In this episode of Pep Talks, Emma interviews Steve Clark, a cancer survivor and patient advocate. Steve shares his journey from diagnosis to founding Strive for Five, a non-profit focused on providing hope to others with cancer. He discusses the importance of effective communication between patients and doctors, the nocebo effect, and the bio-psychosocial model of care. Steve emphasizes the power of positivity and the importance of support systems, including therapy and pets.

Stacey Hurt, Chief Patient Officer at Parexel, shares her journey and role in a PEP Talk podcast sponsored by Medscape. As a stage four colorectal cancer survivor and caregiver to her son with profound disabilities, Stacey brings authenticity and a unique perspective to her position. She emphasizes the importance of patient engagement in clinical trials, advocating for the inclusion of patient voices to improve trial design and outcomes.

Stacey discusses the challenges and strategies in defending the business value of patient engagement, highlighting the significant cost savings and efficiency gains. She also reflects on her personal experiences and the impact of her work on the industry, aiming to inspire and guide others in patient advocacy. Stacey's story underscores the transformative potential of patient-driven solutions in clinical research.

In this PEP Talk we hear from multi academic award winning cancer researcher, Victoria Harvey-Jones, about the three 'Rs' that we must address to improve communications between doctors and patients; and why the white paper she co-authored with other leaders is a game changer to humanise healthcare communications.

• Patient centricity to Integration: enhancing Cancer outcomes - To drive improvements in patient outcomes, it's vital that we integrate the lived experiences of people living with diseases like cancer into medical education. Read more in Medscape’s white paper, "Patient Centricity to Integration: Enhancing Cancer Outcomes," which won an Award of Excellence at APEX, Awards for Publication Excellence 2024!