Vicki Goodman-Strenski
Member of the Zgierska Patient and Family Advisory Committee and Stakeholder Advisory Committee since 2017
What is one thing you really like about being a member of a patient advisory committee?
I really appreciate how open the researchers and project coordinators are with the patients on the committees. You can tell that they’re listening. I’m thrilled that I get to be on both the Patient and Family Advisory Committee and the Stakeholder Advisory Committee. I got to meet stakeholders from three different cities and the actual researchers on the project. You can tell they’re really invested and really care about the project. I’m enjoying getting to know different people and different perspectives.
What is one interesting experience you had at a patient advisory committee meeting or a time when you thought the patient input really helped the research team?
This is something simple, but it’s been true at every meeting. The researchers really want the input. That was evident in the design of the [recruitment] brochure. They took most, if not all, of the input from stakeholders. And it was obvious that they care.
How has being part of a patient advisory committee affected your attitude about research generally or the UW-Madison?
I was involved in implementing research projects at [my job], and I’ve talked to people who were developing research projects. What I’ve never done is be a participant. I have to say that I didn’t know about that part or understand how important it is. I’m impressed that participants are an integral and important part of research. UW is taking it seriously, and that’s exciting to me.
Please tell me something interesting about yourself that people might be surprised to learn about you.
I’ve been practicing meditation over 30 years. I’m very committed to this project in that I truly believe that people with chronic pain need a combination of mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy in order to survive and increase their quality of life.
Each month, WINRS interviews a community or patient advisor about their experiences on an advisory board or committee. Know someone on one of your advisory boards who might want to be interviewed? Email svabek@wisc.edu