Even though Professional Patient Advocates in Life Sciences (PPALS) was formally recognized as a 501c3 non-profit organization two years ago, in reality, we have been informally organizing our community for many years.
How many times have we joked that some of the best ideas came from conversations over a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or a good meal? No matter where we are or what we are doing, we manage to find ways to reach out to one another for professional advice, mutual support and certainly for insightful conversations with friends and colleagues. It doesn’t matter how we navigated to a patient advocacy function, it matters only that have found a nesting place for us to be among those who are on the same wave length.
This past year, PPALS has started to come into its own. With a second Patient Advocacy Certificate Training (PACT) in the books and plans for the 2018 course underway, along with several speaking opportunities, we are ready to build a new type of community…one of members and for our members. It is time to grow our nesting place to offer resources and services that will enable this unique community to grow professionally and personally.
So here it comes, the ‘ask’! Asking for what matters to you, asking for your program suggestions, asking where PPALS should be during 2018, and yes, asking for your membership support. Simply ask me how to make that happen!
Together, let’s build that patient advocacy in life sciences community; we already have a strong foundation!