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

We need you to help create change!
In 2023, we will be working on two projects in The Advocacy Exchange:

1. The creation of a resource to help patients and caregivers navigate racism and discrimination in the healthcare system
2. The creation of a self-assessment tool to learn the patient voice landscape and identify where advocates may want to use their voices

We welcome you to co-create change with other advocates in one or both of these projects. If you'd like to sign up or just learn more, please click the button below to get involved!

Sign Me Up to Be a Change Rebel

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

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.

12/01/2022

The Global Impact of Human Rights

As Nelson Mandela once said, “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” Humanity is at the core of all that we do. That’s why The Advocacy Exchange is proud to honor Universal Human Rights Month in December, as well as United Nations Human Rights Day on December 10. As we bring 2022 to a close, we’ll reflect on our work over 32 sessions of The Advocacy Exchange that has spotlighted advances in human rights within the healthcare space, as well as discuss the importance of Patient Rights for individual care. Please join us for this meaningful discussion about the power and impact of protecting the rights of people all over the world.

11/10/2022

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

For many people, living with disease is more than managing physical health. Everyday expenses and the ability to afford quality medical care, even with insurance, can be overwhelming. Socioeconomic challenges, depleted personal finances and understanding changing policies are just a couple of the challenges that people face in pursuit of care. The good news? Patient advocacy organizations often have resources that can help ease the financial burden. Join us for this session, where we’ll talk openly about balancing physical and financial health and how patient advocacy is leading the way to support people in these areas.

10/06/2022

Managing Your Mental Health While Facing a Chronic Illness

Managing a chronic illness is a lifelong journey that impacts people in different ways. In addition to maintenance medications, frequent health visits and daily efforts to be as healthy as possible, the mental component of a lifelong disease can carry enormous weight. Prioritizing your mental and emotional well-being to the best of your ability is critical, whether you’re navigating stigmas associated with the visible or perceived impact of a chronic illness, combating worsening symptoms brought on by stress or just doing your best when you’re not feeling your best. We invite you to join us for an open and honest conversation about how to embrace positivity and support your mental health while facing a chronic illness.

BMS Advocacy Toolkit

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Past Sessions

Nurturing Yourself while Navigating the Nuances of Caregiving

09/01/2022

Uniting Patient Advocates

Working Groups

Co-Creating Health Equity by Including Lived Experiences

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

BMS Advocacy Toolkit

Nurturing Yourself while Navigating the Nuances of Caregiving

Making Space to Care for Yourself

Create Change Through Lived Experience: The Whole Advocate™ Model

Designing with the Patient in Mind: Amplifying the Patient Voice in Medicines Development and Approval