Alexandria, VA – March 28, 2023 – The Innovation and Value Initiative (IVI), a non-profit research organization committed to advancing the science, practice, and use of value assessment in health care, today announced the addition of seven new members to its Patient Advisory Council (PAC): Kelly Barta (Coalition for Skin Diseases), Elridge Proctor, MPA (GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer), Suzanne Schrandt, JD (ExPPect), Adam Thompson (Patient Advocate), Josh Trent (Patient Advocate), Gretchen Wartman (National Minority Quality Forum), and Michelle Winokur, DrPH (Institute for Patient Access).
The Patient Advisory Council is an advisory board to the IVI Board of Directors to ensure that our organization remains patient-focused and transparent. Comprised of patient advocates and leaders, they help to inform the IVI research strategy, methods, and priorities, and supports patient engagement efforts.
Claire Sachs, IVI member who serves on the Patient Advisory Council stated, “I am proud to be part of the Innovation and Value Initiative’s Patient Advisory Council and always come way from these discussions with new inspiration. IVI takes my input as a patient seriously, and its a great opportunity to contribute to the work of the organization and share recommendations with my colleagues.” Sachs is an independent consultant, author of The Patient’s Advocate’s Chronicle, and works to improve patient outcomes for her clients by connecting her lived experience with multiple chronic health conditions to policy, research, and practice.
The seven new PAC members join current participants: Alan Balch, PhD (Patient Advocate Foundation), Gwen Darien (National Patient Advocate Foundation), Mike Graglia, MBA, MA (SynGAP Research Fund), Anna Hyde, MA (Arthritis Foundation), Maggie Jawolsky (Sick Cells), Annie Kennedy (EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases), Stephanie Marshall (The Assistance Fund), Claire Sachs, MA (TPAC Consulting), Richard Seiden, JD (Patient Advocate), Danny van Leeuwen (Health Hats), Michael Ward, MS (Alliance for Aging Research), and Tiffany Westrich-Robertson (AiArthritis).
“IVI is committed to ensuring that patients and caregivers are meaningful leaders and partners,” stated Erica Malik, director of patient engagement at IVI. “The Patient Advisory Council is an important group of committed individuals who help us move our common goals and we are grateful for the insights, recommendations, and strategic vision that the members bring to our organization.”
Grounded in the principles of patient-centricity, equity, and transparency, IVI is a leader within the health technology assessment community.
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About IVI
The Innovation and Value Initiative (IVI) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit research organization dedicated to advancing the science and improving the practice of health technology assessment through development of novel methods and the creation and application of enhanced health technology assessment models to support local decision-making needs in healthcare.
Contact: Smita Sanwardeker
Phone: 267.909.7661
E-Mail: smita.sanwardeker@thevalueinitiative.org
