The Center for Patient Partnerships
Student Advocates
Students come to study at the Center from a variety of professional and graduate programs around the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and also as guest students from other universities. The interdisciplinary nature of the Center fosters interprofessional work among students of law, medicine, nursing, health policy, health systems engineering, pharmacy, social work and other disciplines. In addition to our patient advocacy clinical we offer several courses.
Students Share Their Experiences
I enrolled in the Center's clinical program because during my year off between undergrad and medical school, I wanted to work with patients for longer periods of time and after they leave the doctor's office. Working with clients has given me perspective of what patients have to deal with on a daily basis, especially in terms of barriers within the health care system. These experiences have shaped how I want to approach the patient-physician relationship in my own career.
- Pre-med student
The Center provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with clients using the knowledge and skills gained from my UW Social Work education - patient-centered care that focuses on respect, empathy, self-determination, empowerment, and resilience. My work as a student advocate helps me understand the barriers individuals face within their environment as well as how these barriers are constructed by our social politics and systems.
- Social worker
My work in law school has taught me the substantive knowledge I needed to be a legal advocate on this client's behalf, but my work at the Center has taught me something just as important: the responsibility and honor of keeping a patient's hope alive.
- Law student
Looking outside myself to help another person in need has helped me to refocus my life. I know that I am in pharmacy school so that some day I can help change the system that so many of our patients are trying to desperately navigate, and in the mean time I get to learn along side of them.
- Pharmacy student
While at first I might think that I can't relate to a client who has no income or insurance, I realize that I could easily fall into the client's situation with just one injury. It is these short distances between life situations that make me believe that it is possible to relate to all clients, even if you have not directly experienced what they are experiencing."
- Student Advocate
The most beneficial feature of the Center is the interdiscplinary nature of the advocacy we provide to the patient because it allows us to meet their complex, multifaceted needs in a holistic way. It is also equally crucial for our development as student advocates because we learn how to work with professionals in other disciplines on behalf of our clients. This is an essential skill in the real world after law school.
- Law student
I have learned more in these first five weeks of the clinical about health care financing than I probably will in the next two and half years of schooling. This experience will affect the rest of my life.
- Pharmacy student
Interacting with patients is an art and a fine line. As a future medical student and physician, I hope to master this art that seems like some doctors have forgotten.
- Medical Student
There are always events in our lives that unexpectedly end up defining the period of time during which they occurred...it didn't take long for me to realize that my experiences at the Center would come to define my first year of pharmacy school.
- Pharmacy student
Working at the Center for Patient Partnerships...I have also learned that I can in fact be an active member of society even at a young age. The Center provided me a place to grow personally and professionally, hopefully these lessons will lend themselves to me becoming a pharmacist who is socially and culturally relevant.
- Pharmacy student
My experience at the Center exposed me to the depth and complexity of the healthcare system.
- Visiting Law student
It was apparent that she would much prefer to be a mother to her son without having a dual role as an advocate...we were able to lift that burden and help with insurance coverage issues so his treatment was not interrupted.
- Health Systems Engineering student
From Student Advocate To Health Policy Professional
When the Center opened its doors to clients in 2001, a law student, Kelly C., was there. As the Center's first project assistant, Kelly supported center casework while researching legal issues specific to childhood cancer survivorship, including barriers to accessing health insurance.
Kelly's interest in the Center was no coincidence. At age 11, she was treated for leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant from her brother. Her experience profoundly shaped her career aspirations.
"Through my training as a patient advocate, and doing legal research on childhood cancer, I realized my goal of helping children with cancer. These experiences guided me to a career in public policy," says Kelly.
Now Director of Legislative Affairs for CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation, Kelly, who received her law degree in 2002, says the Center helped launch her career.
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!
