Happy Holidays From PCPE!

2025 was an extra special year for us! After organizing the first two conferences in 2005 and 2015, we hosted the 3rd international conference on ‘Where’s the patient’s voice in health professional education – 20 years on?‘ that brought over 260 people from 14 countries to Vancouver! We were proud to provide an unprecedented $35,000 in bursaries to support 45 patients and 29 students to participate. True to the promise of its fireworks logo, the conference reignited old connections and sparked new opportunities to collaborate internationally. We were heartened by a new generation of scholars and patients who have breathed new life into the movement which began with the first international conference 20 years ago! The torch is now in good hands for the fireworks to continue to burn bright and ignite innovation over the next 20 years!

This year also saw a critical advancement of the work nationally with the establishment of ‘Patient Partnership in Health Professional Education‘ as an official network of the Association of the Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC). The first in-person meeting of the new network will take place at the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) in Ottawa in April 2026!

In November Dr. Bonita Sawatzky was appointed to an 18-month term as the Canfield Distinguished Scholar in Patient Partnerships (see next story). We look forward to her fresh ideas and working together in 2026 and beyond!

2025 was also the start of the 15th cohort of the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program with over 170 students and 48 mentors. For the first time we held an in-person orientation for students and mentors at the University of Northern BC and we have in-person mentorship groups in all program sites around the province including Prince George, Kelowna, Surrey, and Victoria.

Additionally, over 130 patients were involved in 500+ hours of panels, workshops, case discussions, small group work, committees, and more for 2,700+ students across 4 faculties. Thank you to all the patient and community partners who make this possible! We look forward to new partnerships and collaborations in 2026!

Wishing you good health, a joyful holiday season, and happy new year!
Cathy, Mandy, Betsa, Alina, Angela and Bill