Imagine the nerves behind one of your eyes suddenly bursting into flames of pain, relentlessly burning for hours. The pain recedes, then roars back, day after day. You try to describe what is happening inside your head to your family, your clinicians, even yourself, but words fall short. It is the worst pain a human […]
patient networks
Wow! How? Patient-Led Research Scorecards
Most stakeholders in biomedical innovation – scientists, clinicians, patients, caregivers, funders, regulators – recognize each other as allies in the fight against disease. But they often lack shared principles and practices to guide the work they do together. For example, a research organization may say they value patient input, but they do not recognize their […]
Rebel Health
My book, Rebel Health: A Field Guide to the Patient-Led Revolution in Medical Care, is out in the world! You can pick up a copy at your favorite local bookstore (mine is Politics & Prose) or order it from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or another online retailer. Thank you for being part of this journey! I use this blog […]
Wow! How? Community Consults
“Lana,” a woman I interviewed who asked that her real name not be used, lives with mitochondrial disease and is an active member of a private Facebook group of people who share her diagnosis. Some of the members have become experts in drug interactions particular to “mito” and offer guidance to others based on their […]
Wow! How? Patient-Led Research
A scientific journal article written primarily by patients about their health condition has been downloaded over a million times. We reached this milestone after years of activism, advocacy, and demands for justice. The internet supercharged everyone’s ability to connect with information and with each other. The crucible of the pandemic then forced us into new […]
Wow! How? Drug Interactions
This is a cross-post from my LinkedIn newsletter. Feel free to join the conversation there or post your thoughts in the comments below. People who connect with health peers are able to pool knowledge, track data, and disseminate what they learn. For some, it’s the difference between life and death. For example, Peggy, a woman […]
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