Apply to bring a consumer from your organization to Putting Care at the Center 2018

Does your organization have consumers who are engaged in advocacy, outreach, or systems change? Are you a person with complex health and social needs who is interested in improving how care is delivered across the country?

Putting Care at the Center is the central event for the emerging field of complex care. Since our inaugural conference in 2016, the National Center has welcomed Consumer Scholars from organizations across the country to share their lived experiences and valuable insights on how to improve our broken system. This year’s conference will be in Chicago, IL, December 5-7.

We are looking for dyads of consumers or caregivers and accompanying staff members from nonprofit organizations engaged in patient care or advocacy for people with complex health and social needs. During the conference, Consumer Scholars and their accompanying staff members will have the opportunity to network with conference attendees, speakers, and each other.

Apply to be a 2018 Consumer Scholar

Hear from past Consumer Scholars

As part of our Consumer Scholar program, past Consumer Scholars have had the opportunity to attend subsequent conferences as Consumer Ambassadors, present as workshop and plenary speakers, join the National Center Advisory Committee, and help plan Putting Care at the Center conferences. Read (and watch) their stories below.

Lezrette Hutchinson

Ms. Hutchinson and her accompanying staff member at a National Center conferenceMs. Hutchinson is a consumer advocate at the Medicare Rights Center Duals Coalition.

“I became an activist so I could let new people know it was going to be ok.”

Read Ms. Hutchinson’s story.

 

 

Dennis Heaphy

Dennis Heaphy talks with another conference attendee at the conference BeehiveDennis is a healthcare advocate at the Disability Policy Consortium, and serves on the National Center Advisory Committee.

“Unless we’re at the table from the beginning, and there every step of the way, we’re not going to change the system in a meaningful way.”

Watch Dennis speak at Putting Care at the Center 2017’s Consumer Leadership plenary.

 

Troy Johnson

Screencap of a video featuring Troy JohnsonTroy serves on the Community Advisory Council of the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, as well as the National Center Advisory Committee.

“If it wasn’t for the new way of healthcare, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Watch Troy tell his story.

 

Apply to be a 2018 Consumer Scholar