On Wednesday, June 30th 2021, WPA hosted a member organization webinar. Returning to the previous theme of COVID-19 education, this month’s Webinar focused on patient access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The speakers for this webinar are both internationally renowned experts in their areas and were able to provide incredible insight into the challenges faced by the patient community during the past year.

Speakers

Dr. Ravi Prasad: Clinical Professor & Director of Behavioral Health, Dept. of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine,
University of California, David School of Medicine.

Ravi Prasad is a psychologist by training and currently Clinical Professor and Director of Behavioral Health in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. His clinical work focuses primarily on evaluation and treatment of individuals suffering from acute and chronic pain conditions. He is actively engaged in leadership activities at regional and national levels through which he has been involved with interprofessional core competency, curriculum, and program development; lobbying efforts to change policies related to psychological care; and translation of research innovations into clinical practice. Outside the realm of pain, he has an avid interest in clinician wellness and has led efforts to implement associated initiatives in healthcare settings.

Dr. Prasad addressed maximizing quality of life in the midst of COVID-19; learning to live with a health issue during a global pandemic. Dr Prasad discussed and provided real-time tips and advice on how to effectively manage and cope with chronic stress/sympathetic activation, its impact on general health and the role of cognitions.

Anna Sliwinska: President, Polish Diabetes Association

Anna has been working for the Polish Diabetes Association since 2007. In 2015 she was elected president. Re-elected in 2019.

Her everyday activities include direct work with diabetics in the entire country (Polish Diabetes Association has over 350 regional circles), as well as raising diabetes awareness in the society and officially representing diabetics, particularly in the efforts to improve diabetes care and access to proper treatment in Poland.

Anna addressed the challenges faced by the diabetic community in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic, this past year has brought. Mentioning the falsehoods spread amongst the community, the lack of access to regular appointments and the difficulty in securing medications, Anna described real, lived challenges that the diabetic community faced. Through successful advocacy, educational campaigns and championing the patient voice, Anna was able to share the triumphs which turned the tide and enabled diabetics in Poland, during the pandemic, to receive the access to healthcare and resources that they needed.

Join us for future Webinars (bi-monthly) and get more information by emailing
office@worldpatientalliance.org