The Importance of Prioritizing Conferences as a Health Advocate

As an advocate, author, and speaker, I can attest to the profound impact of conferences on my caregiver journey and how visiting conferences helped me develop into a more focused healthcare advocate. I learned about the underlying issues affected by people with the same health condition as my daughter. Conferences helped me network with other advocates who shared my name in spaces that helped me gain new opportunities; therefore, I shared these words to underline the significance of prioritizing conference attendance as a health advocate.

Why I prioritize conferences

1. Networking that drives opportunities:

For me, conferences offer more than sessions and workshops; they serve as hubs for forging connections with like-minded advocates. These networks have opened doors to new partnerships, collaborations, and exciting opportunities, propelling my advocacy work forward. They have also helped me develop life-long friends with whom I text and communicate regularly.

2. Professional growth:

By prioritizing attendance at conferences, I invest in my ongoing professional development. Staying informed about industry trends, gaining new skills, and embracing fresh perspectives have been instrumental in my growth as an advocate. Speaking, moderating, and presenting have helped me define how I want to show up in my community and pay it forward to other families with similar needs and concerns.

3. Fueling passion with inspiration:

Conferences provide a unique space where I draw inspiration from industry leaders, success stories, and innovative solutions. This inspiration reignites my passion, motivation, and commitment to effecting positive change in healthcare advocacy. It also helps me see what my health community needs are because I can speak directly to other caregivers.

4. Staying informed and empowered:

Prioritizing conferences ensures that I stay abreast of emerging issues, best practices, and cutting-edge technologies in healthcare advocacy. This knowledge empowers me to drive impactful change and remain at the forefront of the field. It also provides a safe space for me to share my concerns and obtain strength in numbers when I communicate them to others.

The power of networking and engagement

I believe that prioritizing conferences offers a multitude of benefits, particularly in networking and engagement.

Opportunities for collaboration:

I have cultivated collaborations with industry experts, organizations, and fellow advocates through networking at conferences. These partnerships amplify our collective impact and drive transformative change. Frankly, you never know who you’ll meet. At my last conference, I met the creator of one of Netflix's top shows, "SupaCell." Rap Man was personable and I was able to gift him my three books for children who are living with sickle cell disease.

Supportive community:

Building a network of supportive peers at conferences has created a community where I can share challenges, seek advice, and find encouragement to navigate the complexities of healthcare advocacy. I love seeing other advocates speaking at different conferences because it inspires me to do more in my own community.

Diverse perspectives for growth:

Engaging with a diverse group of individuals at conferences exposes me to unique perspectives and insights, sparking creativity, innovation, and personal growth in my advocacy efforts. Everyone’s experience is different. There are advocates who will never get to attend conferences, so by communicating with them, it amplifies the voice of others who can share their stories firsthand.

Access to resources and tools:

Networking at conferences provides access to a wealth of resources, knowledge, and tools that enhance the effectiveness of my advocacy work and enable me to drive meaningful change in the healthcare sector.

As a result, I emphasize the importance of prioritizing conferences as a health advocate. Many conferences are hybrid, so you can attend online, still benefit, and connect with others. If you are curious about conferences, find their social media handle and review the hashtags for the event to see how people felt about them in real-time.

Overall, these events have been instrumental in my growth, networking, and empowerment, offering opportunities to elevate my work, build meaningful connections, and drive positive change in the dynamic landscape of healthcare advocacy. If advocates want to take their businesses to the next level, conferences are sure to help health advocates level up.

Reader question:

What are some of your favorite health conferences to attend?

Here are some of my personal favorites:

• Social Health Network's Connexion
• Global Gene's RARE Health Equity Forum
• BIO International Convention
• Digital Pharma East