5 key takeaways from the Patient Centricity and Engagement Conference
July 2, 2026 | Patient-centricity, patient engagement
Key takeaways from the Patient Centricity and Engagement conference, exploring how trust, inclusion and meaningful partnership can help turn patient engagement from intention into action.
Patient engagement continues to evolve at pace, and this year’s conference made one thing clear: the gap between intention and action is where the real work lies. For those of us connecting with diverse patient communities, the most valuable insights came from people sharing what actually moves the needle. Here are 5 practical takeaways drawn directly from the conversations on the day, with credit to the speakers and organisations who shared them.
1. Building trust through partnership
Patients and patient organisations should be involved as genuine partners, not consulted only when input is needed.
Debra Montague, President of Lung Cancer Europe, kicked things off by reminding conference attendees of the importance of keeping patients informed. Gathering input isn’t enough on its own. When you share the reasoning behind your choices, you show patients that their lived experience has shaped something real.
In a similar vein, Jose Diaz, Global HEOR – Health Systems Economics & Value of Innovation Lead at BMS, made the case that patients should be treated as partners in shaping the work. The right time to involve them is when you’re designing the research questions, not after. Seeing patients as knowledge holders, not temporary guests, will enable stronger collaboration from the very start.
The morning host captured it perfectly: change moves at the speed of trust. You can’t rush meaningful collaboration. Trust grows through consistency and honest dialogue, and it’s the foundation on which everything else depends. Build the relationship first, and progress follows.
2. Own historical trauma and design for everyone
A powerful session on patient trust challenged us to address historical trauma head-on rather than skirt around it. Swati Bhagat-Jones reminded us that broad labels like “South Asian” or “Black” communities flatten vast, diverse groups. She also made a striking point: adherence and compliance are privileges. We can’t only involve those with the time and financial means to contribute, so we must design for genuine inclusion.
3. Treat people as people, and think about quality of life
A panel on patient perspectives reframed how we think about support and outcomes. One point landed hard: living another 20 years in misery isn’t something a patient would choose, so quality of life has to sit at the centre of our thinking. Patients rarely live with just one condition, so look at them holistically. Above all, treat people as people, with respect, not as someone moving through a process. The discussion served as a reminder that assumptions can easily miss what matters most; the only way to truly understand patient priorities is to involve patients themselves.
4. Point patients toward trusted health information
Tom Bishop and Louise Jones from the charity Anthony Nolan highlighted the challenge patients face when navigating health information online. With so much content available, knowing which sources can be trusted is increasingly difficult.
They presented on the value of verified health information, specifically the ‘PIF Tick’, and the importance of spreading the word about it so patients know what to look for when searching for trusted information. As a PIF Tick-accredited agency, we know first-hand the overwhelming number of sources patients are faced with online, and by partnering with an organisation like PIF, we can ensure that all information we provide to patients is both credible and accessible.
5. Transform from the inside out
Ravindra Deore, Senior Medical Director, Global Medical Affairs, Mundipharma, described patient engagement as a cultural shift, not a single project. That means building the policies, processes, and toolkits that make engagement possible across the organisation.
This was a theme echoed in various other sessions – patient engagement is not the sole responsibility of those with it in their job title. Anyone in an organisation can take action and make a difference. Sally Dews, Pfizer, talked about how governance is what makes engagement stick. Without it, you risk it slipping off the agenda and people forgetting the ‘why’. Clear guidance and a consistent internal campaign to continually drive motivation are where we’ll see a shift.
When the internal foundations are solid, meaningful external engagement becomes far easier to sustain.
Bringing it together
The principles of patient centricity are well established. What this conference reinforced is that progress depends on how we apply them.
- Involve patients early and close the loop so their experience genuinely shapes decisions.
- Choose lasting partnerships over one-off asks and let technology support real human connections.
- Design for everyone, owning historical trauma and avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches.
- Build trust and internal conviction, because culture sustains engagement when projects fade.
A standout reflection from a Novo Nordisk session summed up the spirit of the day: how can we know we’re doing the right things if we’re not involving the patient? Catherine Brant, Patient & Professional Partnerships Lead, Novo Nordisk, shared a humbling story from her nursing years. She spoke of the importance of treating every patient as an individual and taking the time to understand their needs and barriers to care so you can ensure they receive the right support at the right time.
So don’t assume. Ask, listen, and act. The relationships you build today will shape the outcomes you achieve tomorrow.
This content was provided by Cuttsy + Cuttsy
Company Details
Latest Content from Cuttsy + Cuttsy
Clinical trials explained: Why iconography matters…
Icons serve as a useful form of alternative communication. We spend a lot of time developing icons for healthcare communications. Find out how we use iconography to elevate clinical trial...
Cuttsy+Cuttsy appoints Harriet Karia as Managing Director
Cuttsy+Cuttsy is pleased to announce the appointment of Harriet Karia as its first Managing Director.
Using generative AI in healthcare comms – our promise to our clients
It’s safe to say one of the hottest topics of 2023 has been ChatGPT and the launch of other Generative AI-driven applications. So, we’re sharing our promises, so that when...
Clinical trials explained: Why colour matters…
Colour can be used to emphasise mood, evoke emotions, and determine first impressions of a brand. Find how to use colour effectively in your next clinical trial campaign.
Clinical trials explained: Why branding matters…
With nearly a decade’s experience supporting clinical trials, find out why we think humanising trials through design is so important.
DPHARM2023 – Five key themes impacting clinical trials today
Throughout three fascinating days of conference, some key themes emerged that are impacting study teams and the effectiveness of their clinical trials on a daily basis.
Flexible working: a fad or the future?
As the Flexible Working Bill gets written into UK law, we took a look at what this means for businesses of all sizes and specialities.
Looking for a job head first
During Health Information Week, we reflected on mental health and wellbeing within the workplace. Cuttsy+Cuttsy’s mental health first aider and HR Manager, Kate McCabe, shared some thoughts on what mental...
Patients as Partners – putting people first in clinical trials
Cuttsy+Cuttsy's key takeaways from the Patients as Partners conference 2023
What are the ingredients for a perfect partnership?
Perfect partnerships can take many forms. Just like avocado and toast or tea and biscuits, all good on their own, but better together.