Partnering for Impact: A Conversation About Putting Patients First at Diabetes Action Canada Workshops
- t2diabetesnetwork
- Jun 15
- 5 min read
Blog Highlights
✅ DAC co-designs workshops with diverse Patient Partners.
✅ Themes, sessions, and menus reflect lived experiences.
✅ Patient Partners are co-presenters, judges, and awardees.
✅ Facilitators trained in inclusive, patient-centered approaches.
✅ A new model for inclusive, patient-led healthcare events.
Have you ever been to a conference or meeting where you felt like your voice truly mattered? Where the people organizing it genuinely considered your experiences and perspectives?
That's the kind of environment Diabetes Action Canada (DAC) has been cultivating in their workshops, and it's making a real difference in how we approach diabetes research and care.
For the team at DAC, it's not just about gathering researchers and healthcare professionals. They understand that to truly make an impact, you need to involve the people who live with diabetes every single day – the Patient Partners. And their approach to doing this is pretty remarkable, as highlighted in a recent publication that looked at their best practices for planning in-person events.
Think about planning an event. Usually, it's a small group behind the scenes deciding on the theme, the speakers, the schedule. But at DAC, they flip that script right from the start. They believe that the very foundation of a successful workshop lies in making sure everyone feels connected to the topic. So, when they start thinking about the theme, it's not just an internal decision. They make sure it's something that resonates with everyone who will be there, especially the Patient Partners. This ensures that right from the get-go, the workshop feels relevant and meaningful to those most affected by diabetes.
Then comes the crucial step of putting together the team that will actually shape the event – the Workshop Planning Committee. Now, many organizations might invite a patient or two to sit on this committee. But DAC goes further. They actively recruit a diverse group of Patient Partners, ensuring representation across different ages, experiences with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and even linguistic and cultural backgrounds, including Francophone and Indigenous voices. This committee isn't just there for show; they have real influence. They're involved in everything from selecting the presentations to even deciding what's on the menu! Imagine going to a conference where the food options were actually discussed with patients to ensure they meet dietary needs and preferences – it's these thoughtful details that make a huge difference.
And speaking of making sure everyone can participate, DAC really walks the talk when it comes to support. They understand that attending an academic event can sometimes be a financial or logistical hurdle for Patient Partners. So, they cover all the attendance costs. But it's more than just paying for things. They create a clear and accessible "Things to Know" document that explains everything – travel, expenses, compensation for their time – in plain language, so there are no surprises or misunderstandings.
They also create specific opportunities for Patient Partners to actively contribute and be recognized. Take their Patient Partner Award, for example. It's a way to honor the incredible contributions these individuals make to advancing diabetes research and care. And during the workshops, Patient Partners aren't just passive listeners. They're co-presenters in almost every session, sharing their lived experiences and insights alongside researchers. They even take on compensated roles like judging presentations and sharing their experiences on social media. This isn't just about having patients in the room; it's about valuing their expertise and making sure their voices are heard loud and clear.
Creating an inclusive environment goes beyond just inviting people. DAC actively works to break down barriers. When they put out the call for presentations, they make sure the process is clear and accessible to everyone, even those who might be new to academic settings. They even hold information sessions and create FAQs to guide potential presenters. And here's a simple but powerful step: they tag abstracts submitted by Patient Partners for reviewers, ensuring those perspectives are specifically considered. They also make sure that presentations can take various forms – oral, poster, even artistic – recognizing that people communicate in different ways.
Before the actual workshop, DAC goes the extra mile to prepare everyone for meaningful engagement. They hold facilitator training sessions, sharing best practices on inclusive language, facilitation techniques, and communication strategies, all based on what Patient Partners themselves have said would help them participate fully. They also ensure all workshop materials and presentations are available in both French and English, recognizing Canada's bilingualism. Even something as seemingly small as providing food menus in advance is a big deal for people managing diabetes, allowing them to plan their medication and meals effectively. And the menus themselves? Co-designed with Patient Partners to include healthy and varied options. They even make sure meal times are strictly adhered to, understanding the importance of timing for insulin doses.
Once the workshop is underway, DAC continues to prioritize creating spaces where Patient Partners feel comfortable and confident in sharing their perspectives. Having a dedicated Director of Patient Engagement is key. This person is a consistent point of contact, someone Patient Partners can turn to for guidance and support, especially important for those who might be new to these kinds of events or traveling alone.
The pre-workshop social dinner is another fantastic initiative. It's an informal setting where Patient Partners, key staff, and researchers can connect and build relationships before the main event. This helps to break the ice and create a more welcoming atmosphere. And during the workshop itself, those twice-daily check-in sessions provide a dedicated space for Patient Partners to connect with each other, ask questions, and offer feedback in real-time. It's also a way for the DAC team to check in on everyone's well-being.
Finally, DAC actively works to "flatten the hierarchies" that can sometimes exist in academic settings. At the opening of the 2024 workshop, the Tracy McQuire, Executive Director, focused on sharing personal details rather than just professional titles, making themselves more relatable. They also encouraged everyone to use first names, and even the name tags only included first and last names, minimizing assumptions based on roles or affiliations. It's these conscious efforts to create a level playing field that truly make Patient Partners feel like valued equals.
This isn't just about running a successful workshop; it's about fundamentally changing how research is done and how healthcare is delivered. By truly partnering with patients, DAC is not only creating more inclusive and impactful events but also paving the way for a more patient-centered future in diabetes care.
Read the Patient Partners as Agents of Change - 2024 Workshop Report DAC - Published article on patient partnership
Join us for more news on T2D
Comments