Here at the Alliance for Aging Research, we are proud NERDs, especially when it comes to empowering patients to engage in patient-centered outcomes research. The Alliance’s Talk NERDY to Me network is evidence of this!
NERDY stands for “Nurturing Engagement in Research and Development with You,” and we want you to join us for this fall’s Talk NERDY to Me training!
We are currently seeking advocates to participate in the 2020 research-advocacy training program designed to empower older adult patients and their family caregivers to engage in patient-centered outcomes research. This year we will be offering a six-week program. Beginning Wednesday, October 14, 2020, participants will meet on five Wednesdays for 90 minutes from Noon-1:30 pm EST. They will also complete weekly assignments and have other opportunities to collaborate online. The workshop will culminate in individualized action plans for each participant from Noon-1:30 pm EST on Thursday, November 19. Participants successfully completing the workshop will receive a stipend of $400 and a Certificate of Completion for participating in the training.
Are you are an older adult patient or a family caregiver of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease, heart valve disease, atrial fibrillation, chronic pain and/or disability, macular degeneration, or sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss)? If so, are you engaged in advocacy in one of these health conditions, excited to learn about medical research, and willing to make the commitment? If so, we want to hear from you!
If you are still wondering if you should apply, here’s why past advocates found the Talk NERDY to Me training so valuable:
“The most valuable part of the Talk NERDY to Me training was meeting other people from different disease communities and learning more about research.”
—Teresa Wright-Johnson
“The Talk NERDY to Me training is fantastic because it is opening my eyes to different avenues and different tools that I can use to become a successful advocate for macular degeneration.”
—Marlene Klein
“I think the most valuable part of the Talk NERDY [to Me] training, for me, was to learn what a valuable resource this agency [Alliance for Aging Research] is.”
—Vera Howard
“I think the most valuable part of the Talk Nerdy to Me training was just realizing that there are all these people that are out there helping people who can’t really help themselves.”
—Jay MacIntosh
You can also check out these spotlights featuring former Talk NERDY to Me trainees:
- Patty Peterson: Patty Peterson reflects on her patient advocacy journey
- Marlene Klein: Patient-advocate reflects on the importance of AMD Awareness Month
- Debbe McCall: Becoming your own patient-advocate
- Jim and Geri Taylor: Research advocacy training empowers patients and caregivers
- Terrie Montgomery: How a woman with Alzheimer’s disease lives every second
Anyone who is engaged in advocacy in one of the priority health conditions, excited to learn about medical research, and willing to make the full commitment to the six-week program is encouraged to apply by emailing Sarah DiGiovine at [email protected].
