Learning Together: Reflections from Students and Patient Partners at the Patient Voice 2025 Conference

This year, students and Patient Partners from PCPE joined colleagues from around the world at the Where is the Patient’s Voice in Health Professional Education? International Conference. Across every reflection we received—from students early in their training to long-time Patient Partners—the same themes echoed: connection, inspiration, and a shared commitment to human-centered change.

Many attendees were struck by the global diversity of the work taking place. Students spoke about learning from programs in countries like the Netherlands, the UK, Australia, and Canada. Patient Partners valued hearing how different regions are advancing inclusion—some just beginning, others well ahead, all united by a common purpose. As one student noted, “This is no longer a fringe idea.”

The variety of sessions—panels, workshops, roundtables, arts-based activities, and 20-minute rapid talks—offered something for every learning style. Attendees spent their evenings discussing what they had learned, energized by the creativity, emotion, and imagination woven throughout the program.

Across reflections, both students and Patient Partners celebrated the strong sense of camaraderie and belonging. One Patient Partner shared, “I truly felt like I fit in—I always had someone to talk to.” Another appreciated hearing from professionals who were also patients themselves, reminding us that lived experience connects us all.