Overview

The IASLC Patient Advocacy Program is a global initiative focused on providing people with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies with opportunities to advocate for research, attend educational conferences, form relationships with physicians and care providers, lend their voices through committee involvement, and share their stories through speaking opportunities. Our Patient Advocacy Program includes the following components: Patient Advocate Committee, Cancer Care Team Award, STARS Program, and Patient Advocate Education Grants. More details on each component are provided below.

Patient Advocate Committee

The Patient Advocate Committee ensures that the IASLC addresses the informational needs of the public, advocates and patients living with lung and thoracic cancers. This committee also comprehensively addresses the educational and related needs of the public as an important constituency in the work of the association.

Cancer Care Team Award

Exceptional care for patients with lung cancer is not limited to interactions with any one specialist or care center. Delivery of patient care is at its best when multidisciplinary team members offer the patient seamless and informed communication, as well as an individualized treatment plan based on not just the patient’s needs but the patient’s wishes. Knowing that this type of stellar care is happening around the world every day, the IASLC Cancer Care Team Award recognizes these multidisciplinary teams, as nominated by the patients they serve. An international panel chooses one winning team from each of the four regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia/Rest of World. The selection criteria are: trust, shared decision-making, empathy, access to care, treatment options, educational information, tumor testing, patient support, and survivorship.

STARS (Supportive Training for Advocates on Research & Science)

The IASLC is a scientific membership organization that recognizes the importance of patient research advocates within the research ecosystem. The IASLC Supportive Training for Advocates on Research & Science (STARS) program aims to increase the number of patient research advocates (PRAs) equipped to provide accurate scientific translation in their online or real-life groups for patients with lung cancer and their caregivers, and to provide the patient perspective for lung cancer research and policy.

Patient Advocate Education Grants

The IASLC is passionate about including the patient voice in events and resources. To facilitate that, the Association offers awards to allow patient advocates to immerse themselves in live educational events, such as TTLC, WCLC, and NACLC. The IASLC provides Patient Advocacy Educational Grants to individuals who foster awareness, support, and hope in the lung cancer community. These awards are targeted to patients/survivors, caregivers/partners, and patient advocates who are early in their advocacy journey and would benefit from in-person attendance at WCLC.