Participating in Research as a Patient Partner

You are invited to join the World Transplant Games TRANSPLANT NEXT CONVERSATIONS webinar focused on how parents and families can get involved in transplant research.

Kristi Coldwell is the Senior Advisor for Transplant Research Advocacy at the Transplant Research Foundation of BC.

Having undergone a heart transplant as a teenager due to congenital heart disease, Kristi is acutely aware of the role research plays in improving outcomes and enhancing quality of life.

She believes patients and caregivers have an important role in shaping and informing health research to ensure it is meaningful and accountable to all stakeholders.

Elaine Yong is, first and foremost, the mother of a pediatric heart transplant recipient.

She is also actively involved in research as a patient partner with the Canadian Donation and Transplant Research Program and several specific research projects. Elaine sits on the board of the Transplant Research Foundation of B.C., actively fundraising to support pediatric transplant research.

Professionally, she is currently the Manager of Communications and Community Engagement at BC Transplant. Elaine was an award winning journalist before moving into healthcare communications in 2015.