Call for patient partner volunteers

Did you know that many of the medical professionals you interact with at hospitals and clinics are Dawson graduates? If you have had your blood drawn and tested (Biomedical Laboratory Technology), had an MRI, CT scan or x-ray (Diagnostic Imaging Technology), or received radiation therapy, (Radiation Oncology Technology), you would have surely interacted with a former Dawson graduate.

Do you, or a loved one, have significant lived experience as a patient? Do you want to make a difference and improve the experience of patients receiving medical care? If so, the accredited medical technology programs at Dawson hope that you, or your loved one, will consider becoming a volunteer patient partner.

Patient partners can be guest speakers, mentors to students, collaborators on learning activities, or members of the advisory boards. Patient partners are well positioned to help students understand how professional conduct can support patients’ experiences, outcomes, and trust in the health care system.

Biomedical Laboratory Technology, Diagnostic Imaging Technology, and Radiation Oncology Technology have a pressing need to build patient partnerships to meet new accreditation standards required by EQual Canada. As a volunteer patient partner, you or your loved one, will share your expert perspective on communication thereby supporting our students in building patient-centered interpersonal skills, prior to their internships.

If you, or a loved one, are interested in collaborating to improve the experiences of future patients, please consider becoming a patient partner!

Patient partners have… 

• Significant lived experience accessing health services
• Ability to speak comfortably and candidly in a group about their lived experience of interacting with medical professionals
• Ability to share and use personal experience constructively
• Ability to give constructive feedback to students and program members

The medical technology program will…

• Help ensure patient partners understand their role in the program
• Support patient partners on sharing stories and mentoring students
• Provide an overview of core competencies and expectations in the program’s institutional contexts, jurisdictions, and professions
• Meet accordingly in-person or using an online platform
• Require patient partners to sign consent forms before interacting with students
• Ensure that patient partners may withdraw their participation at any time

If you are ready to volunteer as a patient partner, please click on the link and fill in the form. We will reach out and connect with you shortly! Patient partner sign up form

If you would like further information about patient partnerships, please contact any program directly.