research and engagement to consider joining the PAC.

“You will learn new things, meet interesting and dedicated researchers and volunteers, and make a valuable contribution to health care research in our province.”

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