Best of CASE Asia-Pacific Region Award
 

Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Title of entry: OPEN Voices: Amplifying patient voices in LKCMedicine

About this entry: For the first time in Singapore, patients and caregivers are partners in a Medical School through OPEN Voices, a patient and caregiver partner network. Spearheaded by Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine’s Office of Patient Engagement (OPEN) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), OPEN Voices provides a platform for the school’s educators and researchers to partner with patients and caregivers. In doing so, the School actively engages with this key stakeholder group to inform, co-create and deliver medical education and research programmes.

In the spirit of true partnership, two patient partners set-up OPEN Voices together with the school team.

OPEN Voices currently comprises of more than 50 (and growing) patient partners from all walks of life, medical conditions, ages and ethnicities. Caregivers and healthy individuals are also represented.

OPEN Voices was launched at the first Patient Voices Symposium in November 2024. Attended by more than 200 patient partners, educators, researchers, students and healthcare professionals, the event featured keynotes, workshops, OPEN Voices Human Library (with 10 patient advocates) and panel discussions from local and global patient involvement experts.

In less than a year, patients and caregivers are now able to connect and collaborate with researchers, educators and students. This has led to patient partner involvement in 16 education, research and patient engagement projects in this period. Through OPEN Voices, LKCMedicine has deepened patient and caregiver involvement in the school, imbuing it into the School ethos, and embedding the importance of patient engagement in Education and Research.