Patient Advisory Committee Engagement in a Precision Medicine-Focused Public Oncology Conference - Case Report of Lessons Learned

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

Public partnerships, engagement, and outreach enable meaningful knowledge dissemination in oncology settings. In 2024, the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) formed to support a March 2025 public conference on precision medicine and cancer. The case report outlines conference topic identification, speaker selection, promotion, WebEx delivery, and participant satisfaction surveying via Qualtrics. Patient advisors contributed to organization and delivery, supporting high impact and satisfaction while generating recommendations for future public engagement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction and objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Public Summary

Introduction

Patient Advisory Committee Engagement in a Precision Medicine-Focused Public Oncology Conference: Case Report of Lessons Learned Journal of Primary Care & Community Health Volume 17: 1–13 © The Author(s) 2026 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/21501319261420572](DOI: 10.1177/21501319261420572)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/21501319261420572)[journals.sagepub.com/home/jpc](journals.sagepub.com/home/jpc) Sevtap Savas 1,2,3,4, Georgia Skardasi 1,2, Aaron A. Curtis 1,2, Marcelo F. Martinez 1, John King 1, Cyndi Corbett 1, Judy Donovan Whitty 1, Gilles LeBlanc 1, Beverly Pausche 1, Jennifer Coish 1, Angela Hyde 1,3,5, and Cara MacInnis 1 Abstract Introduction and objectives: Public partnerships, engagement, and outreach are essential for meaningful knowledge dissemination and exchange activities in public settings. In 2024, we formed the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC). In March 2025, the ACC PAC delivered a successful public conference on precision medicine and cancer. Our primary objective is to share the perspectives gained, lessons learnt, impact of the event, and recommendations for future public conferences and engagement. Methods: Conference topics were identified by the ACC PAC. Speaker selection and conference promotion were done using various approaches and/or tools. The WebEx virtual platform was used to deliver the conference. This conference was open to all members of the public. A participant satisfaction survey was created using Qualtrics and distributed to registrants during and after the conference. Survey responses were summarized using descriptive statistics when appropriate. ACC PAC members who participated in the conference were encouraged to reflect on their experience. Results: The ACC PAC patient advisors were involved in all key aspects of this conference’s organization and delivery. A total of 24 speakers spoke during the conference on various cancer and patient-centered topics. Comments received and self-reflection exercise responses indicated a high level of impact and satisfaction associated with the content and delivery of the conference. Issues experienced, opportunities realized, and good practices implemented, as well as the feedback received helped us develop recommendations for improved delivery of future public conferences and better public engagement activities. Conclusions: In this Case Report, we discuss our learnings from a public conference that was designed and delivered by a public-scientist partnership. Overall, we were able to organize and deliver a successful public conference on precision medicine and cancer, yet there is still room for improvement in practical and technical areas. Our experience, selfreflection, and participant feedback that are described in this manuscript can help inform future public engagement and conference activities in Canada and beyond. Last, we ask decision-makers, such as governments, to provide sustained support for public partnerships and engagement in oncology. Public Summary The Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) is a patient – scientist partnership in Atlantic Canada focusing on precision medicine and cancer, advising the ACC researchers in research and public engagement activities, and actively working to engage with Atlantic Canadians in knowledge dissemination. This group organized and delivered a one-day public conference on March 15, 2025. Topics included patient and family perspectives, precision medicine, cancer risk factors and screening programs, support services offered to cancer-affected individuals, clinical trials, and advocacy. The conference was open to all members of the public. Overall, this was an impactful event centred on patient and family priorities, experiences, as well as on information and support needs. During and after the organization and delivery

FAQs

What was the main objective of the ACC PAC public conference case report?

To share perspectives gained, lessons learned, the event’s impact, and recommendations for future public conferences and engagement activities.

How were conference activities delivered and evaluated?

Conference topics were identified by the ACC PAC, speaker selection and promotion used multiple approaches and/or tools, delivery used the WebEx virtual platform, and satisfaction was measured with a Qualtrics survey distributed during and after the event.

What did the patient advisory committee contribute to the conference?

Patient advisors were involved in all key aspects of organization and delivery, including selecting speakers, shaping the conference content and delivering public engagement aligned with patient-centered priorities.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Asher