From Patient Engagement to Patient Leadership across the Cardiovascular Health Landscape
Recognised as an Associated Event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026
Global Heart Hub 6th Unite Annual Summit
On 1–3 November 2026, Global Heart Hub’s 6th Unite Annual Summit was delighted to bring together over 200 delegates (cardiovascular patient advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers and partners) from 39 countries globally to advance a shared ambition: moving from patient engagement to meaningful patient leadership.
Over three days, participants explored how people with lived experience can exercise greater influence over cardiovascular policies, research, healthcare services and innovation.
The Summit reinforced a powerful message: patient leadership is not simply about having a voice, but having the power to shape decisions and drive change.
From Dialogue to Action
A key outcome of Unite 2026 was the collective work towards a Global Patient Leadership Commitment, establishing shared principles for meaningful, equitable and sustainable patient leadership.
Building on the discussions in Dublin, Global Heart Hub will continue working with its global community to refine the Commitment and translate these principles into practical action.
From voice to influence. From engagement to leadership. From commitments to action.
Relive Unite 2026
Explore the highlights, stories and connections that made this year’s Summit memorable.
From voice to influence. From engagement to leadership. From commitments to action.
Thank you to our global community of advocates, speakers and partners for making Unite 2026 a milestone in our collective journey towards patient leadership.
Unite Summit 2026 Speakers
(in alphabetical order)
Kwanele Asante
Patient Partner, PxP Africa,
South Africa
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Kwanele Asante is a multi-award-winning South African social scientist, lawyer, bioethicist, and globally renowned lived experience expert pioneering patient partnership across healthcare systems, policy, and medical research. A prominent voice in global health justice, she is the Former Chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Cancer Prevention and Control for the Republic of South Africa and the former Secretary General of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC).
Notably, she delivered the historic Lived Experience address at the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on NCDs and Mental Health. Her extraordinary twenty-year legacy of advocacy was recently captured in a celebrated feature profile by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism, which was widely syndicated across South Africa and the African continent, and featured by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Navigating chemotherapy-induced congestive heart failure, bipolar mood disorder, and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Kwanele masterfully translates deeply personal insight into transformative global health strategy.
Dr Prasanthi Attwood
Moderator
The George Institute for Global Health, UK
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Moderator
Dr Prasanthi Attwood (also published as Puvanachandra) is a Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health and a Research Fellow at Imperial College London’s School of Public Health. She leads the UK Injury Programme at TGI where her research draws on years of community-based participatory research and human-centred design fieldwork in various Low and Middle Income Settings, giving her CEI work a strong grounding in real-world practice alongside global institutional strategy. Prasanthi also holds TGI’s Global Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) Coordinator role, working across the organisation’s regional hubs in Australia, the UK, India, Africa and Latin America. In this capacity she led the development and launch of TGI’s CEI Framework, built around six core principles and five levels of involvement, and has taken forward its practical implementation throughout the organisation helping to develop the capacity of research teams to integrate meaningful CEI in their work.
Nicola Bedlington
Moderator
CEO, Millwater Partners, Austria
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Moderator
Nicola Bedlington is the CEO of Millwater Partners, a consultancy based in Vienna working with patient organisations, medical societies and industry to advance patient leadership and engagement in health policy and innovation. She was the first Director and Secretary General of the European Patients’ Forum (2006-2019), leading the European Patient Academy on Therapeutic Innovation during its formative years, and establishing Data Saves Lives. Previously, she was the first Executive Director of the European Disability Forum, and worked on disability policy at the European Commission. Nicola has served as an advisor to many international organisations including WHO, OECD, ISPOR, DIA, the World Economic Forum and the European Commission. She is currently advisor to the Lancet Global Commission on People Centred Care, and a founding steward for the Patient Movement Catalyst.
Neil Bertelsen
Patient Engagement Specialist, Germany
About the Speaker
Neil Bertelsen is an independent self-employed consultant with over 30 years of experience on strategies that bring the patient voice to health care decision makers and building knowledge and guidance on the use of patient experience data and patient-based-evidence within healthcare decision-making at all levels. Neil works directly with decision makers and stakeholders including HTA, regulators, patient groups, health technology developers and academic researchers. He is an active member of the global scientific society HTAi for more than 15 years and currently sits as co-chair of the HTAi Global Policy Forum, a future-focused forum of the leaders of HTA bodies and industry. He is also the past chair of the Patient and Citizen Involvement Interest Group (PCIG) where he continues to work on leading projects to improve patient involvement. Neil is also a past board member of PFMD (Patient Focused Medicines Development), an international consortium of stakeholders working towards more integrated inclusion of the patient voice across the medicine lifecycle. He is also co-lead of the Patient Experience Data working group within PFMD with a focus on the patient-based evidence needed in decision making such as HTA, regulatory and guidelines.
Susie Birney
Patient Advocate, Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity CLG and European Coalition for People Living with Obesity, Ireland
About the Speaker
Susie Birney is an obesity patient advocate from Dublin, Ireland. Living with obesity amongst other NCDs, Susie has seen directly how the support of a multi-disciplinary team and ongoing treatments has improved quality of life that goes beyond a focus on weight loss. Nationally, Susie leads the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ICPO) and sits as a patient representative with the Association for the studies of Obesity Ireland (ASOI). Susie is involved in European patient advocacy through her role within the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO). She represents her patient perspective at conferences and collaborates with policymakers, clinicians, researchers and partner organisations across Europe. Susie is a passionate advocate for recognising obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease and consistently calls for care pathways that are compassionate, evidence based and centred on the needs of individuals. She speaks with emphasis on people-first language, respect and dignity in both healthcare settings and public discourse and for reducing stigma for people living with obesity.
Nazhen Chen
Founder & Patient Advocate, Homy FH China Patient Network, China
About the Speaker
Nazhen Chen is the founder and lead of Homy FH China Patient Network, China’s first patient organisation dedicated to Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) and related inherited lipid disorders. Diagnosed with HeFH herself, she brings a lived experience of diagnostic delay and accumulated LDL-C burden, which fuels her dual perspective as both a patient and as an advocate to every conversation about drug development and healthcare policy.
Annie Descôteaux
Patient Partner, Université de Montréal, Canada
About the Speaker
Annie Descôteaux is a leader in patient partnership whose trajectory bridges lived experience and institutional transformation. Drawing on extensive experience as both a patient and the parent of a critically ill child, she developed deep expertise in navigating complex care systems, fostering interprofessional collaboration and translating experiential knowledge into constructive dialogue.
She has since mobilised this expertise at an institutional level as patient co-director of the Patient Partnership Office at the Faculty of Medicine and co-president of the PARTENAIRES interfaculty curriculum at Université de Montréal, contributing to the training of more than 5,000 health sciences students. She has played a key role in building and structuring a robust network of patient partners embedded within academic programs and in fostering environments where co-construction, trust and meaningful engagement with power dynamics can take place.
Her work brings together expertise across disciplines and institutions and translates patient partnership into concrete pedagogical and governance practices that support sustainable, system-level transformation.
Dr Sita Ratna Devi Duddi
Patient Advocate, Dakshayani and Amaravati Health and Education (India)
About the Speaker
A medical doctor, public health and management professional, Dr Ratna Devi brings more than 30 years of experience working to improve health outcomes in India. She spent her initial 10 years in the government and for the past 20 years, she has worked with national and international NGOs for public health initiatives. A versatile leader, she combines clinical qualifications to support high-quality service delivery and management experience. Dr Ratna Devi is the CEO and Co-founder of DakshamA Health and Education, an organisation that is dedicated to working for access to health, patient education and advocacy. She leads a cross disease Patient Alliance in India called Indian Alliance of Patient Groups (IAPG) and is the Past Chair ISPOR Patient Council, Member of Board, IAPO, Board member HIA (Healthy India Alliance – the National NCD Alliance in India) and APARDO (Asia Pacific Alliance of Rare Disease Organisations). Dr Devi is the Director of Patient Academy for Innovation and Research. She holds an MBBS degree from Sambalpur University and a dual MBA from SYMBIOSIS and Manipal Institute of Distance Education. Dr Devi also holds advisory positions at several NGOs and has contributed to research as well as publications. Her work spans across policy initiatives for Non Communicable diseases, Rare diseases and Patient safety, focusing on changing the way healthcare is perceived and delivered in the region and globally, bringing in best practices and patient perspectives for designing, implementing and measuring health outcomes. She has lived experience of a chronic autoimmune condition.
Michaela Dinboeck
Head Patient Engagement, Novartis, Switzerland
About the Speaker
Prior to her current role, Michaela held Commercial and General Management positions for over 20 years within the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry at country, regional and global level. She has worked across multiple disease areas in established and emerging health care systems. Michaela has lectured Business at Universities in Bolivia and Malaysia. She serves on the Board of Novartis Pharma GmbH Germany, the Nomination Committee of the National Health Council, US and on the Board of Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD). In the recently published book on Patient Involvement in Health Technology Assessment | Springer Nature, Michaela co-authored the chapter on patient involvement in industry.
Prof Fidelma Dunne
Professor of Translational Clinical Trials and Director, Institute for Clinical Trials, University of Galway, Ireland
About the Speaker
Fidelma Dunne is a Professor of Translational Clinical Trials, Clinician Scientist and Director of the Institute for Clinical Trials, University of Galway and Consultant endocrinologist at Galway University Hospital (GUH), Ireland. She holds an MD, PhD, Masters Medical Education and Master’s Clinical Research. She was a Fulbright scholar at Columbia University New York in 2015. In addition, she is a PI and Director of the All-Ireland Clinical Trial Network in Diabetes and an Adjunct Professor at Steno Diabetes Research Centre Odense Denmark (2025–2030). Prof Dunne has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing education training research and improving outcomes in the critical area of diabetes and pregnancy over 25 years with >280 peer review publications, 15,500 citations, H index of 67. She was awarded the International Jorgen Pedersen (DPSG Europe 2021) and Norbert Freinkel awards (ADA 2024) for contributions in this field and has been elected a member of the prestigious Royal Irish Academy (MRIA 2024) and a fellow of the National Institute for Preventative Cardiology (NIPC 2024). She was co-chair in the development of a National Model of Care for women with Diabetes in pregnancy (2024).
Iolo Eilian
HSE Assistant National Director, Patient and Service User Experience, Ireland
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Iolo Eilian is an accomplished healthcare leader in Ireland, currently serving as the Assistant National Director, Patient and Service User Experience Lead at the Health Service Executive (HSE). Originally from Wales, his extensive career in health and social care is deeply rooted in front-line practice, having originally trained and worked as a social worker for the NHS before moving to Northern Ireland where he was promoted through the system to become Lead Commissioner for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities.
With an extensive background in project management and organisational integration, he has dedicated his career to ensuring that the voices of patients, service users, family members and carers are deeply embedded into the strategic planning, design and policy-shaping of healthcare across Ireland.
Throughout his tenure at the HSE, Iolo has championed a system-wide shift toward active listening and meaningful co-design. He plays a central role in driving the initiatives of the National Care Experience Program, a collaborative partnership alongside the Department of Health and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). Notably, his work focuses on implementing Quality Improvement Plans that directly transform insights from nationwide surveys into tangible service improvements initiatives in Partnership with Patients and Service users.
As a prominent speaker and advocate, Iolo regularly contributes to national panels and symposiums, highlighting how integrated patient and Service user feedback builds public trust and improves clinical outcomes. Known for his collaborative approach, he is highly regarded for bridging the gap between healthcare management and the communities they serve. He remains guided by a core philosophy that true service quality is built upon care, compassion and the shared expertise of healthcare professionals and patients alike.
Dr Ramiro Gilardino
HTA & Policy Expert, Insights & Impact, Switzerland
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Ramiro Gilardino has more than 15 years at the intersection of HTA, market access and health policy. He has led access strategy in some of the most complex regulatory environments in the industry, including EU Joint Clinical Assessment, IRA and evolving global pricing scrutiny, helping organisations anticipate and navigate change across launch and lifecycle.
Chloe Greene
Patient Advocate, Ireland
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Chloe is a stroke survivor, having had a CVST stroke at 22 years old. After spending 37 months as an inpatient in hospital for treatment and rehabilitation, she decided to go back to education and completed a Masters of Science in Psychology. This is where she combined her lived experience and love for research and decided she wanted to do a PhD researching young cardiovascular disease patient experiences of accessing mental health support throughout treatment. This PhD is funded by Research Ireland Enterprise Partnership Scheme alongside Global Heart Hub.
Prof John Gordon Harold
Member of Global Heart Hub’s Clinical & Specialist Advisory Panel; Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University, USA
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Dr John Gordon Harold is a cardiologist based in Los Angeles, California, where he serves as Professor at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University and Emeritus Professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. He completed his cardiovascular disease fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and his internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai Hospital/Icahn School of Medicine in New York City. Dr Harold earned his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1979 and a BS in Biomedical Sciences from the City College Sophie Davis Center for Biomedical Education in 1977. A recognised leader in academic medicine, Dr Harold is a Past President of the American College of Cardiology and previously chaired its Board of Governors. He devoted 13 years of cumulative service to the American Board of Internal Medicine and its Foundation, serving on its Board of Directors and as a Trustee. He also served two separate terms as President of the Los Angeles affiliate of the American Heart Association. Dr Harold’s clinical expertise encompasses Geriatric Cardiology, General Cardiology and Internal Medicine. In recognition of his contributions to the field, he holds honorary fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians (London), the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Irish Cardiac Society, the British Cardiovascular Society, and the Cardiological Society of India.
Neil Johnson
Executive Director,
Global Heart Hub,
Ireland
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Neil Johnson is a founder and Executive Director of Global Heart Hub, the first international alliance of heart patient organisations. Neil has over 32 years of experience in cardiovascular health – working across prevention, education, patient engagement, service innovation & implementation, and patient advocacy.
Neil was Chief Executive of the Irish Heart & Stroke organisation, Croí from 1992–2023 and the Irish National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health from 2014–2023.
He holds a Master’s degree in psychology; is an Honorary Clinical Fellow of the School of Medicine, University of Galway, Ireland; and in 2023, University of Galway awarded Neil an Honorary Doctorate in Laws (LLD) in recognition of his work in cardiovascular health and patient advocacy.
Prof Jennifer Jones
Moderator, Professor of Physiotherapy, Australian Catholic University, Australia
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Prof Jenni Jones is Professor of Physiotherapy at Australian Catholic University in Sydney and Chair of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR). She is also Director of Training and Education at Ireland’s National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health. With more than 30 years’ clinical experience, Jenni combines clinical practice with research, education and international leadership in cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation. She is a former President of both the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation and the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Cardiac Rehabilitation and was selected for the World Heart Federation Emerging Leaders programme in 2017. Her work focuses on multidisciplinary and integrated models of care, behavioural risk-factor modification, digital health innovation and equitable access to lifelong cardiovascular health support. She has also held leadership roles in curriculum development, workforce education and accreditation, including contributions to European Society of Cardiology curricula. Jenni is passionate about co-producing research, education and service innovation with people living with cardiovascular disease. Through initiatives including Exercise4MyHealth, she is developing approaches that bring patients and healthcare professionals together as partners in education, harnessing lived experience to enrich professional learning and shape more responsive, person-centred cardiovascular care.
Ann-Marie Julien
Patient Partner,
Canada
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Ann-Marie is a person with lived experience of a heart condition. As a patient partner, she has been involved in work in both the clinical and research spheres to improve knowledge, tools and outcomes for patients and their caregivers, whether they are recently diagnosed or have been living with their conditions for some time. She is a peer support group leader; organises and moderates events aimed at bringing patients together with healthcare providers to further understand their conditions (for the UOHI and the HeartLife Foundation); has hosted podcasts for the Canadian Cardiovascular Network; and reviews educational materials targeted to patients. She has seen how access to knowledge can change the trajectory of how a person lives with a chronic condition. Recognising the value of bringing real life insight and practical ideas to improve patient care into both clinical and research work, she has been involved in both equipping patients with the confidence and tools to prepare them to be part of teams and to support clinical and research staff looking to engage patient partners in their work. She believes in the power of knowledge and engagement to build strong positive outcomes – for people, partnerships and systems.
Ram Khandelwal
Founder & Executive Director, Heart Health India Foundation, India
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Ram Khandelwal is the Founder and Director of the Heart Health India Foundation (HHIF), a patient-led organisation working to strengthen the voice of people living with cardiovascular disease and their families in India. A heart attack survivor himself, Ram brings lived experience into conversations on cardiovascular prevention, recovery, patient engagement and health-system design. Through HHIF, he works with patients, clinicians, policymakers, researchers and global health organisations to advance more patient-centred approaches to cardiovascular care. His work spans patient support and education, public awareness, research and policy advocacy, with a particular focus on translating clinical knowledge into practical support that people can use in everyday life. Ram is also an urban and health systems professional with over 15 years of consulting experience. He brings a systems-thinking lens to patient advocacy, exploring how healthcare can move beyond episodic treatment towards prevention, sustained engagement and community-based support. He is particularly passionate about ensuring that lived experience becomes an integral part of how cardiovascular health programmes, policies and care systems are designed.
Prof Sandra Lauck
Member of Global Heart Hub’s Clinical & Specialist Advisory Panel; Nurse Clinician Scientist, University of British Columbia, Canada
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Sandra holds the St. Paul’s Hospital Professorship in Cardiovascular Nursing at the University of British Columbia. She is a professor at the UBC School of Nursing and a UBC Knowledge Exchange & Mobilization Scholar. Sandra has a joint appointment as clinician scientist at St. Paul’s Hospital. She leads a program of research focused on improving outcomes and experiences of people with cardiovascular disease, optimising care processes and delivery models to accelerate the uptake of contemporary evidence, and the advancement of nursing practice. She is committed to linking clinical practice, policy and scholarship through active engagement with patients, families, clinicians and government organisations in all aspects of her research program. Sandra is a Fellow of the Canadian and American Academies of Nursing and the European Society of Cardiology.
Claudia Louati
Head of Policy, European Patients’ Forum, Belgium
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Claudia Louati joined the European Patients’ Forum as Head of Policy in May 2023. She leads EPF’s policy and advocacy work, driving the organisation’s engagement with EU and international stakeholders to promote health and regulatory policies that reflect patients’ needs and strengthen patient involvement. Since January 2026, she has also been leading EPF’s capacity-building programme, supporting member organisations through training and leadership development to strengthen patient advocacy and meaningful involvement in health policy and research. Before joining EPF, Claudia worked for almost seven years at the Europe Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, based at the U.S. Mission to the EU in Brussels, where she promoted EU-U.S. regulatory collaboration on medical products. She began her career as a communications and public affairs consultant in Brussels. Claudia holds two master’s degrees in European Affairs from SciencesPo Paris and the London School of Economics.
Dr Lydia Makaroff
Chief Executive, Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, UK
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Lydia Makaroff is Chief Executive of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), which supports MS organisations around the world in improving care, research and health systems for people affected by MS. She works with governments, international organisations and civil society groups to turn research evidence into policy, and has represented the neurology community at the World Health Organization. Before joining MSIF, Lydia spent four years as President of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, bringing together patient organisations from four continents to speak for people affected by bladder cancer. That work, and her time leading Fight Bladder Cancer in the UK, taught her how to get patient organisations from different countries working together while putting lived experience at the heart of decision-making.
Maria Mavris
Patient and Consumer Liaison, European Medicines Agency, Netherlands
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Maria Mavris first joined EMA as a seconded expert from a patient organisation in 2014 and then as a staff member from 2017. As part of the Public and Stakeholder Engagement department of EMA, her work includes engagement patients, carers and consumers all along the regulatory lifecycle of medicines. She also organises support for their involvement in EMA activities as members of EMA’s scientific committees, as representatives of their organisations or as individuals with experience of living with a disease and its treatment.
Gwen Mayes
Patient Advocate, Consultant, Author, GwenCoHealth, USA
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Gwen Mayes is a former physician assistant, attorney and staunch patient advocate having lived with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy since birth. Following a thirty-year health policy career in Washington, DC, she founded GwenCo Health, a consulting firm devoted to bringing the patient’s perspective to the forefront of regulators and decision makers. Prior, she was the head of Advocacy Relations for Bayer US Women’s Healthcare. During the passage of the Affordable Care Act, she was the EVP of Public Policy for the National Patient Advocate Foundation; immediately prior, she was the first Director of Government Affairs and Reimbursement for Abiomed, an innovator in cardiac device support. Currently, Gwen serves as the only Patient Representative on American College of Cardiology’s Oversight Committee of the National Cardiovascular Data Registry, Women Heart Champion, volunteer for the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, and Advisor to the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Clinical Effectiveness Research Committee. Gwen received her AB Pre-Medical Studies from Transylvania University, her Masters of Medical Science from Emory University, and her JD with honor from the University of Maryland. Her first book, More Person Than Patient: Finding Your Purpose and Power with Chronic Illness will be released November 3, 2026, by Mayo Clinic Press.
Richard Mindham
Patient Advocate,
UK
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Richard has contributed to NICE and ESC clinical guideline development and is active in cardiac research, including as a research advisory group member for a London NHS Trust and a Steering Committee member of the IRONMAN trial. His cardiac interests include prevention, physical activity, behaviour change & motivation, mental health and quality of life. A member of the ESC Patient Forum since 2019, he also helped shape and deliver an evidence-based physical activity behaviour-change course for allied professionals in Ireland.
Derick Mitchell
Executive Director of PFMD (Patient Focused Medicines Development); The Synergist, Ireland
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Derick is Executive Director of PFMD (Patient Focused Medicines Development) – a global collaborative and non-competitive coalition to improve global health by co-designing the future of healthcare for patients WITH patients. PFMD hosts the annual Made with Patients Awards which recognise the individuals and initiatives shaping what meaningful patient engagement looks like in practice across the global health ecosystem from Medicine Development and MedTech to Digital Health and beyond. Derick’s background combines patient advocacy, translational research and multi-stakeholder collaboration at the National, Regional and Global levels. He spent a decade (2015–2024) as the Chief Executive of IPPOSI – the Irish Platform for Patients’ Organisations, Science and Industry where he spearheaded a number of collaborative partnerships between patients, government, industry and academic science aimed at putting patients at the heart of health policy and innovation. He is also a former board member of the European Patient Academy (EUPATI) Foundation, a global initiative which is training patients to become involved in the medicines R&D process. Derick is an Adjunct Professor in Clinical Research at Trinity College Dublin and holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine from University College Dublin.
Rhonda Monroe
Patient Engagement Thought Leader, USA
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Rhonda Monroe is a former economist/business analyst who became an international healthcare advocate after surviving a catastrophic illness. Her second act, spanning over 2 decades, has positioned her as a thought leader in cardiovascular research, patient advocacy and engagement. Rhonda’s healthcare leadership experience includes serving as a board director and fiduciary in a health system and as a nonprofit board leader. Rhonda launched BOOST – Better Outcomes Optimal Scientific Therapies to shift the culture of care and promote evidence-based engagement, improving patient outcomes. She currently serves on the board of directors of the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, helped launch the inaugural patient committee for the Heart Failure Society of America and served on their legislative advocacy committee. Rhonda is also a member of the Heart Failure Collaboratory. Rhonda has appeared in TIME magazine, been published in several peer-reviewed journals, and sits on many boards for clinical trials, including as Co-Chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Board of the RECHARGE Trial. She starred in a national Bayer aspirin commercial and received the West Virginia Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. Rhonda is a native of Washington, D.C., residing in Charlotte, NC.
Dani Mothci
CEO, International Alliance of Patients’ Organisations, UK
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Dani is a social policy professional with a strong commitment to creating opportunities for people to feel empowered within their own communities. She has experience in community development, co-production, policy design and implementation, and project management.
Dani joined IAPO in 2016 to work on the membership portfolio, converting members’ needs, interests and ideas into joint efforts and actions at regional and global levels. She also led IAPO’s international partnerships, one of the key pillars of IAPO’s work.
Before moving to the UK, Dani worked in NGOs and public institutions at both local and state levels in Rio de Janeiro to address local priorities of low-income groups by securing the collaboration of organisations from across the public, private and third sectors.
Dani has an MSc in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
Dr Elisabeth Oehrlein
EVP & Head of Patient Engagement, AppliedPX / Reservoir Health, USA
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Elisabeth M. Oehrlein, Ph.D., MS, is a mixed methods researcher who leads qualitative and quantitative primary data collection studies to produce actionable patient and caregiver insights across the medical product lifecycle. Her expertise includes patient-centered evidence generation, clinical outcome assessment (COA) strategy and development, and patient-centered evidence planning. She partners with life sciences companies and patient organisations to identify patient-centered evidence needs, prioritise research investments, and develop evidence that reflects patients’ lived experience, unmet needs, burden of disease, and desired outcomes to inform research, development, regulatory, access and post-launch decision-making. Dr. Oehrlein founded AppliedPX, a patient-centered research and strategy consulting firm that was acquired by Reservoir in 2026. She currently serves as Principal Scientist at AppliedPX and Executive Vice President and Head of Patient Engagement at Reservoir. Prior to founding AppliedPX, she served on the National Health Council senior leadership team, where she directed research and educational initiatives focused on patient engagement, value assessment and real-world evidence. She has spoken widely on patient-centered research, including invited presentations at the National Academy of Sciences and briefings to the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus. She has published extensively in medical, economic and health policy journals and serves as an Associate Editor of Value in Health. Elisabeth holds a BA from Franklin & Marshall College, an MS in Epidemiology from the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology and Human Genetics, and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Prof Fausto Pinto
Member of Global Heart Hub’s Clinical & Specialist Advisory Panel; Cardiologist, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
About the Speaker
Fausto Pinto received his MD and PhD from the Lisbon University Medical School and completed fellowships at Santa Maria University Hospital (Lisbon, Portugal), and Stanford University Medical School (CA, USA), where he was also Clinical Attending in the Echocardiography laboratory. Full Professor of Cardiology/Medicine and Head of the Cardiovascular Department of Santa Maria University Hospital and President of Cardiovascular Center of University of Lisbon (CCUL). He was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (2015–22). President and founder of the European Association of Echocardiography (2003–2004), President of the European Society of Cardiology (2014–2016) and President of the World Heart Federation (2021–22). Fellow and Gold Medal of the ESC (FESC), European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (FEACVI), American College of Cardiology (FACC), American Society of Angiology (FASA), Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (FSCAI) and the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE); honorary member of several international societies and academies. Published over 800 papers. Main areas of interest are global health, digital health, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, anticoagulation and cardiovascular imaging, with particular interest in the use of ultrasound in cardiology and has pioneered the use of intravascular ultrasound in the study of graft atherosclerosis.
Apoorva Sancheti
Physiotherapist, Ireland
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Apoorva Sancheti is a physiotherapist and MSc Student in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation from University of Galway, Ireland. Her academic and clinical interests focus on cardiovascular disease prevention, cardiac rehabilitation, secondary prevention and the delivery of patient-centred rehabilitation services.
Carolyn Taylor
Founder/Executive Director, Global Focus on Cancer, USA
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Carolyn Taylor is the Founder and Executive Director of Global Focus on Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing people-centered and equitable cancer care globally. Her work spans research, implementation, policy, and advocacy, with a focus on improving supportive care, strengthening health systems, and ensuring that the voices and expertise of people with lived experience inform research, policy, and practice.
Sean Taylor
Director of Science and Public Health, World Heart Federation, Switzerland
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
Sean joined World Heart Federation as Director of Science and Public Health in 2022 and has over 15 years’ experience in the health and not-for-profit sectors. He is responsible for various programmes, including WHF’s World Heart Observatory data hub, and health systems strengthening tools such as its CVD Roadmaps. Sean holds a master’s degree in Global Health from the University of Geneva and is currently pursuing a PhD in epidemiology at Utrecht University.
Jeffrey Wexler
Patient Advocate, CEO & Founder, Voices Atrial Fibrillation Patients, USA
– Unite Annual Summit
About the Speaker
As the Founder and Director of Voices of Atrial Fibrillation Patients (VoAFP), Jeffrey leveraged over four decades of expertise in healthcare information technology and clinical data management to build a ‘research-ready’ patient infrastructure. His career in cardiology and remote patient monitoring began in 1980 with CAT-ECG, providing him with a foundational understanding of the technical and clinical requirements for tracking cardiac arrhythmias. He serves as the Principal Architect of the VoAFP engagement pipeline. He draws directly upon his experience managing clinical data, technical systems and senior project management for to ensure the planned Research Patient Registry (RPR) meets the highest standards of data integrity and privacy. His object is the cultivation of a highly educated, ‘research-active’ community of diagnosed AFib patients. He oversees the implementation of the ‘Zero-Link’ Privacy Firewall between their anonymous Qualtrics research tools and Salesforce registry, ensuring that the patient voice is captured securely and professionally for future CER. The continuing development of VoAFP and a suite of services and efforts to bring the Voices of Atrial Fibrillation patients is to the clinical domain is at the heart of everything he envisions for them and the patient community they serve.
Caroline Wong
Strategic Advisor/Patient Partnership Expert, Centre of Excellence on Partnership with Patients and the Public, Canada
About the Speaker
Caroline Wong is a Strategic Advisor and was the first Executive Director for the Centre of Excellence on Partnership with Patients and the Public (CEPPP) in Montreal, Quebec. She works to advance meaningful partnerships with patients, caregivers, and public members by positioning their experiential knowledge and lived experience as essential drivers of healthcare research, education, quality improvement, and innovation. In her role, she helps elevate these voices, mobilize their knowledge, and foster collaborative approaches that make healthcare more inclusive, responsive, and grounded in the realities of those who experience, use, and navigate healthcare systems.
Durhane Wong-Rieger
President & CEO, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, Canada
About the Speaker
Dr Durhane Wong-Rieger is the president and CEO of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from McGill University and previously served as a professor at the University of Windsor. Internationally, she is president of the Asia Pacific Alliance of Rare Disease Organisations, treasurer of the United Nations Nongovernmental Committee for Rare Diseases, member of the International Research Consortium on Rare Diseases and RDI-Lancet Commission on Rare Diseases as well as board member of Testing to Targeted Treatments (FT3). She is Co-Founder and Immediate Past Chair of Rare Diseases International. In Canada, she is chair of the Consumer Advocare Network, president and CEO of the Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes, and chair of the Canadian Heart Patient Alliance. She is currently Co-Chair of the Implementation Advisory Group of Canada‚ National Strategy on Drugs for Rare Diseases. A certified health coach, trainer and frequent lecturer, Dr Wong-Rieger has authored three books and multiple articles.
Manjusha Chatterjee
Global Heart Hub
About the Speaker
Manjusha has nearly 15 years of health advocacy, policy, communications, coalition building and capacity development experience across multiple sectors. Manjusha has worked at AstraZeneca leading the company’s global patient advocacy and policy activities across several cancer types and focusing on equitable access to medicines, meaningful cross-sector partnerships and improvements in patient-health worker relationships. She previously worked at the NCD Alliance where she oversaw the global, flagship Our Views, Our Voices initiative focused on meaningful involvement of people living with non-communicable diseases and was global grant manager for several capacity development and community engagement activities across multiple geographies. Manjusha also served as Co-Chair of the World Health Organisation’s NCD Lab on Meaningful Involvement of People Living with NCDs and represented NCD Alliance at the Patients and Communities Working Group of the WHO Academy.
Currently based in the UK, Manjusha is originally from India, where she has led health advocacy and communications initiatives while working at the Public Health Foundation of India and in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Health and WHO Country Office. She has a multidisciplinary background including degrees in Journalism, Conflict Transformation & Peacebuilding and a Masters in Global Politics from the London School of Economics.
Fiona Savio
Global Cardiovascular Advocacy Senior Manager, Amgen Inc., USA
About the Speaker
Fiona Savio is Amgen’s Global Cardiovascular Advocacy Lead. Since joining Amgen in 2008, she has focused on improving outcomes by bringing patient perspectives into healthcare and advocacy. She partners with patient organizations, healthcare stakeholders, and colleagues around the world to advance cardiovascular health, strengthen patient engagement, and support more responsive care.
Fiona’s experience spans patient engagement, advocacy, and clinical research, with publications in clinical epidemiology and ageing. Her current work includes cardiovascular risk reduction, women’s cardiovascular health, and global initiatives that amplify patient voices and inform health system change. She is passionate about building trusted partnerships and ensuring that patients’ and care partners’ experiences help shape the decisions that affect them.
Andrea Rappagliosi
MedTech Europe,
Switzerland
About the Speaker
Andrea is the Sr Vice-President Public Affairs EMEACLA at Edwards Lifesciences, the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring.
Andrea provides leadership and is accountable for the development and execution of strategic Government Affairs, Market Access, Communication and Patients Advocacy programs to set a patient-centred innovation healthcare agenda across all EMEACLA. He is responsible to engage policymakers, governments, payers and HTA agencies across business units and the respective corporate functions. He is member of the regional Executive Leadership Team.
Andrea received a law degree from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and began his professional career in the Italian Senate.
In the last ten years, Andrea represented the healthcare Industry in several European EU Commission and Member States initiatives such as the HTANetwork, EUnetHTA Joint-Action 3, and the EU Active & Healthy Aging Innovation Partnership. Andrea is a founding member of the HTAi Policy Forum. He was member of the High-Level Pharmaceutical Forum (2005-2008).
Paloma Tejada
Alliance Building and Partnerships Lead at International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
About the Speaker
Paloma leads global alliance-building, strategic partnerships, public affairs, and advocacy at IFPMA, fostering alignment between the pharmaceutical industry and patient organisations, healthcare professionals, medical societies, and other health stakeholders around shared priorities. She works to strengthen the policy environment for improved access to highly innovative therapies and technologies, while advancing collaborative initiatives in global health.
Previously, she launched Rare Diseases International, a global advocacy alliance of rare disease patient organisations, and spearheaded Rare Disease Day, growing it from a European disease awareness initiative into a global campaign. These initiatives have helped amplify patient voices, mobilise stakeholders, and build global momentum around rare disease priorities.
Paloma began her career as Programme Coordinator for Médecins du Monde’s international HIV/AIDS network and has worked for non-governmental organisations across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. She holds a Master’s in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Print Journalism from American University.
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