This will be a 90 minute moderated discussion following on from Jennifer's keynote talk, in which attendees will have an opportunity to further explore the ideas presented by Jennifer.

Jennifer will introduce this session by sharing (briefly!) how she arrived at her views on patient engagement and why she thinks maintaining a critical perspective on all aspects of healthcare is important. Attendees will be invited to propose discussion topics, bring forward ideas, and ask questions related to their own experiences in patient engagement. This is not intended to be a session about implementation or improvement, but rather a philosophical exploration of why patients and professionals alike are keen supporters of patient engagement, what they hope to gain from it and where it falls short.

Jennifer Johannesen’s son, Owen, had multiple severe disabilities all his life. He died in 2010 at the age of 12.  Jennifer’s experiences as Owen’s caregiver and advocate led her to ask broader questions about disability and society, special education and clinical healthcare practice. Specifically: why do we do what we do, and whom does it serve? Jennifer now writes, lectures and consults on healthcare practice and policy related to patient-centred care, patient engagement, and critical thinking in clinical practice. Jennifer recently earned a Master of Science in Bioethics from Clarkson University (Schenectady NY), and is based in Toronto, Canada.