In this episode of PEP Talks, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, host Emma interviews Ify, the Chief Patient Officer for the rare disease franchise at Novo Nordisk. Ify shares her journey from being a hematologist oncologist to becoming a Chief Patient Officer, highlighting the unique path that led her from academia to the pharmaceutical industry.

She discusses the misconceptions about the industry and emphasises the alignment of her values with Novo Nordisk's mission to prioritise patient care and community investment. Ify also talks about the importance of understanding the patient community, the need for collaboration across different sectors, and the evolving nature of patient engagement practices.

She highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and collaboration in her role, and expresses her commitment to driving change for people living with rare diseases. Emma concludes the episode by praising Ify's leadership and her dedication to patient advocacy and engagement.

In this hard-hitting Pep talk we hear first hand what it’s like to endure a decade where healthcare systems fail to take your life threatening symptoms seriously.

• John Nelson suffered with mental illness for over a decade, trying numerous medications and treatments without success, until he underwent deep brain stimulation surgery that has put him into complete remission.
• He is passionate about "pulverising the stigma" around mental illness, advocating for greater societal acceptance and earlier treatment-seeking by those suffering.
• He emphasises the critical importance of patient engagement and incorporating the patient voice from the very beginning of medical research and device development, particularly in the mental health space.
• He calls on healthcare professionals and companies to approach mental health with the same empathy and commitment as other medical conditions, in order to drive innovation and improve outcomes for those suffering.

Emma hosts a PEP Talks session with Dr. Roz, a renowned figure in patient engagement, discussing her journey and insights in the field. Dr. Roz, a pulmonologist with a rich background in clinical practice and academia, shares her experiences from her tenure at Pfizer and BioMarin, highlighting the importance of patient engagement in the biopharmaceutical industry.

She emphasises the need for listening to patients and involving them in the product lifecycle to prioritise patient-relevant outcomes. Dr. Roz reflects on the challenges and successes in establishing patient engagement teams, advocating for a culture of respect and trust towards patients as lived experience experts.

She discusses the complexities of engaging patients early in the development process and the perceived legal barriers, stressing the importance of transparent communication. Now consulting, Dr. Roz continues to contribute to the field, drawing inspiration from her family and the patient engagement community.