Patients Are Partners

Bringing the patient voice to the table everywhere decisions are being made.

Bringing the Patient Voice into Healthcare

The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is committed to advocating for the prioritization of the patient voice in research, innovation, and patient education.

Our Patients are Partners Program is designed to facilitate the engagement of patient advisors in national research and care improvement initiatives. We are also interested in engaging caregivers and family members impacted by vascular disease. We are fostering a community of representative, empowered advocates to claim their seat at the table as true Partners.

To promote patient voice, we have partnered with organizations to bring our patient community several engagement opportunities.

Patients Are Partners Project Examples:

  • Design and review provider content

  • Give input on clinical trial design outcomes

  • Consult on clinical guideline updates

  • Advise on national public health initiatives

  • Take surveys to share opinions

  • Advise researchers on how to design projects to better meet patient needs

  • Participate in projects with other non-profits and healthcare organizations

  • Share healthcare journey through video or writings (blogposts, newsletters, etc.)

If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to contact us.

You can choose to do this in a few different ways:

  • Fill out the form below

  • Send an email to us at patients@vascularcures.org

  • Speak to someone by calling us at 650-368-6022

We look forward to partnering with you to improve the lives of vascular patients everywhere.

Sharing your experience can help others like you.

The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is inviting vascular patients, advocates, families, and/or caregivers impacted by vascular disease to become our partner in improving vascular health for all. Our “Patients are Partners” program is designed to ensure the patient voice is included everywhere decisions about improving healthcare are being made. Participating in the Patients are Partners program will be based on your schedule and personal interests. There is no set time commitment. You decide how you’d like to participate.

Meet Some of our Patient Partners

Steve

Steve is the Chief Marketing Officer for a Commercial Credit Education company. He is a dedicated Oregon Ducks football fan, tennis player, and proud grandfather. Steve is passionate about spreading the word about the importance of walking for patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

He was diagnosed with the disease twelve years ago. Steve started having pain in his lower calves that affected his ability to walk. Due to a totally blocked artery in his right leg and a partially occluded main artery in his left leg, his vascular surgeon recommended bypass surgery. Steve discussed his options with another vascular surgeon. He told him, ‘I really can’t improve your quality of life with surgery. What you need to do is start walking.’ Steve started walking regularly. The blood flow in his legs improved enough that he was able to avoid surgery. He continues to walk daily. He sticks to a regular workout routine and gets in a game of doubles tennis three times a week. He balances his exercise with a proper diet and prescribed medications. In addition to serving as a Patient Partner and helping to update clinical guidelines with the Society for Vascular Surgery, he is a member of the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures’ Advisory Board.

Julie

Julie is a member of the Vascular Cures Advisory Board. She is dedicated to encouraging patients to educate themselves about their vascular health conditions. She wants to help others to be better equipped at being their own advocate. Julie is not a typical PAD patient. She started to have claudication symptoms (pain while walking) when she was a teenager. Sadly, her symptoms were ignored by doctors until her mid-forties.

After undergoing several leg bypass surgeries, Julie was finally diagnosed with a new and rare genetic condition called ACDC, or Arterial Calcification due to Deficiency in CD73. Julie is an active mother of three grown children. She continues to hike or bike every day.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth worked for a major health insurance company for over 19 years. She is a mother of four with one grandchild. She and her husband are big Texas Ranger baseball fans. They love to fish and take road trips across America. In her 40’s she suffered a cryptogenic stroke and multiple Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA). Elizabeth was a smoker for 35 years. She learned that the main cause of her health issues was related to her smoking habit and family history of heart disease. She quit smoking and became a passionate advocate for smoking cessation. She started to walk regularly but soon began to experience pain in her calves when walking. Elizabeth was diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and Severe Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease, a type of vein condition in the leg. She had immediate bypass surgery to save her legs.

After recovery, Elizabeth became a dedicated patient advocate. She promotes self-education, and lifestyle/behavior changes. Elizabeth volunteers for the American Heart Association (AHA). She is also a National spokeswoman for Go Red. Elizabeth is working with Janssen as a patient advisor on their Patient Engagement Research Council to help design research studies and educational content.

Cheryl

Cheryl is working with the American Heart Association as an advisor to their PAD National Action Plan.

Pam

Pam is working with UpToDate, an evidence-based clinician support resource, to write a patient perspective piece on living with PAD.

Sam

Sam is a participant in our Patient-Reported Outcomes Working Group. His perspective is helping researchers create studies that better meet patient needs.

Current Projects

If you are interested in learning more or would like to get involved, check out our current projects below.
Note: We make every effort to update these projects as quickly as possible.

CLTI Working Group

  • Sponsor: The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures and grant funding.

  • Who We’re Looking For: Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia (medically stable) patients. Caregivers are welcome.

  • Time Commitment: 10-15 hours, per year.

  • Project Length: up to 2 years, or as long as individuals can commit (minimum of 6 months).

  • Compensation: Yes ($50/hr).

  • Description: VC wants to increase the role of CLTI patients in research design.

Peripheral Artery Disease Empowerment Project

  • Sponsor: The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures and grant funding.

  • Who We’re Looking For: 5-10 Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) patients. Caregivers are welcome.

  • Time Commitment: 5 hours per year.

  • Project Length: up to 2 years, or as long as individuals can commit.

  • Compensation: Yes ($50/hr).

  • Description: VC wants to hear from PAD patients as we design and launch a PAD Education & Awareness initiative.

Spanish Translation Review

  • Sponsor: The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures

  • Who We’re Looking For: Bilingual persons who speak Spanish as a first language. Those with a medical or health background are especially in need.

  • Time Commitment: ~ 10 hours per year.

  • Project Length: As needed.

  • Compensation: Yes ($50/hr for review, $75/hr for translation).

  • Description: VC is working to get health information out in a variety of languages. We are looking for Spanish-speaking individuals to review products such as flyers, infographics, and more.

Designed for patients, caregivers and advocates.

Past Webinars

The Fundamentals of
Patient Engagement

PCORI's lessons on engagement and what it means for you. Vascular Cures Patients Are Partners meeting (December 3, 2021)

Shared Decision-Making:
Engaging patients, improving outcomes

This patient and student-led panel will bring to light relevant points to help us better understand how we can foster collaboration and improve outcomes through patient-centered healthcare.

Advocates who have worked with the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures have excellent insight on the importance of patient engagement.

Many of them have taken on roles as advocates for patient engagement. All Patient Partners and Partner Organizations will adhere to Vascular Cures’ Patient Privacy Policy.