Katie’s experience working with patient partners made her feel more comfortable communicating with patients and families
Transcript
Just a real understanding of the value, and that has only come with experience. I don’t think anybody could have probably told me that, but seeing, not just understanding, but actually seeing how they can shape a project for the better. That has definitely changed. I think the ease with which I can now interact with patients and families where I can actually cold call patients and families and say, “Hey, I’m a researcher at the University of Toronto and your name was passed to me” or however, in the ethical way we contact patients and families, but, “You mentioned you might be interested in getting involved. I was wondering if you’d like to meet and have a coffee?” That’s easier for me now than it was before. Even though we all need to work on the lay language piece, I think that’s a bit easier now. I feel like I can explain research better now than I could before. So those are sort of the practical things, but the value of their contribution is really obvious to me now.
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