The latest episode of Pep Talks, a podcast series by the International Society for Patient Engagement Professionals (ISPE), features a conversation with Mark Duma, a veteran in patient engagement with over 30 years of experience.

Mark shares his journey from a pharmacist to a leader in patient engagement, highlighting his role in founding the Patient Information Forum (PIF) to improve patient information quality. He emphasises the importance of personalised information as a form of therapy and the need for better patient engagement practices.

Mark discusses the challenges of integrating patient perspectives into healthcare, advocating for a balance between medical and therapeutic models. He also highlights the societal impact of patient engagement and the need for a common definition and metrics to measure its effectiveness.

The episode concludes with a call to focus on the impact of patient engagement initiatives, emphasising the importance of societal benefits over mere compliance.

Amy Cohen made history as the first person with sickle cell disease to complete a marathon. Diagnosed at birth due to mandatory newborn screenings in New York, she led a relatively normal childhood. Her motivation to run a marathon was inspired by watching Oprah Winfrey and was later reignited by New York's running culture.

Amy's advocacy for the sickle cell community is driven by her personal experiences and the challenges faced by others with the disease. She highlights the importance of sharing information, as many patients are unaware of treatment advancements. Amy also started her own consultancy, The Patient Room, to focus on patient and community engagement, aiming to bridge the gap between patients and the pharmaceutical industry.

Her work emphasises the need for collaboration and trust building, advocating for better access to information and resources. Amy's dedication to her community and her efforts to improve sickle cell care through legislative advocacy in Massachusetts demonstrate her commitment to making a difference. She remains motivated by influential figures and the support of her community.

Novo Nordisk has provided funding to sponsor this podcast series. Novo Nordisk has not had any input into the development of the podcasts or the selection of speakers. Novo Nordisk is the sole sponsor of the activity.

In this episode of PEP Talks, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, host Emma interviews Ify, the Chief Patient Officer for the rare disease franchise at Novo Nordisk. Ify shares her journey from being a haematologist oncologist to becoming a Chief Patient Officer, highlighting the unique path that led her from academia to the pharmaceutical industry.

She discusses the misconceptions about the industry and emphasises the alignment of her values with Novo Nordisk's mission to prioritise patient care and community investment. Ify also talks about the importance of understanding the patient community, the need for collaboration across different sectors, and the evolving nature of patient engagement practices.

She highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and collaboration in her role, and expresses her commitment to driving change for people living with rare diseases. Emma concludes the episode by praising Ify's leadership and her dedication to patient advocacy and engagement.