Advocacy Masterclass
An immersive experience unlike any advocacy training you’ve completed before!
Applications for 2023 are Open
About the Patients Rising’s Advocacy Masterclass
At Patients Rising we believe that patients and caregivers hold the power to move the needle in healthcare and create a better tomorrow for all patients and caregivers by raising their voice! That is why we offer our Advocacy Masterclass, designed to train patients, caregivers, and citizens in the art of healthcare advocacy.
What is the course all about?
This 15-week, immersive experience will teach you all about advocacy on and off ‘the hill’ and provide you with the tools and tactics you need to be an effective healthcare advocate.
Designed as a mini-college course, students will receive a curriculum with weekly reading, watching, and listening to be completed each week at your own pace. Course participants will come together for live virtual sessions to engage with fellow classmates and hear from leading advocates.
Who can participate?
Patients and caregivers from across therapeutic areas. U.S. based patients, caregivers, and citizens passionate about advocating for better healthcare are the target audience, though learning is designed to be accessible to anyone.
All students will have the opportunity to interact and engage with peers and advisors on our custom platform. Did you know some of the original breast cancer advocates learned from the HIV/AIDS community how to advocate effectively? The Masterclass platform is built to give students the opportunity to interact and engage with peers and advisors, and to learn from one another.
Why should I apply?
Upon the completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Communicate your patient/caregiver story in a compelling manner to different audiences
- Tie your personal experiences to healthcare policies you want fixed
- Understand key healthcare legislation and how it impacts patients, and what you can do to help ensure it gets passed
- Effectively advocate “on the hill” by leveraging meetings with your representatives and using the power of social media to affect change
- Effectively advocate “off the hill” – From testifying for the FDA approval of a new therapy or speaking at an ICER or DUR meeting to push for equitable access to a therapy
- You’ll even create and be able to share your own personal webpage on our Patients Rising Stories platform, where you can tell your whole story with text, images, and links to your support organizations and social media.
This course is a truly comprehensive way to learn how you can raise your voice and create a better tomorrow for all patients and caregivers.
Course Testimonials
FAQs
What is the time commitment?
Students should expect to dedicate about two hours per week over the course of the fifteen week program.
Who can apply?
U.S. based patients, caregivers, and citizens passionate about advocating for better healthcare.
What day and time of the week will the live course take place?
We will poll the group to get a sense of the best day/time. If a cohort member is unable to attend the live session, a recording will be available for viewing after.
How much does the course cost?
The course is FREE to those accepted to participate.
Syllabus
Week 1:“Meet & Greet” Kick-off celebration and program overview
Week 2:Advocacy 101 with Chelsey Hickman
Week 3 Healthcare Policy: Step therapy with Charla Penn & Howard Chang
Week 4: Healthcare Policy: PBMs and Co-pay accumulators with Charla Penn & Jen Hepworth
Week 5: Healthcare Policy: Value Frameworks with Charla Penn & Charis Hill
Week 6 Healthcare Policy: Transparency in healthcare with Charla Penn & Leilani Graham
Week 7 Raise Your Voice – Winning Strategies Washington
Week 8: ICER Meetings with Anna Legassie
Week 9: Advocacy on the Hill with Brooke Abbott
Week 10: FDA Advisory Panels with Jenn McNary
Week 11: Drug Utilization Review Boards with Jenn McNary
Week 12: Advocacy on Social media with Stephanie Fischer
Week 13: Effective storytelling with Tamika Felder
Week 14: Study week – group discussions and counseling with Jim Sliney
Week 15: Final video submission & graduation celebration!
Faculty
Charla Penn
Charla Penn is one of WSW’s health care policy specialists. She works extensively with hospitals, provider associations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, insurers, and non-profits to navigate the transforming health care landscape on issues of reimbursement and access to care.
Jenn McNary
Jenn McNary is a trusted voice in the rare disease community, as a mother, public speaker and fierce advocate.
Anna Legassie
Anna Legassie is the head of strategy and development for a health economics and policy research center driving a research agenda that elevates patient engagement in value assessment in healthcare – ensuring that the barriers to treatments that she’s experienced are addressed on a system level.
Charis Hill
Charis Hill (they/them) is a disability activist, writer, speaker and model living with Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA), Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Chelsey Hickman
Chelsey is a skilled government relations professional with more than 20 years of combined experience in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the private sector.
Tamika Felder
Tamika Felder is a patient advocate, educator, mobilizer, author, and the Chief Visionary at Cervivor, a nonprofit dedicated to cervical cancer advocacy and support.
Stephanie Fischer
As a rare disease patient and stroke survivor, Stephanie Fischer is passionate about explaining public policy so that patients and their families can understand why it matters and feel empowered to engage legislators and regulators.
Brooke Abbott
Brooke is the creator of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles, a brand she created to share her life as a single mother of color living with a chronic condition.
