Seven reasons why Stroke Survivors should be on clinical panels at Stroke Themed Conferences, Webinars.

Thrill Seekers and Fellow Time Travellers, over the last three months I have had the privilege of being a member of a Discussion Panel at three key events in the Stroke landscape.

The Asia Pacific Stroke Conference in Adelaide; The HREC \{Human Research Ethics Committees\} Annual Conference [online] and more recently the PRESSURE WISE Webinar conducted by Hypertension Australia at Sydney University.

More about these events later- back to the theme of my blog.

What motivated me to compose this epistle was the reception I received from the other Panel Members \{far more qualified than me\}; the reception from the audiences [both in the room and online\} and the tsunami of questions that we received.

These factors motivated me to compose a list of reasons as to why [in my instance] stroke survivors should be invited to participate in these events

Stroke survivors have a unique and powerful voice that can significantly enhance clinical panels at conferences and webinars.

Here are my reasons as to why their participation is invaluable to all stakeholders who are involved in this space.

Personal Insights.

Survivors provide firsthand accounts of what it's like to experience and recover from a stroke. Their stories can offer invaluable insights to conference audiences that purely clinical data cannot capture.

Humanizing Research.

Their presence on panels humanizes the research, reminding all stakeholders of the real people behind the statistics.

Guiding Research Priorities.

Survivors can highlight areas of stroke research that are most relevant and pressing from a patient's perspective, ensuring that any research efforts are aligned with actual patient needs and concerns.

Improving Communication.

They can emphasize to audiences the importance of clear and empathetic communication, both in clinical settings and in disseminating research findings

Encouraging Participation.

Seeing survivors actively involved can inspire other survivors and to engage in similar events, advocacy, and support initiatives, thereby fostering a stronger community.

Survivors' experiences can be used to educate conference attendees about the realities of stroke recovery, improving overall understanding and care.

Empowerment.

Participation in these events gives survivors a sense of agency and purpose, empowering them to use their experiences to drive change and make a positive impact on stroke care and research.

My Key Message.

By involving Stroke Survivors in clinical panels, conferences, and webinars, we ensure that their invaluable perspectives are heard.

Brian A Beh - A Stroke Survivor.