Overview
In this latest episode of asPERusual, host Anna Chudyk welcomes back Rae Martens — knowledge broker with the Family Engagement in Research Program (FER) and a bereaved parent and advocate — to explore how patient engagement is not just a methodological tool, but a deeply psychosocial, relational practice.
Rae shares her personal and professional journey, describing how meaningful partnerships are built through trust, emotional accessibility, and a deep awareness of the lived realities of patient partners. From the structure of the FER training program to the philosophy that underpins it, this episode reveals what happens when research becomes a space for coexistence, not just collaboration.
Listeners are invited into a conversation that challenges the traditional boundaries of research training, emphasizing community, care, and evolving identity — for both researchers and patient partners.
🔑 Key Topics Discussed:
Engagement as a psychosocial practice: Understanding how research partnerships impact the body, mind, and spirit—especially for patient partners.
The role of knowledge brokers: Building trust, mentoring, and helping people find their place in the research world.
FER 101 and 201 Micro-Credential Courses:
101: Focus on relationship-building, co-developing tools, and practicing engagement
201: Leadership development for advancing engagement at scale
Accessibility in engagement:
Emotional accessibility for caregivers and marginalized populations
Tools like the “Big Red Help Button” and flexible course expectations
The evolving identity of patient partners:
Engagement as part of identity, not just contribution
Recognizing leadership potential among patient partners
Community of practice: Sustaining connection beyond courses through multiple modalities and open-door structures like the “Parents Partnering in Research” Facebook group
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