Jonathan Wald

Dear SPM Members,

Hope you’ve enjoyed the Holidays and were able to recharge before the start of the New Year! This will be a big year for advancing participatory medicine, building on the work and accomplishments of 2016.

I’d like to highlight some of the stellar work of the SPM and its members in 2016:

• Published results of a national survey showing that people are willing to partner with their health care professionals and contribute their biometric data to help improve their care
• Instituted this member-driven monthly newsletter
• Partnered with 5 national conferences at which our members had free or reduced registration fees
• Hosted “Sips with the Society,” a sponsored member reception at two national conferences
• Initiated the “S4PM Learning Exchange,” an educational webinar at which members discuss best practices in participatory medicine
• Continued to publish the widely read e-patients.net blog and Journal of Participatory Medicine
• Published a participatory medicine e-learning module under contract from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (under review)
• Began development of more extensive e-learning modules for health care professionals, a project that will continue in 2017
• Started the transition to a new forum platform for our members to strengthen the S4PM community, that is expected to go live for all members in early 2017

As we begin 2017 together, we look forward to a number of key initiatives and activities:

• Launching the new member forum platform (completely replacing the Listserv we’ve used since the early days of the SPM)
• Hosting “Sips with the Society” at 3-4 conferences
• Holding regular “S4PM Learning Exchange Events”
• Advocacy around 1-2 issues of national importance for participatory medicine
• Obtaining funding to support completion of the e-learning modules for health care professionals
• Development of additional e-learning modules for clinicians and developing new e-learning resources for patients and caregivers
• Beginning development of a virtual S4PM research library with our academic partner, Weill Cornell Medical Center

We’re excited to harness your passion and energy advancing participatory medicine and participating in S4PM work. Please look for new opportunities to participate in S4PM initiatives, and please don’t hesitate to contact leadership with any questions, comments, or suggestions as we begin 2017. If each member recruits 2 new members during the year, the strength of our Society will grow substantially!

Wishing you good and participatory health!

-Jon
(Reprint of Jon Wald’s 1/1/2017 letter)