Making Data Meaningful: From Health Literacy to Real-World Evidence

In this episode, Ursula and Christine are joined by Tara Cowling, Founder and President of Medlior Health Outcomes Research—a Canadian leader in real-world evidence (RWE), health technology assessment (HTA), and health outcomes research. Together, they explore how health data can be transformed into actionable insights that improve care, trust, and outcomes for patients. Tara shares her journey from her early work with NICE in the UK to leading an independent research consultancy in Canada. She explains how better data access and health literacy can prevent missed diagnoses, improve early detection, and strengthen public confidence in healthcare systems. From data privacy and interoperability to the promise of AI and next-generation patient registries, this conversation unpacks how collaboration between patients, researchers, and decision-makers can shape a smarter, more equitable future for healthcare. Why You Should Listen Discover how data trust and transparency affect patient outcomes. Learn what “quality” means in real-world evidence and why transparency and reproducibility matter. Understand the role of health literacy and interpretation in how patient data is collected and used. Hear how AI and predictive analytics are redefining the future of healthcare data. Explore how long-term patient registries and real-world insights can drive policy change and better funding decisions. Episode Highlights [00:02:00] Meet Tara Cowling — Founder and President of Medlior Health Outcomes Research shares her journey into data and healthcare innovation. [00:07:15] When data goes wrong — real stories that show why accessible, linked data can save lives. [00:10:00] Mental health and data — Tara explains why mental health checkups should be as routine as dental visits. [00:12:30] Health literacy and trust — how communication and transparency build confidence in data use. [00:16:00] Defining quality data — what makes research reliable: transparency, reproducibility, and context. [00:21:00] The promise of AI and real-world evidence — how technology and patient data can drive personalized, equitable care. [00:22:30] Building the future — Tara’s vision through the Avita Health Foundation for long-term patient registries that shape better health systems.  Want to Share Your Voice? If you’re a patient or caregiver, you can join Patient Voice Connect to share your experiences and help shape healthcare here. Join our email list to get new episode updates here. Together, we can bring more voices to the table and shape the future of healthcare. Share this episode, leave a review, and follow Patient Voice Partners on LinkedIn to help amplify more voices.