Patient Advocate Resumé
- Sue Robins
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
I was fortunate enough to interview patient partner Terry Wilde recently for an article that I'm writing for a client.
He reminded me how important it is to track all the work we are doing in the health care world - whether it is paid or unpaid. Work is work is work.
I wrote an essay long ago called Your Mom Resumé, which talks about the same concept.
I’ve mostly been at home with my kids, and I did some freelancing on the side. But you can see that my journey has been more complex and twisty than that. I bet yours has too.
If we aren't on a linear path of having a full-time job, our resumé is twisty. This is particularly true for patient and caregiver advocates, who don't work at a 'regular' job for many reasons that centre around energy, illness, appointments, and caregiving responsibilities. We often have a need for flexible work environments. While work from home is more common since the pandemic, I still see the majority of positions posted for folks with patient advocacy or engagement skills demand a full-time commitment. That leaves people like me in the dust, resulting in a resumé that's all curvy and not straight.
I challenge you to keep track of all your advocacy work. Whether it is speaking, sitting on committees, volunteering for not-for-profits, caring for yourself or your loved ones...write it all down. This does not have to be your 'official' work - it is a record of how you spend your time.
I recently did this when I was working with a business coach, and was surprised but not shocked to find out how much of my time goes to caring for our youngest son. Sixty-four percent of my time during the workday went towards caregiving. Driving him, supporting him on set, arranging his schedule and (god help me) filling out endless forms for the government and agencies. Caregiving is significant work, so it deserves a spot on your resumé. Everything you do has value and worth.
When I'm feeling like I've failed because I don't have a traditional full-time job (or sadly, at my age, a pension), it helps to turn to my resumé and look at what I have done. Even if society doesn't value all my work, it is reminder that caring for others matters, running a household matters, building community matters and speaking up matters.
I invite you to write down the work you've done this year. Here's an example of my own year in review so far.
Many advocates are planting seeds for flowers they may never see fully blossom, whether it is with influencing positive health care change, or raising other human beings. But the planting matters.
Sue Robins
The Half Year in Review
January – June 2025
Senior Partner, Bird Comm
Sue is the founder and co-owner of Bird Comm, a creative communications agency that specializes in health care and human services. As Senior Partner, Sue’s portfolio includes lead generation, business management, marketing and human resources.
Talks and Workshops
E-Health Saskatchewan, Regina eHealth Saskatchewan Strategy Day, Plenary Speaker, Our Shared Humanity, and Patient Panel Moderator, February 26.
National Association of Pharmacy Regulators Authority (NAPRA), Ottawa
Member Meeting, Better Together: Public Engagement for the Win, May 7.
BC Children’s Hospital Real Talk on Ableism: Understanding Parental Experiences in Navigating Disability and Healthcare Systems, Sunny Hill Health Centre Hospital-Wide Talk, May 14.
CIHR – Institute of Genetics, virtual, Touch Hearts, Change Minds Patient Storytelling for Meaningful Change, Patient Partner Meeting, , May 26.
Consulting
Alberta College of Pharmacy – ongoing guidance to the QI Lead and Deputy Registrar about their patient working group. Includes writing a Best Practices Guideline, regular calls and presentations to staff, Council and a leadership group.
Limestone Local Health Network – ongoing consulting with this south Australian health authority’s CEO, which has included in-person talks and workshops for staff and consumers, virtual talks, regular meetings, writing terms of reference and a roadmap for the creation of a Humanity in Health Care Working Group.
Writing
Pan-Canadian Organization – human interest feature writing about patient engagement for this Canadian national health care organization.
Media
Collected at the Table – A written profile from Unum Co.
The Next Tango Podcast
Recipes for Connection Video
Appeared in a short documentary that co-starred Aaron Waddingham, called Lasagna Launch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX3nTuIyspA
Ontario Disability Employment Network and Down Syndrome Resource Foundation Webinars
Co-presented in live webinars with Aaron Waddingham about supporting inclusive workspaces for people with disabilities from a family perspective.
Unpaid Work
ACT Facilitator Training – took six weeks of training to be an ACT facilitator for families who have adult children with disabilities, sponsored by CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
Co-leidoscope – ongoing volunteering with the parent group and supporting grant-writing with this Vancouver-based social enterprise.
Actor Management – Working with Aaron Waddingham to be successful in his acting career, which includes scheduling, arranging acting coaching, managing his time, accompanying him to travel and supporting him on set.
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