(Toronto, March 10, 2025) – The Society for Participatory Medicine in collaboration with Journal of Participatory Medicine, an open access, peer-reviewed journal published by JMIR Publications, invites you to upcoming conference titled 'The MS Patient Journey: From New Diagnosis to Patient Engagement’, taking place from March 20, 2025 from 11:30 am – 5:00 pm at Northeastern University in Boston.
This interactive conference, produced in collaboration with Northeastern University, will explore the journey of patients, families, and caregivers after a new multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and how healthcare professionals can best support them. Attendees will hear from patients and caregivers sharing their experiences navigating the healthcare system, working with providers, and adjusting to their new reality. Keynote speakers and panels, including physicians, nurses, healthcare informatics specialists, social workers, and mental health professionals, will address topics such as screening, medication compliance, interdisciplinary care, mental well-being, and available resources. Case studies and group discussions will provide diverse perspectives from patients, caregivers, and clinicians. The event highlights a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach, focusing on empowerment, support, and collaborative care.
To register, please use this link:
Keynotes:
Ursula Barber, MD
Danny van Leeuwen, Opa, RN, MPH
Moderators:
Jay Spitulnik, PhD; Board member, Society for Participatory Medicine
Dr. Spitulnik is a board member of the Society for Participatory Medicine. Jay Spitulnik's research has focused on how relationships between physicians and other members of the care team affects patient safety culture and the resulting patient outcomes. His current teaching focuses on project management and on general introduction to the intricacies of the American healthcare system. He has practiced as an internal and external consultant in the areas of organizational and process improvement, organizational development, individual and organizational learning, project management, and quality management and improvement. In addition to his experience in healthcare and higher education, he has worked in industries associated with electric power generation, financial services, manufacturing, and professional services. He has served on local chapter Boards for the Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS), the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI), and the Association for Talent Development (ATD). He received his PhD from Walden University and his EdM from Boston University. Dr. Spitulnik serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Participatory Medicine.
Danny Sands, MD, MPH; Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-founder, Society for Participatory Medicine
A practicing physician with training and experience in clinical informatics, Dr. Sands has worked in a variety of capacities in the healthcare IT industry for over the past 30 years and is a co-founder and the chief advocacy officer of the Society for Participatory Medicine. His digital technology career began at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he trained in medical informatics and developed and implemented innovative systems to improve clinical care delivery and patient engagement, including clinical decision support systems, an EHR, and one of the nation’s first patient portals. This was followed by leadership positions including Cisco, Zix Corporation, and others.
Dr. Sands has earned degrees from Brown University, Ohio State University, Harvard School of Public Health, and trained at Boston City Hospital and Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital. He holds an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School and maintains a primary care practice at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
About JMIR Publications:
JMIR Publications is a leading open access publisher of digital health research and a champion of open science. With a focus on author advocacy and research amplification, JMIR Publications partners with researchers to advance their careers and maximize the impact of their work. As a technology organization with publishing at its core, we provide innovative tools and resources that go beyond traditional publishing, supporting researchers at every step of the dissemination process. Our portfolio features a range of peer-reviewed journals, including the renowned Journal of Medical Internet Research.