The latest collaboration between Servier and the Saclay Research & Development Patient Board is the new podcast project with and for patients. Today, it’s Oriana Sousa’s turn to share a strong, warm and positive account that includes her views on the value of integrating the patient voice into medical research.
In the fourth episode of our podcast series “Patient’s Side of the Story,” we meet Oriana, who was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer at the age of 22. Thanks to her ingenuity, perseverance – and despite relapses, she is on the path to recovery. Oriana has been in remission for eight years.
“One of the turning points in my career was giving an interview to talk about my situation and my experiences. Patients then started to seek my help and support. That’s when I decided to get training. I took the patient expert course from the European Patient Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI). A few months later, I joined the Servier Research & Development Institute project.”
Oriana Sousa, a member of the Patient Board and the Patient’s Side of the Story project.
Listen to the podcast on your favorite platform here.
Through this series of poignant podcasts, several Board members have agreed to share their individual experiences. Janet, Linda, Tamás, Oriana, Begonya, Thomas, Estelle, and Veerle tell us about their diagnosis and their daily battle with disease. In each episode, they describe the roller coaster ride, their worries and their hopes… but also offer practical advice and explain how research contributes to their story. And vice versa.
Discover a new episode of “Patient’s Side of the Story” every two weeks on servier.com and patients-ensemble.fr as well as on Spotify, Deezer, Google Podcast and Apple Podcast!
The Servier Saclay Research & Development Patient Board has 18 patient members who represent ten different pathologies(1). It works closely with our R&D teams so that patients’ views are even more effectively integrated into the new medicine research and development process.
Listen to all podcasts
Ep. 1: Janet West’s story
In 2019, Janet West was diagnosed with tongue cancer and underwent an eleven-hour operation. The first episode of “The Patient Side of the Story” tells her story and gives a strong, warm and positive account.
Listen to Janet’s podcast on your favorite platform here
Ep. 2: Linda Stone and Tamás Bercecky’s stories
Although Linda Stone suffers from Sjögren’s syndrome and Tamás Bercecky was diagnosed HIV-positive and suffers from depression, their stories share many similarities.
Listen to Linda and Tamás’ podcast on your favorite platform here
Ep. 3: Estelle Jobson and Veerle Aertsen’s stories
Estelle Jobson has endometriosis, while Veerle Aertsen has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Estelle and Veerle: two women, two stories and two inspiring, engaging journeys!
Listen to Estelle Jobson and Veerle Aertsen’s podcast on your favorite platform here
Working with patients, a priority for Servier
At Servier, we are convinced that involving patients in all stages of the medicine life cycle allows them to benefit from the best therapeutic solutions and suitable care over the course of their journey. In order to respond effectively to their needs and those of their families, their opinions and contributions must be valued. We believe that their knowledge of diseases and treatments is essential to advancing research and innovation, and improving therapeutic solutions and care.
(1) Patient volunteers who applied to EUPATI (European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation), an innovative pan-European initiative involving 33 organizations, led by the European Patients’ Forum with partners from patient associations, universities and non-profit organizations, as well as a number of European pharmaceutical companies.