Annual Report: Highlights from our work in 2023-24

Over the past academic year, Patient & Community Partnership for Education (PCPE) supported 2,000+ students (including 40 in Prince George) to learn from patients. Patient and community educators provided 1,600+ hours of teaching and we added 6 new videos to the living library.

“Hearing right from the patient is the best way for us to understand the impacts we have on patients’ lives.” – Pharmacy student

We also completed a national survey (n=67) of patients involvement in health professional education with the Centre for Excellence on Partnerships with Patients and the Public (University of Montreal) which will inform the creation of a national network.

“The patient is an expert and the truth is that their involvement enhances all that we do.” – Survey respondent.

We continue our international work to bring the Health Mentors program to Brazil and Argentina and began work with a European consortium of 10 institutions across 5 countries, funded by ERASMUS+, to develop models of patient involvement in the interprofessional education of undergraduate health care students. We also began planning the 3rd international conference on, ‘Where’s the patient’s voice in health professional education?‘ to be held in Vancouver, 12-15 November 2025.

We wrapped up the year with celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of this newsletter and the Kerston Community Educator Award. Both are important ways to amplify and honour the important work of patient and community educators whose contributions often go unrecognized. This work would not be possible without them. We are grateful for the time and expertise they give to shaping the hearts and minds of the next generation of health professionals. Our work to involve patients as partners in health professional education continues to grow with the addition of a community engagement coordinator position (see next story). Stay tuned!