Turning Evidence into Impact: Patient Engagement is an Imperative in an Increasingly Technology-Driven Health Care System, According to Leading Experts at NHC Summit
Patient engagement leads to better health outcomes
For Immediate Release Contact:
May 11, 2026 Jennifer Schleman
jschleman@nhcouncil.org
(Arlington, VA) More than 200 health care sector leaders are gathering here today for the 2026 National Health Council (NHC) Science of Patient Engagement Summit, where an impressive lineup of speakers reinforced how compassionate, consistent and structured patient engagement across the entire health care system is critical amidst an increasingly complex and technical health care process.
“We are honored to host this impressive gathering of key health care leaders, and the takeaway from the Summit is clear,” said Randy Rutta, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Council. “The health sector has an obligation to keep patient needs at the center of their care journey, not simply because it is the right thing to do, but because those same patients get better diagnosis, treatment and care when they are part of shared decision-making and design of their care.”
Over the next two days, the Summit, entitled Turning Evidence into Impact, will gather leading experts from patient organizations, health systems, government, research centers, academia, pharma, and biotech to strengthen the connections between the rapidly evolving science of patient engagement and its real-world impact on how care is designed and delivered.
Myriad thought leaders will coalesce around a common theme – that patient engagement is more important than ever as a sophisticated array of technologies, devices and drugs are deployed to diagnose and treat individuals with chronic diseases. The theme will be highlighted by numerous speakers, including:
- David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, Co-Founder and President of Every Cure and Co-Founder and President of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
- Anita Ravi, MD, MPH, MSHP, FAAFP, Chief Executive Officer & Founder of PurpLE Health Foundation.
- Alok Patel, MD, Pediatric Hospitalist, Stanford Medicine, Columbia University, and University of California, San Francisco; ABC News Special Correspondent, and award-winning journalist.
- Uché Blackstock, MD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Advancing Health Equity.
The two-day conference opened this morning with an interactive workshop, “Under the Microscope: A Blueprint for Patient Engagement Success.” The hands-on session illustrated how the NHC is equipping health systems, biopharmaceutical companies, payers, data systems, etc. with the practical tools to make patient partnerships easier, more meaningful, and more effective across the health sector.
“The NHC’s mission is to advocate for better health care for the millions of individuals living with chronic diseases, disabilities, and their family caregivers – providing hope, solutions and a better quality of life. The Science of Patient Engagement Summit is one important way we work with a wide spectrum of stakeholders to deliver on that promise,” concluded Rutta.
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About the National Health Council
The National Health Council (NHC) brings diverse organizations together to forge consensus and drive patient-centered health policy. The NHC promotes increased access to affordable, high-value, equitable, and sustainable health care. Made up of nearly 200 national health-related organizations and businesses, the NHC’s core membership includes the nation’s leading patient organizations. Other members include health-related associations and nonprofit organizations including the provider, research, and family caregiver communities; and businesses representing biopharmaceuticals, devices, diagnostics, generic drugs, and payers. Learn more at: https://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org