Patient Advisory Council Volunteers are the Foundation of Patient-Oriented Research
Written by: Chelsey McPhee, Training and Capacity Development/Patient Engagement Lead, NL SUPPORT
April 16-22, 2023 marks National Volunteer Week across Canada. According to Volunteer Canada, the theme of this years’ National Volunteer Week is “Volunteering Weaves Us Together”. This is certainly a fitting theme when I consider how the engagement of the volunteers on our Patient Advisory Council (PAC) contribute to the fabric of NL SUPPORT and the provincial health research agenda and nationally to the whole Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research network.
The NL SUPPORT PAC provides advice and guidance on the work of NL SUPPORT and Quality of Care NL to ensure that the principles of patient-oriented research are considered in everything we do. As members of the PAC, our patient partners:
- help us to review research priorities;
- identify opportunities for patient/public-initiated research;
- determine the strategic and operational priorities of the Unit;
- assist in shaping our funding opportunities and which applicants should receive awards;
- contribute to our training program and advise on gaps in training for patient partners, staff, and research teams; and
- assist in recruitment and retention of patient partners to our council and the research projects we support.
This list demonstrates that the PAC membership is integral to the work of the Unit and their perspectives are embedded in everything we do.
Our work is also enhanced by the excellent networks that our patient partners belong to. Though they are kept very busy with the work they do within our Unit and their other volunteer work, many of them also find time to become engaged as patient partners co-conducting, or in some cases, leading research projects, as well as being involved on national boards and committees related to health research and advocacy. Through them, we are introduced to people from all over Canada working in the realm of patient and public engagement, knowledge mobilization, and health research. We have the privilege of being connected to local and national health research projects because of their reach and impact.
When I first began in the position of staff Patient Engagement Lead with NL SUPPORT in 2018, I had no idea how changed I would be by working with the people who volunteer on our Council. Because of them I am a champion of patient and public engagement and I continue to learn more about this work the longer I have the pleasure of collaborating with them. As a ‘come from away’, listening to their stories and hearing about their experiences makes me feel more connected to this beautiful province that I have chosen as my home. Across our Unit, many of our staff’s lives have been equally enriched by the contributions of our Council members, both inside and outside of work. In fact, many of our Council members volunteer outside of our organization which gives us all an opportunity to become more involved in the great initiatives happening in Newfoundland and Labrador, from ElderDog to Whale Release and Strandings, and more. Our patient partners connect us across this beautiful province from coast, to coast, to coast, to coast.
It is a great privilege to work with our volunteers. As in the tradition of weaving, the fabric of our Unit would be impossible to complete without their very dextrous hands. Our lives have most certainly been woven together because of their tremendous kindness and generosity. Thank you to all the Patient Advisory Council members.
Find out more about the NL SUPPORT Patient Advisory Council here.
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