PatientsLikeMe Co-founder Ben Heywood reflects on a recent visit from Dr. Jill Biden

Last month, PatientsLikeMe was honored to host a special visitor — Dr. Jill Biden was in town as part of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative announced by President Obama in his 2016 State of the Union Address. She made time to stop by our office to learn more about how PatientsLikeMe works and how members use… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe Co-founder Ben Heywood reflects on a recent visit from Dr. Jill Biden

Patients as Partners: Cyrena talks empathy and assertiveness

We’ve been talking to 2015-2016 Team of Advisors about the Partnership Principles they put together and how they use them in their personal health journeys. Next up is Cyrena, who’s living with bipolar II and lupus and recently completed her PhD in pharmacology. Below, she talks about managing multiple conditions, getting on the same page… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Cyrena talks empathy and assertiveness

Patients as Partners: John and David share their clinical trial experiences

We’ve been hearing from members of the Team of Advisors about how they’ve used the Partnership Principles in their health journeys. Recently, we sat down with John (Dockstoy), living with ALS, and David (Davidgewirtz), who’s living with lung cancer. John and David are both interested in research and have been involved in a few clinical trials. Below,… Continue reading Patients as Partners: John and David share their clinical trial experiences

Arthritis Awareness Month: Shedding light on an invisible condition

It’s National Arthritis Awareness Month, and while more than 50 million Americans live with it, arthritis is often an invisible condition. It can be hard for those who don’t have it to understand what it’s all about and how it impacts a person. So let’s test your arthritis knowledge — did you know any of the… Continue reading Arthritis Awareness Month: Shedding light on an invisible condition

“I learned that life is precious.”

Meet Jenna. She’s been part of the PatientsLikeMe Team since back in 2012 when she first started as an intern. And for Jenna, working at PatientsLikeMe is personal. Her father was diagnosed with ALS when she was just eight years old, and so, being part of PatientsLikeMe is especially meaningful for her. For ALS Awareness… Continue reading “I learned that life is precious.”

Patients as Partners: An open letter from Craig to the “normals”

We’ve been hearing from members of the Team of Advisors about how they’ve used the Partnership Principles in their health journeys. For Craig (woofhound), who’s living with fibromyalgia, it’s important to forge strong relationships with “normals,” or people who don’t know what it’s like to live with a chronic condition. By talking openly about illness, Craig believes,… Continue reading Patients as Partners: An open letter from Craig to the “normals”

“TransFatty Lives”: An interview with ALS filmmaker Patrick O’Brien

Meet Patrick O’Brien, a.k.a. “TransFatty,” whom we met through our friend and longtime PatientsLikeMe ALS member Steve Saling (Smooth S) after catching up with him earlier this year. Patrick is one of Steve’s housemates at the Steve Saling ALS Residence at the Chelsea Jewish Foundation’s Leonard Florence Center for Living and he’s also an award-winning filmmaker. Back… Continue reading “TransFatty Lives”: An interview with ALS filmmaker Patrick O’Brien

What’s your experience with accessing your electronic medical records?

Hi everyone! I’m Sally Okun, Vice President for Advocacy, Policy and Patient Safety at PatientsLikeMe. Most of you probably already know me, but just in case you don’t, I really focus on bringing the patient voice to affect better treatment, services and care, and to be sure that the needs of patients are at the… Continue reading What’s your experience with accessing your electronic medical records?

Raising awareness for immunological and neurological health in May

Earlier this year, we interviewed Team of Advisors member Craig, who’s living with fibromyalgia. Craig talked talked about the need to raise awareness for “hidden disabilities” like his condition. So today, we’re doing just that. May 12 is International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CINDs), which include fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic… Continue reading Raising awareness for immunological and neurological health in May

Patients as Partners: Gus and Maria talk partnering with your caregiver

The 2015-2016 Team of Advisors recently introduced the Partnership Principles. They’ve been sharing personal stories about these principles in action to kick-off conversations on partnering with all sorts of people — medical students, clinical trial coordinators, and “normals.” Today, Team of Advisors member Gus along with his wife and caregiver, Maria, share about their special relationship and how… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Gus and Maria talk partnering with your caregiver