Let’s dispense with the not so good news first. It is far less than the good news I will write about regarding the rewards and risks of traveling for patient advocacy.
The Risks of Traveling for Patient Advocacy
Patient advocates I know go into this work with their eyes wide open when they travel to conferences or events for their work. We know what can and sometimes does happen.
- Delayed or cancelled flights.
- Lost luggage.
- Weather that makes a flight daunting in the air or at take off and landing.
- Dealing with fatigue once you have arrived because of the intense schedule.
- Contracting a virus because of contact with the masses of people at the airport or conference.
- Blisters on your feet from walking lengthy, concrete hallways and floors at a conference center.
- Restless sleep when you are not in your own bed.
I wanted to talk about these first because they are short-lived risks. The fallout from any of the above items passes in a brief time. We deal with them as they happen knowing we will return to our advocacy work in no time because of dealing with any of the above-mentioned events.
The Rewards of Traveling for Patient Advocacy
This is the real magic sauce of being a patient advocate and traveling on behalf of the communities we serve. My work at DiepCFoundation focuses on advocating for those affected by breast cancer and considering all their options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. I recently traveled to the annual American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons. This is my third attendance at this conference. It was a cross-continental voyage for me by air and worth every effort I invested in going. The benefits can be described as nothing short of purely rewarding.
Industries Interested in Patient Advocacy
The connections and moments I shared with conference attendees will last a lifetime. I was able to engage with and experience the interest from industry leaders who are recognizing and embracing the role of patient advocates. The mission of my Foundation is patient empowerment and education. I want to thank T-Stat personally for their support and for putting patient education first.
Another nod goes to Mr. Jeff LaConte of MMI who makes the Symani® Surgical System for Robotic DIEP flaps. Jeff and I chatted for a while at the airport before we both boarded our flights. We exchanged information. I feel confident the Symani® Surgical System is directly helping patients now and will continue to in the future. I am grateful for these moments. I encourage industry leaders considering engaging patients advocates to know how enthusiastic and serious we are about improving patient outcomes. We have lived experience and know first-hand how important those outcomes are. Respect our work and our stories. We are here to sit at the table with you on behalf of others.
Surgeons Who Embrace Patient Advocacy in Breast Reconstruction
Before attending conferences, I look at the program schedule to see who will be there. There are some surgeons I have not met yet but know it is important that I do. I hear from patients daily about their successes. When I have not met their surgeons in person yet, this is my opportunity to do so. I want to let them know how important their work is to us as survivors.
I like to share surgical sessions with my private Facebook group to let them learn with me about the latest in surgical techniques. There are times when these posts prompt robust questions and conversations. I appreciate this. It is often difficult to explain the full scope of what I am learning at a session in one post. However, the questions and comments posed in my group help me understand patient concerns about this monumental decision to have breast reconstruction.
There are surgeons I have known since opening my nonprofit in 2016. Some were in their fellowship for breast reconstruction when we first met. Many are now in practice changing the lives of those affected by breast cancer. Sitting at a quiet table with them helps me understand the struggles they meet daily. Many times, it has nothing to do with patients and a lot to do with administrative issues. One of the most challenging is working on behalf of patients to get insurance coverage for surgery. Wow! The efforts they make for their patients are impressive.
Building Memories and Rewards During my Patient Advocacy Travel
I am lucky. My conversation with surgeons also includes their personal lives. Some are waiting for the birth of a new child. Others brought their children to the conference, and I get a peek into their role as mommy or daddy outside of being a surgeon. These are touching moments for me. I get to see the human side of being a surgeon, the glimmer in their eye when they talk about family, the support they get from a spouse or partner, and what they do in their precious spare time outside of clinic and the surgical theater.
Yes I had multiple flight delays this time. My husband was anxiously texting me to see when my flight was taking off so I could be home to reunite with him. I landed at 3am in icy conditions at my home base. Exhausted from my travels I fell into bed grateful to be home. I would not trade all the risks and rewards of traveling for patient advocacy for one moment. It was worth for me personally, but more importantly, I have great hope for the future of microsurgery and how far we have come because of the connections I made in person at this year’s ASRM conference.