Our work in patient engagement is guided by our Research Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC). PFAC is made up of CHEO family members who believe in the impact research can have on how we care for kids at CHEO and beyond as well as six administrators/researchers from the CHEO Research Institute (CHEO-RI). The committee works to engage families in all aspects of research conducted by CHEO-RI.
PFAC’S Purpose
Based on experienced family voices, the PFAC advises and makes recommendations to CHEO-RI staff in order to promote family engagement in research. We’re moving beyond families as only research participants to families as partners in all aspects of the research process from developing an idea or research question to sharing the study results.
Responsibilities and Opportunities
Our members:
- Attend monthly meetings at the CHEO-RI (in person, teleconference or video conference).
- Advance client and family-centered research.
- Help researchers identify and plan future directions.
- Provide advice on the communication strategy:
- Help researchers plan how to best share the results
- Help researchers ensure that results are understandable to families who were part of the research
- Co-present or co-publish findings
- Help with social media communication (e.g. Discovery Minutes)
- Advise the CHEO-RI on how to promote family engagement in research
- Share knowledge with caregivers and other parents
Patient and Family Advisory Committee Members
Michelle Quinlan – Co-Chair
Family Leader Program Coordinator, CHEO Research Institute
Heather McPhail – Co-Chair
Patient/Family Representative
Bleadon Anderson
Patient/Family Representative (Youth)
Michelina Sicoli
Administrative Support, CHEO Research Insititute
Rhonda Correll
Chief Operating Officer, CHEO Research Institute
Claire Dawe-McCord
Patient/Family Representative (Youth)
Shelley Frappier
Patient/Family Representative
Jackie Minnes
Postdoctoral Fellow, CHEO RI and Patient/Family Representative
Sheena Murphy
Patient/Family Representative
Nicole Obeid
Investigator, CHEO Research Institute Adjunct Professor, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa Lead, Research and Outcomes Management, Eating Disorder Program
Katie O’ Hearn
Research Coordinator, CHEO Research Institute
Andy Statia
Patient/Family Representative
Spencer Warren
Patient/Family Representative