OVIDcast

In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny speaks with John James, the Chief Executive of the Sickle Cell Society. John shares his personal journey, detailing his early experiences and the influential figures that shaped his perspective. He discusses his time in the NHS, the unmet needs he observed in the sickle cell community and the steps he took to address them. John articulates the ongoing health disparities, systemic issues and the need for wider recognition of sickle cell disease. He also reflects on the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership and the power of speaking truth to power.(0:55) Introduction(4:49) John's reflections on leadership(8:10) Addressing discrimination in healthcare(16:14) John's work within sickle cell(24:14) Future aspirationsAbout the guest:John James is the Chief Executive of the Sickle Cell Society. The Sickle Cell Society is the only national charity in the UK that supports and represents people affected by a sickle cell disorder to improve their overall quality of life and has been working alongside healthcare professionals, parents and people living with sickle cell to raise awareness of the disorder.OVID HealthOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny has a conversation with Sirpa Pietikäinen, a long-time activist and politician. Through the episode, they explore Sirpa's journey from a childhood love of biology and nature to her current political career, exploring her passion for tackling global issues such as climate change and Alzheimer's. Sirpa shares her experiences as a female politician, her views on the role of social media in today's politics and her optimism about the ongoing research in the battle against Alzheimer's. (0:42) Introduction(6:43) Taking Environmental Action(12:35) Sirpa's Early Influences(19:07) Health Advocacy and Alzheimer's Research(24:00) Politics, Social Media and Gender BalanceAbout the guest:Sirpa was the Minister for the Environment in the Finnish government. She's also been an MEP in the European Parliament for 16 years and is the Chair of the European Alzheimer's Association.OVID HealthOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny speaks with politician Baroness Margaret Ritchie. They discuss Margaret's extensive political career, her personal journey with breast cancer and her perspectives on resilience and the need for expert advice in policy-making. Margaret also shares her views on the importance of vaccination programs and the potential for their expansion in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, she touches on her experiences as the first female leader of a major political party in Northern Ireland and offers advice for those seeking to effect change in their own spheres.(0:43) Introduction(4:36) What drives Margaret?(7:55) A Turning Point(13:19) Margaret's battle with breast cancer(23:12) Building Resilience in the NHS(27:34) Looking to the Future About the guest:Baroness Margaret Ritchie was previously leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP. She has been a Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive. She also has done a lot of change-making in healthcare over the years, both from the perspective of an advocate, and the perspective of a patient herself having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Margaret is also the Allergy UK's parliamentary champion and has also done a lot of work pressing for improvements in vaccinations.OVID HealthOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny sits down with Darren Harris, a Paralympian and motivational speaker. The conversation delves into Darren's experiences as an athlete, his journey of resilience and the importance he places on living a healthy life. Darren discusses the challenges and opportunities he faced as a visually impaired athlete and how these experiences shaped his perspective on life. He also shares valuable insights about communication, vulnerability and the power of storytelling. (0:43) Introduction(8:45) Teenage Challenges and Building Resilience(14:22) The Power of Sport(18:53) Family Inspirations(20:52) Lessons in Leadership(27:20) Looking to the FutureAbout the guest:Darren is a double Paralympian and England's most-capped blind footballer, as well as a coach, mentor, facilitator and bestselling author. Darren was diagnosed with Bilateral Retinoblastoma, a cancer of both eyes, aged 15 months. One eye was removed; the other was treated with radiotherapy, which saw his sight deteriorating gradually over the next 20 years. OVID HealthOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny is joined by Hans Jørgen Wiberg, founder of the revolutionary Be My Eyes app. The conversation dives into how Be My Eyes is transforming the lives of visually impaired individuals by connecting them with volunteers around the world for visual assistance. Hans shares his journey of developing the platform, the importance of the community it has cultivated and the significant role technology, particularly AI, plays in increasing accessibility. He also discusses the potential of AI in education, healthcare, and language preservation, while expressing his concerns about AI's societal impact. The episode is filled with inspiring stories of change and a shared passion for harnessing technology to create a more inclusive world.(1:40) The global impact of Be My Eyes(10:26) Challenges and Failures(15:40) The role of AI in accessibility(22:12) The power of humour in communication(27:45) Future AspirationsAbout the guest:Hans Jørgen Wiberg is the founder of Be My Eyes app, a free mobile app that allows people with a visual impairment to get in contact with sighted volunteers via a live video call, so they have access to help 24/7. The app was released in 2015 and gained 10,000 users within the first 24 hours. It's now got over 600,000 users and over 7 million volunteers in over 185 languages, making the Be My Eyes app, the largest online community for blind and low vision people.OVID HealthOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny is joined by Abbas Karimi, a renowned Paralympic swimmer and World Para Swimming Championships Gold medallist. Having been born without arms, Abbas's resilience, drive and determination have led him to become a formidable competitor in the swimming world. Abbas shares his incredible life journey from his early struggles to his current pursuit of a Paralympic medal. He discusses how he has harnessed adversity to fuel his success and how his faith and positivity have become his guiding forces. The conversation also delves into his post-swimming goals, his approach to handling life's unpredictability, and how he inspires others to embrace their unique challenges. (1:04) Introduction(5:16) Representation and Responsibility(9:29) Overcoming Failure and Staying Motivated(14:48) How does Abbas relax?(20:12) Looking to the futureAbout the guest:Abbas Karimi was born in Afghanistan with no arms and he left Afghanistan when he was 16 years old and travelled through Iran and into Turkey, where he lived in a refugee camp. It was here that Abbas was picked out as a promising swimmer. From there, Abbas became an elite athlete and won a number of medals during his elite swimming career, including a silver medal at the world championships in Mexico and also travelling to Tokyo as part of the Paralympic team. OVID HealthOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

Welcome to the Health Change Maker podcast from OVID Health. Each week, Jenny Ousbey, founder and CEO of OVID, a global healthcare communications consultancy, will be interviewing fascinating people from around the world who are driving change in the political, healthcare, advocacy, tech and sporting arenas. 

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachel Stewart, OVID Health Deputy Head of Patient Partnerships, continues the conversation with John James, Chief Executive Officer of the Sickle Cell Society.Listen as they discuss the benefits of adopting an innovative approach in partnerships, the importance of involving patients and families in the measurement of partnership impact from the early stage and the significance of long-term partnerships in achieving lasting impact. (0:04) Introduction(0:45) Innovation in partnerships(1:42) Measuring impact(3:13) The value of long-term partnerships(6:49) Patient centricity(8:05) Key tips for establishing a partnershipAbout the guest:John James is the Chief Executive of the Sickle Cell Society. The Sickle Cell Society is the only national charity in the UK that supports and represents people affected by a sickle cell disorder to improve their overall quality of life and has been working alongside healthcare professionals, parents, and people living with sickle cell to raise awareness of the disorder.Find out more about the Sickle Cell Society  OVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachel Stewart, OVID Health Deputy Head of Patient Partnerships, interviews John James, Chief Executive Officer of the Sickle Cell Society. In this episode John shares his insights on the progress he has seen in healthcare partnerships throughout his career, from his work with the Sickle Cell Society and his role as a judge on OVID Health's Patient Partnership Index.(0:04) Introduction(1:01) Understanding Sickle Cell Disease(4:01) The Sickle Cell Society(8:06) The impact of successful partnerships(10:46) The evolution and future of partnershipsAbout the guest:John James is the Chief Executive of the Sickle Cell Society. The Sickle Cell Society is the only national charity in the UK that supports and represents people affected by a sickle cell disorder to improve their overall quality of life and has been working alongside healthcare professionals, parents, and people living with sickle cell to raise awareness of the disorder.Find out more about the Sickle Cell Society  OVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachel Gonzaga, Head of Patient Partnerships at OVID Health, continues the conversation with Mary Pavlou, President of the Fabry International Network and a trained nurse who lives with Fabry disease. Listen as Mary highlights the importance of transparency in successful partnerships and the challenge of measuring the success of collaborations with industry.   (0:48) Measuring success(3:05) Initiating partnerships with patient organisations(4:18) The questions pharma should be asking(5:04) The need for educational materialAbout the guest:Mary Pavlou is the President and Head of Patient Partnerships at Fabry International Network. She is a trained nurse and Fabry disease patient herself.Fabry International Network is an independent and vibrant network of Fabry patient associations whose purpose is to collaborate, communicate and promote best practice to support those affected by Fabry disease, connecting health professionals and allying with industry partners, with the mission to empower Fabry patients all over the world.Find out more about the Fabry International NetworkOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachel Gonzaga, Head of Patient Partnerships at OVID Health, interviews Mary Pavlou, President of the Fabry International Network as they discuss the organisation's accomplishments and the importance of transparent partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry. The Fabry International Network aims to raise awareness about Fabry disease, provide a platform for doctors and patient representatives to exchange experiences and best practices, and support the global Fabry community.   (0:50) Living with Fabry Disease(2:46) Fabry International Network(5:40) Acquiring funding for neglected needsAbout the guest:Mary Pavlou is the President and Head of Patient Partnerships at Fabry International Network. She is a trained nurse and Fabry disease patient herself.Fabry International Network is an independent and vibrant network of Fabry patient associations whose purpose is to collaborate, communicate and promote best practice to support those affected by Fabry disease, connecting health professionals and allying with industry partners, with the mission to empower Fabry patients all over the world.Find out more about the Fabry International NetworkOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachael Gonzaga, OVID Health Head of Patient Partnerships, continues the conversation with Victoria Clare, Chief Executive of Ovacome, the National Ovarian Cancer Support Charity. Listen as they focus on trust and the need for a long-term view and clear communication in order to build lasting relationships, as well as how to measure success within partnerships.   (0:50) Starting a partnership(2:10) Partnerships in Oncology(3:53) Measuring success(6:20) Trends in PharmaAbout the guest:Victoria Clare is the CEO of Ovacome, the national UK ovarian cancer charity focused on providing support and information to anyone affected by ovarian cancer. This includes people who have either been diagnosed with the disease or think that they might be at risk, as well as their friends and family and healthcare professionals.Ovacome aims to reduce isolation, share information, promote knowledge and support anyone affected by ovarian cancer. They provide direct support to over 6,200 people through their support line and events, with nearly 80,000 people accessing their expert information materials each year.Find out more about OvacomeOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachael Gonzaga, OVID Health Head of Patient Partnerships, interviews Victoria Clare, Chief Executive of Ovacome, the National Ovarian Cancer Support Charity as they discuss how Ovacome provides support and information to individuals affected by ovarian cancer and their families, while also working closely with the clinical community to ensure patient views are included in research and resources. (0:39) About Ovacome(3:16) Proud partnerships(5:15) Innovation within projects(7:44) Internal perceptions of partnershipsAbout the guest:Victoria Clare is the CEO of Ovacome, the national UK ovarian cancer charity focused on providing support and information to anyone affected by ovarian cancer. This includes people who have either been diagnosed with the disease or think that they might be at risk, as well as their friends and family and healthcare professionals.Ovacome aims to reduce isolation, share information, promote knowledge and support anyone affected by ovarian cancer. They provide direct support to over 6,200 people through their support line and events, with nearly 80,000 people accessing their expert information materials each year.Find out more about OvacomeOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachael Stewart, Deputy Head of Patient Partnerships at OVID Health continues the conversation with Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association as they explore the role of patients in partnerships with both healthcare professionals and life science companies as well as how two award-winning projects focused on working directly with patients to improve shared decision-making. (0:27) Achieving a gold standard(2:26) Life science collaborations(3:49) Regulatory involvement(6:01) Engaging hard-to-reach communitiesAbout the guest:Rachel became Chief Executive of the Patients Association in 2017, with over 20 years' experience working in health and social care within the voluntary sector.Since joining the Patients Association, Rachel has overseen a significant period of change, establishing a new senior leadership team and a new three-year strategy to help drive the organisation forward.Find out more about The Patients AssociationOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachael Stewart, Deputy Head of Patient Partnerships at OVID Health is joined by Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association as they discuss how the Patients Association supports patients in influencing healthcare decisions and share insights on their latest strategies, including true patient partnerships and actively seeking and valuing patient input.  (0:27) Introduction(2:16) True patient partnerships(6:13) Looking to the futureAbout the guest:Rachel became Chief Executive of the Patients Association in 2017, with over 20 years' experience working in health and social care within the voluntary sector.Since joining the Patients Association, Rachel has overseen a significant period of change, establishing a new senior leadership team and a new three-year strategy to help drive the organisation forward.Find out more about The Patients AssociationOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In this episode of OVIDcast, Rachel Gonzaga, OVID Health Head of Patient Partnerships continues the conversation with Clare Jacklin, Chief Executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society as they discuss some of the partnerships which have inspired Clare and the challenges she has faced in delivering impactful partnership working.(0:46) Inspiring partnerships(3:59) Measuring success and overcoming challenges(5:41) Trends in the partnership space(7:09) Pharma partnerships and internal perceptionsAbout the guest:Clare Jacklin is the Chief Executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), the only patient-led organisation in the UK specialising in rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.NRAS was founded in 2001 and aims to support those with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis with their wide-ranging services and expert knowledge to support, educate and campaign for those living with these complex autoimmune conditions.Find out more about NRASOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

In the first episode of OVIDcast, the Head of Patient Partnerships at OVID Health, Rachel Gonzaga, is joined by Clare Jacklin, the Chief Executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society to discuss her experiences of working in partnerships and where she would like to see partnerships focus in future.(0:27) Introduction(1:12) Who are NRAS?(2:36) What makes a great partnership?(6:54) Dealing with differing perspectivesAbout the guest:Clare Jacklin is the Chief Executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), the only patient-led organisation in the UK specialising in rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. NRAS was founded in 2001 and aims to support those with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis with their wide-ranging services and expert knowledge to support, educate and campaign for those living with these complex autoimmune conditions.Find out more about NRASOVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.Find out more about OVID HealthFollow OVID Health on LinkedIn

OVIDcast by OVID Health explores current issues in the health and life sciences sector.In this series, experts from patient groups provide their insights on how to strengthen partnerships between patient groups and industry for better healthcare outcomes.