I am proud to share with you my experience as an inaugural member of the newly established Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI) Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement. I was selected by PCORI from nearly 1,300 applicants to serve on the 21-member panel of representatives from across the healthcare community, including patients, researchers, clinicians, and representatives of industry and government. Each of us represents a uniquely diverse perspective from the health care community, and together, we join in PCORI’s mission to fund research that helps patients and those who care for them to make better-informed health and healthcare decisions to life. The panel is the first of its kind developed to ensure the highest patient engagement standards and a culture of patient-centeredness in not only PCORI’s work, but the research that it funds. The panel is charged with:

• Advising PCORI on their process for identifying research topics and priorities that are important to patients;
  Advising PCORI on their engagement of patients in the topic generation, review of applications, and standards for engagement in the research they fund;
  Advising PCORI on methods to evaluate the impact of patient engagement in research; and
  Assisting and advising PCORI on communications, outreach, and dissemination of research findings.
  Suggesting, reviewing and enhancing engagement programs and innovative initiatives

This Spring a two day event acquainted us with PCORI and its mission, national priorities for research, current patient and stakeholder engagement efforts, and the research prioritization process. Most importantly, it created a community of activated experts and advocates dedicated to the meaningful integration of the patient voice in every phase of the research process. Our panel will convene three more times during my one year term, and I look forward to representing each of your voices in my service on this panel. To learn more about ways in which you can get involved with PCORI’s work and contribute to creating a patient-centered research program, visit www.pcori.org/get-involved.
During the closing of the kickoff meeting members of the group shared that they were energized, hopeful motivated and ready to get specific and focused on making a difference to ensure that patients have the information they need to make decisions that reflect their desired health outcomes. I look forward to keeping you updated as I continue in this role on the Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement.

Perry Cohen