Randy Ruta

Celebrating America's Patient Advocates: Advancing the Next Era of Innovation and Access

David Trulio, Kristen Schneemann, Dr. Francis Collins, Brian Wallach, Sandra Abravea, Margaret Anderson, Debbie, Erin, Ellen, Peter, Aaron, Ramy Pierini, Eric Racine, Dr. Wayne Frederick, Annie Kennedy, Adrienne Shapiro, Sean Martin, Leah Howard, Jean Wright, Dominica Kovacs, Roy Swartz, Dr. Uche Blackstock, Kristen Dahlgren, Darius Tahir, Donna Cryer, Angie Davis, Natasha Fitter, Randy Ruta, Bill Lawrence, Michael Hund, Dr. Roland Illing, Emily Taylor, Sarah, Isaiah, Christine

The Milken Institute convened patient advocates, researchers, and industry leaders to mark its 250th anniversary by formalizing a transition from token consultation to active partnership in healthcare innovation. The gathering showcased significant milestones such as the $1.6 billion ALS funding mobilization and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's use of consented patient data to accelerate research timelines, while simultaneously drafting a Declaration for Patient-Driven Innovation to secure structural funding and policy support. Participants concluded by identifying critical barriers in rare disease data and regulatory access, committing to a unified strategy that leverages AI and coalition-building to transform patients from subjects into primary drivers of care delivery and research agendas.