The Center for Patient Partnerships
Komen Advocates Training Program Enters Second Year
Download a printable brochure (PDF)
May 2007
The Center for Patient Partnerships has received funding for Year II of the Komen Advocates Training Program. The program trains breast cancer survivors as patient advocates. Nine Komen Advocates completed the first year of training, and the Center seeks women interested in becoming trained patient advocates.
Funding for this program was received from Komen for the Cure, Madison Affiliate
We are recruiting new Advocates-in-Training. Training for this class begins August 2007.
Interested in becoming a Komen Advocate?
To learn more about how you can become a Komen Advocate, please contact Mary Michaud mdmichaud@wisc.edu at the Center for Patient Partnerships. Or contact the Center at 608-265-6267 or cpp@law.wisc.edu
Who are Komen Advocates?
Komen Advocates are breast cancer survivors who have committed to assisting women and families in Dane County affected who are diagnosed with breast cancer navigate the health care system. (Read bios of the 2006-07 class.) They range in age from their mid-30s to their mid-60s, and they come from many professional walks of life-education, ministry, law, nursing, counseling, marketing, and business. Some have school-aged children, others are grandparents, and others have no children. All, however, share a passion for learning and for applying their knowledge and experience to advocating for patients and families.
What is patient advocacy?
Patient advocates guide others with serious or chronic conditions to make informed medical decisions, cultivate effective partnerships with providers, recognize the financial and employment issues they may face, and provide support along the journey.
What do Komen Advocates learn?
Komen Advocates learn to help clients identify, anticipate and cope with challenges related to their breast cancer diagnosis. They help clients stay in touch with their own priorities, guiding them as they embark on an often life-changing journey. Training topics include medical decision-making, navigating insurance issues, sorting out employment quandaries, managing medical debt, and assisting clients who may be planning for the end of life. Along the way, Advocates learn strategies to help clients build self-advocacy skills for healthy survivorship.
What is the time commitment?
Training and advocacy require between eight and fifteen hours a month. You will meet with other advocates four hours each month to learn how to recognize issues and guide others with cancer. By working as an advocate, you'll learn skills and approaches for effective patient advocacy. The program also offers the opportunity to become part of an innovative educational center at the national forefront of the patient advocacy movement.
We have posted a tentative training schedule.
What if I work full-time?
Employers are sometimes willing to provide paid leave for volunteer work or for professional development. Ask us how we can help you make this request.
Why is the Komen Advocates Program important?
There is currently no peer health mentorship training program for breast cancer survivors in Dane County
Want to Help?
As the Center for Patient Partnerships grows, you can help educate, advocate and innovate to make health systems more consumer-centered. Though we do not charge for our advocacy services, we welcome contributions to the Center. Please join the mission by contributing!
