This past week, beginning June 26 and running through June 30, 2022, world leaders of all ages and levels of leadership gathered in Katowice, Poland for #WUF11. It was thrilling to be in virtual attendance at the World Urban Forum 2022. What I learned, who I connected with, and what inspired me is summarized in this blog post.
Why I Attended World Urban Forum Virtually
Let me give you a bit of background on the purpose of the World Urban Forum. Here is the explanation than from the organization on their website.
The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid ubanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since.
World Urban Forum
At any conference one attends, you naturally gravitate to like-minded individuals who are aligned with the work you are doing. As the conference begins you begin networking to broaden your experience at the conference. In my case, I engaged in communication with two entities, WHIS, the World Health Innovation Summit, and the Toliman Health Team. They had vibrant, active booths and activities at WUF11. From WHIS, I met the CEO, Gareth Presch, online a few years ago. The CEO of Toliman Health, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, the Founder of Toliman’s flagship app, Breast Advocate® app, is my plastic reconstructive surgeon. Dr. C performed my DIEP flap after a second breast cancer diagnosis in 2014. Over the past few years, Gareth, Dr. C, and myself continue to work together to foster and support SDG3.
Networking and Education at the World Urban Forum
SDG3 is one of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development goals. This particular SDG is good health and well-being. Along with Gareth, Dr. C, and myself, our work together is primarily placing the patient first in their healthcare decisions providing information and resources to encourage this through the shared decision-making practice in health care. We utilize various means of reaching a global audience and WUF11 provided this opportunity for all of us.
It was the first time Gareth and Dr. C met in person. What a thrill to see them both side by side at the conference. There was a nine-hour time difference for me between Seattle and Katowice, Poland, where WUF11 was held. It was challenging to be in virtual attendance but I managed to join some fascinating discussions. Via an invitation from Gareth I even participated in a Facebook live early Sunday morning at 8am my time. I was honored to virtually meet Dr. C’s daughter, Santiana, and the CTO of Toliman Health, Mr. Federico Halperin.
I downloaded the WUF comprehensive app to see the events taking place, connect with some of the attendees, view speakers, exhibitors, and read news articles from the conference. There were a number of focused groups and varying interest groups on the app with attendees from around the world.
Moving Beyond the World Urban Forum to the Future of Healthcare
Conferences are exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. Many patient advocates I know and continue to work with share this feeling. Dr. C was fortunate to bring his energetic and enthusiastic daughter, Santiana, who staffed his booth and expertly managed the social media account for what I referred to as “Team Toliman” at the conference. Gareth and Dr. C executed several informative interviews about their purpose and work at the conference. I had it easy. I plugged in my earbuds listening and learning during the week. The physicality of traveling with materials, setting up the booth, operating on little sleep, being on top of your game and networking with the world requires passion and stamina. Kudos to all of the attendees. I was appreciative to be a virtual attendee.
A Remarkable Outcome of Being a Virtual Attendee at WUF
Early in the week, as Dr. C made his way through the exhibit floor. His gracious mannerisms resulted in connecting with impassioned attendees from other countries. What unfolded for me, being a virtual attendee at WUF11, was something I was not anticipating. I was excited for Dr. C to be there. We stayed connected via messaging. I asked how everything was going. The first day, he asked me if I was familiar with Benevity. I let him know that my Foundation, DiepCFoundation, has been part of Benevity almost since I opened this nonprofit in 2016.
Dr. C met a young woman from Slovakia who works at AT&T in her country. He connected us via messenger. We set up a separate messaging chat and I soon began to know she was a woman whose ethos was one of giving, gratitude, and helping others. Lenka Bašnáková reached out to me to invite the Foundation to be the recipient of funds raised in a charity run across Slovakia. I was speechless. I immediately thought of the people the Foundation serves. Like those at WUF11, we represent a global community. This was my message to Lenka and her team.
A Message from Being a Virtual Attendee at WUF11
“Lenka, thank you does not begin to express my gratitude to you and your team at AT&T for setting up this charity run across Slovakia via the Benevity portal for my Foundation.
I visualize a team working together and the physicality of this race. Your exquisite country is full of challenging landscape, mountains, breath taking beauty but still it will be substantial physical event for the runners. When I think of the community my Foundation serves, I will place myself in the shoes of the runners as I think of the breast cancer patients you are running for.
Like the runners, they are challenged by physical encounters. Their spirit is sometimes drawn upon day by day during treatment or recovery from surgery but they must keep putting one foot in front of the other. Think of us then as your work your way across Slovakia. The breast cancer community DiepCFoundation serves will be with you in spirit.
Breast cancer knows no boundaries. My dear friends you spoke of and met at WUF!! Minas and Gareth have shown us that there are no global boundaries that limit generous hearts. You understood the depths of their passionate work, knowing it is yet to be finished and requires many more hours of time and commitment.
This is community. Believing that what we can do together will make a difference inspires me to continue the work of the Foundation. My heart is full for the friends and people I know. We must believe we can continue to positively change lives, to provide support, despite a disease we have yet to find a cure for. Thank you Lenka!”
Thank you for connecting us Dr. C. My week as a virtual attendee at WUF11 left my heart full. I know we have work to do!