Ten years ago this very night, I launched my debut novel, The Confessional in the pub I had stopped working in five years previously due to losing my battle with rheumatoid arthritis. While in 2016 I thought a writing career may lie ahead of me, I now embark on what I believe is my eighth career. Given that I use skills I've honed across every aspect of my life to this point, this may be the career move that sticks.
The goal is to embed the patient voice in health policy, research and access, while making sure my day-to-day realities and needs are consistently reflected in healthcare decision making.
I have spent 15 years in the Irish health system dealing with my own rheumatological conditions. Through rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and vasculitis, I have built my resilience and understanding of what it takes to live with a chronic disease and not merely exist.
I have been to the dark and low places and feared I wouldn't come back. So when I talked to my peers either through Arthritis Ireland services or advocating for our community, I did so with a genuine empathy and clear appreciation of where chronic disease can take us.
Simultaneously, I worked with EULAR PARE for the past 11 years learning all about healthcare with a European perspective. I met others who had different systems to navigate, different resources available, while still trying to self-manage their life-changing symptoms.
I received Honorary Membership of EULAR last Wednesday in London. Proof that my work over the last decade in collaboration with the other EULAR pillars has made a significant impact in the field of rheumatology.
Now is the time to combine all my experience, skills, and contacts to continue advocating on my own behalf and by extension all those coming behind me.
Nothing changes as Peter Boyd becomes Patient Bridge. I am here to support your research, to support your dissemination to patients via lay summaries and patient information leaflets, and to engage with pharmaceutical companies on what patients want, need and expect in engagement and medical affairs.
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