Patient and Public Advisory Council

Patient partners are valuable members of health care research teams whose lived experiences and personal health care journeys bring important perspectives to the table. The term patient is inclusive and refers not only to patients seeking health care, but also to caregivers, families and communities.

Working with staff, our Patient and Public Advisory Council (PPAC) provides advice and guidance on the work of NL SUPPORT and Quality of Care NL in the determination of patient-oriented research priorities, the engagement of patients in research projects, and planned public outreach activities. 

In addition to ensuring that the patient perspective is considered in all areas of our work, members of the PPAC:

• Participate in public engagement and outreach activities
• Play an active role on health research teams
• Assist with funding applications and advise on funding priorities
• Network nationally to promote patient engagement across Canada and internationally
• Participate in national and local conferences on Patient-Oriented Research
• Have numerous learning opportunities related to health care (i.e. webinars, courses, conferences, workshops)

Meet the Patient and Public Advisory Council

The PPAC consists of up to 25 patients representing a cross section of the population of the province. Please note: not all PPAC members are listed below.

• Joan Cranston – Norris Point
• Rosemary Lester – Pouch Cove
• Dorothy Mary Senior – St. John’s/Paradise; vested interest in Burin Peninsula
• Everard (Bud) Davidge – English Harbour West
• K. Brian Johnston – St. John’s 
• Toni Leamon – St. John’s/Port aux Basques  
• Mandy Penney – St. John’s/Corner Brook
• Tony Leamon – Port aux Basques
• Julie Huntington – Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s
• Mike Warren – Mount Pearl
• Sarah Ahmed Duraid – Gander
• Dawn Curran – Torbay
• Lauren Harris – Corner Brook
• Cris Carter – St. John’s
• Brianna Lundrigan – Burin
• Emily Parsons – St. John’s
• Barry Darby – St. John’s
• Yasmin Hamzah – St. John’s
• Garreth Kippenhuck – William’s Harbour/St. John’s
• Rob Wells – Ottawa, ON (originally from NL)
• Donna Mahoney – St. John’s/White Bay

The Work of Patient Partners

Patient Partners are hard at work promoting patient engagement and patient-oriented research. Below you’ll find some examples of the work they are involved in.

Research 

• COVID-19 Impacts on Long-Term Care Residents: A Patient-Initiated Research Project
• The Role of Patient Advisory Councils in Health Research: Lessons From Two Provincial Councils in Canada 
• Giving patients a voice: a participatory evaluation of patient engagement in Newfoundland and Labrador Health Research
• The effect of laboratory requisition modification, audit and feedback with academic detailing or both on utilization of blood urea testing in family practice in Newfoundland, Canada
• Operationalizing a patient engagement plan for health research: Sharing a codesigned planning template from a national clinical trial

National Conferences & Training Workshops

• Patient Engagement and Ethics: an Online Panel Discussion 
• Patients are a Virtue: Adding Lived Experience to Your Research Team – CAPO 2020 Conference 
• Translating Research into Practice – SPOR Summit 2018 | Mapping the Progress of Patient-Oriented Research in Canada
• How to Engage Patients in Health Services and Policy Research – Virtual CAHSPR Student Working Group Pre-Conference Day Program
• Fireside Chat with NL SUPPORT Patient Partners