| Kay Dickerson |
"My focus is doing all I can to bring affordable healthcare to all poor and underserved people. As a Hurricane Katrina survivor, I have personally known too many people pass away due to inadequate healthcare. More people are now eligible for healthcare, but waiting for an open appointment still takes too long. I've heard many people on the bus and other public areas talk about lack of affordability and don't understand words and/or procedures and have many, many frustrations. Culturally appropriate healthcare would be a good place to start. Traditional healthcare workers need more recognition.” |
| PEP Founding Member, PCORI Ambassador, ADVANCE Patient Investigator and AAC Patient Representative |
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| John Lind |
“I have been interested in understanding more about healthcare systems ever since I was wounded by shrapnel in Vietnam. I spent six months recovering from my injuries—half of the time in Vietnam and half of the time in Okinawa. During that time, I learned how hospital systems worked and how to interact with doctors. Since then, I cared for my aging parents, which led to a deeper interest in the medical field. I really wanted to understand how I could do more for them and help them. Most recently, I lost a girlfriend who passed away from a pulmonary embolism. Her loss stirred me to be more passionate about patient advocacy, and I began to explore patient advocate groups. In 2014, I joined OCHIN’s Patient Engagement Panel and the VA’s Veteran’s Engagement Group.” |
| ADVANCE Patient Investigator and AAC Patient Representative |
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| Sele D’Amato |
“During my schooling and work history as a CNA, scrub technician, and patient transporter, I’ve realized that our system does not truly hear what patients are trying to say. Doctors and other health workers are not able to get to know the people they treat. In 2009, I began working with CareOregon as a member of the Community Health Engagement Advocates, which led to the OCHIN Patient Engagement Panel in 2014. I live with Type 2 Diabetes and my sister was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Each day, my sister and I tackle the challenges of day-to-day life that come with our diagnoses. We know all-too-well the risks and dangers of health problems getting out-of-control. My sister and I often say that “we want to manage our Diabetes instead of letting our Diabetes manage us.” This begins by helping clinic staff and doctors so they can help their patients. As an African-American woman representing patients whose voice has not been heard often enough, I’m also very interested in advocating for more effective care that can reach patients who represent diversity of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, language, geography, gender, and education.” |
| ADVANCE Patient Investigator |
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| Kathy Norman |
“I believe that doctors are only able to do their jobs to their best when patients feel free and supported to have frank discussions. And, I believe this will require a lot of patient education especially in our older communities. An active patient voice just makes sense as a way to improve patient care.” |
| ADVANCE Patient Investigator |
