Taking patient centricity to new heights

Keri Yale, our head of patient centricity and engagement, gives an update on our patient-powered progress in 2023 and plans moving forward. This article is written from her point of view.  

 

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Patient centricity is our mission to put patients first as we continue making discoveries and developing medicines that change lives. Focusing on patients and finding the best solutions for them is a core tenant of our work. Patient centricity is the thread that connects all parts of the organization. It weaves together the rich fabric of our multi-faceted efforts to develop products, services and solutions that create the best outcome for people, their care partners, and their loved ones.  

Launching patient week  

We took patient centricity to new heights in November 2023 by holding our first-ever patient week. The theme for the week was "Keeping PaCE - Patients at the Center of Everything". It was designed to expand our employees’ connection to our: 

  • Shared purpose of transforming lives for generations 
  • Holistic understanding of patients’ lived experiences 
  • Passion to motivate, inspire, and encourage one another to focus on patients every day 
A photo of a woman with long blonde hair smiling into the camera wearing a navy-blue shirt with a round, silver necklace. Image has a light gray background.
Keri Yale

Evolving patient centricity  

It was a lift, and a significant one at that, but with countless moments of meaningful engagement that truly mattered, it was a week that created a palpable shift in the evolution of patient centricity at our company. We rolled up our sleeves and brought forward an innovative program with interactive experiences and simulations, including:  

  • Panels with patients and care partners sharing their stories and expertise  
  • Thought leadership on the evolving clinical trial landscape  
  • Art installations inspired by patients and their health journey 
  • Awards recognizing employees that drive excellence in patient centricity/engagement and health equity 

What we found 

We learned from patients and care partners about their path to diagnosis and how we can best support their treatment journey or experience. Patient centricity is a culture, a mindset, and the foundation of how all of us approach the work that we do to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable world. By centering patients in all that we do, we are better connected and positioned to deliver more value and more impact for generations to come. 

Re-imaging the patient experience 

This was an unforgettable week, and I am still reflecting on its impact and all that we learned, but I know for certain that we must continue to do this work and we must do this work together. That’s why our leaders created a new patient excellence organization within the U.S. human pharma business. We seek to understand the unmet needs and preferences to ensure we positively re-imagine the patient experience.  

Do you want to do more for patients? Explore a career with us!  

An Employee’s Commitment to Ensuring Access to Medicines
A headshot with a blue background for Deborah Reardon, our director of access solution. Deborah has highlighted, shoulder-length wavy hair, blue eyes, and is wearing a dark V-neck shirt.
About Us

An Employee’s Commitment to Ensuring Access to Medicines

Deb Reardon, who leads access solutions at our company, was named a Working for Cures’ 2022 Employee Champion for her work in ensuring patients have access to our affordable, life-enhancing medicines.
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