A virtual platform for advocacy organizations and patients they support.

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A virtual platform for advocacy organizations and patients they support.

More Info

A virtual platform for advocacy organizations and patients they support.

More Info

A virtual platform for advocacy organizations and patients they support.

More Info

Co-Creating Change!
In 2023, we will be working on two projects in The Advocacy Exchange:

A handbook for individuals who are experiencing discrimination in the healthcare system
A toolkit for individuals who want to utilize their voice to create structural change within healthcare

Uniting Patient Advocates

The Advocacy Exchange is a virtual platform created to unite advocacy organizations, patients, and industry leaders in the exchange of information. It is a global collaboration, co-created and co-led, and ‘always on’ to foster meaningful growth and partnership across disease areas to improve outcomes for patients.

Created initially to support the urgent needs of the patient advocacy community as the COVID Advocacy Exchange (CAE), The Advocacy Exchange is a first-of-its-kind platform offering live, interactive discussions through which patient voices are heard, and a virtual exhibit hall where participating organizations can share resources and learn from one another – all available free of charge, 24/7. The platform also includes a newsroom, searchable resource library and chatroom for discussion amongst the Working Groups in between meetings.

Working Groups

Expert-led focus discussions let you choose how you participate.

Racial & Ethnic Health and Healthcare Disparities
Led By Shelia Thorne

Access to Care
Led By Brad Love

Patient Voice/Patient-Focused Drug Development
Led By Neil Bertelsen

The Future of Advocacy
Led By Gary Nolan

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Featured Sessions

09/26/2023

My Disease Does Not Define Me: Stigma and Perceptions of Chronic Illness

People with chronic illnesses often manage multiple layers of their condition. In addition to an array of physical symptoms and side effects, emotional challenges and social implications can be associated with both visible and invisible parts of the disease. Please join us for an engaging discussion about disease-related stigma and the impact it can have on a person’s daily life, including themes such as mental health, isolation, cultural and societal standards, and workplace stigma.

06/27/2023

Patient Advocacy is Integrating Lived Experience in Medicines Development

As science intersects with humanity, the patient voice is the most underutilized ingredient to improving health outcomes. Please join us as we hear the lived experiences of diverse patients in medicines development, and learn why your voice is essential to the co-creation of two new resources designed to help people navigate their healthcare journeys, support peers, and change healthcare systems.

04/25/2023

Advocating for the Invisible: When Health Conditions Are Unseen

Whether you’re interested in learning about managing health conditions for yourself, supporting your peers or changing health systems to improve outcomes for everyone, this session will arm you with knowledge to take action in the health areas that are important to you. Join us as two world-leading patient advocates share their personal experiences creating organizations and then global movements that are increasing awareness and action for diseases that are invisible until they become more serious.

02/27/2023

Co-Creating Health Equity by Including Lived Experiences

Although the opportunity for all people to attain the highest quality of life is becoming part of global healthcare discussions, the voices of those with lived experiences are too often excluded. During the last two years, Advocacy Exchange members have shared their expertise and lived experiences in four working groups. These working groups are now harnessing all of the advocate perspectives to co-create and drive two projects in 2023. The first project will be the creation of a resource for individuals who are experiencing discrimination in the healthcare system. The second will be the creation of a tool for individuals and allies who want to utilize their voice to create health equity structural change. We hope you’ll join us and contribute to this powerful conversation with our Working Group leaders – Sheila Thorne, Brad Love, Neil Bertelsen, and Gary Nolan – as we talk about what we can accomplish together and how we will make our mark in healthcare through these advocate-driven efforts.

BMS Advocacy Toolkit

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Past Sessions

12/01/2022

Uniting Patient Advocates

Working Groups

My Disease Does Not Define Me: Stigma and Perceptions of Chronic Illness

Patient Advocacy is Integrating Lived Experience in Medicines Development

Advocating for the Invisible: When Health Conditions Are Unseen

Co-Creating Health Equity by Including Lived Experiences

BMS Advocacy Toolkit

The Global Impact of Human Rights

Checkbooks and Balances: How Advocacy Can Support Both Physical and Financial Health

Managing Your Mental Health While Facing a Chronic Illness

Nurturing Yourself while Navigating the Nuances of Caregiving