Being Compensated for Your Advocacy is Possible
Have you heard that you can be compensated for your advocacy work? It is a true statement. It might not happen as soon as you start your advocacy journey but after a while it does become possible. With the health landscape changing their outlook, organizations are understanding a patient can provide firsthand accounts of what it is like living with a disease like psoriasis in my case.
That change has not happened overnight, it has taken a long time. There are things you can do if you are new to advocacy to get paid. These usually involve being a volunteer with your disease organization which can refer you to advisory boards or other events like a speaking panel that will be paid. However, once you have been in advocacy for a while you might even have companies contact you directly about paid opportunities.
When I first started
My advocacy is in its 10th year. When I first started my journey with advocacy it was being a volunteer with the National Psoriasis Foundation. I have not ever been paid for anything I have done with them. There have been conferences and trips to various events but none providing me any compensation. Since I was so new to advocacy, I did not expect any compensation.
There have been times when I have been selected to participate in an Advisory Board in which a company contacted the NPF about possible participants. For example, the NPF will send out an email saying a company is looking for participants. Usually, some requirements are listed to see if you are a good candidate. If you meet those requirements and are selected then the company provides compensation for travel, food and hotel. The NPF pays nothing.
As years have passed
The more I have put myself out there to do anything to raise awareness about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis the more doors have opened with paid compensation opportunities. Believe it or not I have had companies find me directly. One company I am involved with on a quarterly basis is based on my involvement in a past clinical trial. I am paid for each meeting that I attend. Another company I am involved with I met the CEO at a conference I attended.
That chance meeting turned into being a paid opportunity for me to be a consultant to their company. Other paid opportunities I have found along the way just by sending an email to a company. One of the best resources you have at your fingertips right now. Social Health post paid compensation opportunities all the time. All you must do is take the time to look.
Opportunities exist
The more the landscape changes in companies realizing the patient voice are essential in progressing their future the more these paid opportunities will abound. Start by asking your organization, such as the NPF in my case, if they have opportunities that are paid. Check out Social Health weekly as new paid opportunities pop up all the time especially since they started the Patient Certification Program.
Try also researching paid opportunities online if you are good at researching. I can’t tell you the feeling to see a compensation come through that you are being paid because you gave your insights on a subject you know all too well.
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