The Bridge: Your Health Your Voice

How do we engage patients, community partners, clinicians, policy makers, researchers, and government agencies?\ In this episode of The Bridge , we dive into the PATIENTS Program’s 10-Step Framework for Continuous Engagement — a model designed to ensure patients, caregivers, and community members have a meaningful voice in health care research. PATIENTS Programs Executive Director Daniel Mullins a...

In this episode of The Bridge, the conversation highlights the CO POD project, a PCORI funded initiative designed to make patient-centered research more accessible and meaningful for everyday people. Focused on individuals living with chronic pain, CO POD connects patients, caregivers, and community members with research in a way that’s practical, easy to understand, and actionable. The episode fe...

We’re excited to celebrate Year Five of the PATIENTS Professors Academy ! In this episode of The Bridge , host ParisBarnes sits down with Joe Howarth , Lead Training Specialist and architect of the PATIENTS Professors Academy, to discuss the evolution of the program and the impact it continues to make. The conversation also features Melinda Aldridge , a PATIENTS Professors Academy Class of 2025 gr...

In this episode of The Bridge , host Paris Barnes is joined by John Medeiros, his mother, and advocate Michelle Medeiros, and Steve Buettner of the Baltimore Lab School for a powerfulconversation about inclusive excellence, disability justice, and belonging in education. This episode is a moving reminder that inclusive excellence is not one‑size‑fits‑all, and that when students are truly seen, sup...

In this episode of The Bridge , host Paris Barnestalks with patient advocate Jeff Wells about resilience, recovery, and the power of lived experience. After surviving a life‑altering stroke, Jeff found purpose in advocacy—using his voice to improve accessibility, health literacy, and inclusion in research and care. From influencing NIH consent practices tocreating meaningful moments for patients t...

In this episode of The Bridge , host Paris Barnes sits down with Bernard and Denise Coley—patient advocates, community builders, and leaders in health equity—for a powerful conversation on advocacy, storytelling, and justice inhealthcare. Together, they unpack what it means to be under‑engaged , why patient‑led solutions matter, and howbuilding culturally responsive community spaces can transform...

In this episode of The Bridge Podcast , host Paris Barnes sits down with Patrick Gee —a graduate and contributor to the PATIENTS Professors Academy, a passionate advocate within the PATIENTS Program, and a dedicated member of the program’s steering committee. Patrick shares his inspiringjourney of personal growth, justice-driven advocacy, and the deep community engagement that continues to shape h...

In this episode of the Bridge, Your Health, Your Voice, host Paris Barnes is joined by Delayna Watkins, founder of the Women’s Wellness Lounge, and Brittany Harris, Senior Community Engagement Specialist for the PATIENTS Program. Together, they explore what it means to build trust with communities, create safe and culturally responsive spaces for women’s health, and ensure research is truly commun...

In this powerful episode of The Bridge Your Health Your Voice , host Paris Barnes welcomes our Executive Director of the PATIENTS Program, Dr. Daniel Mullins, and Pastor Franklin Lance, Senior Pastor of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. Together, they unveil a transformative initiative led by the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s PATIENTS Program, in collaboration with other UMB schools and ex...

2025 was a milestone year for The Bridge —a year of growth, meaningful conversations, and exciting new initiatives. In this special Year in Review episode, we revisit our most memorable moments, from the launch of our Going National Initiative to powerful insights shared by our sponsors and our newest national partners. We also celebrate the start of Year Four of the PATIENTS Professors Academy, f...

In this episode of  The Bridge: Your Health, Your Voice , host  ParisBarnes  sits down with  Joe Howarth , Lead Training Specialist for the PATIENTS Professors Academy (PPA), and  Peyton Miles ,a young health advocate and a 2025 PPA graduate. Together, they explore how the Academy empowers patients, caregivers, community members, and researchers to co-create solutions that make health research mor...

After a devastating high-speed accident nearly claimed their lives, Seantae and Trevor Jackson chose a path of resilience and hope. Out of their journey, the Sandal Blue Foundation was born—a mission to uplift, heal, and inspire others facing life’s hardest battles. In this episode, Seantae shares her deeply personal story of survival, the turning points that reshaped her family’s future, and how...

In this episode of The Bridge Podcast, host Paris Barnes welcomes Dr. Claudia Baquet—a physician scientist with decades of experience in health research, Together, they explore the critical role of informed consent in medical and health research, tracing its historical roots and ethical importance. Listeners will gain insight into why informed consent is more than a procedural step—it’s a cornerst...

We’re thrilled to share a very special episode of our podcast! Host Paris Barnes introduces our Going National Initiative partners—remarkable leaders and organizations who share our vision of community-driven health: • Trevor and Seantae Sandal, founders of the Sandal Blue Foundation• Delayna Watkins, powerhouse behind the Women’s Wellness Lounge• Anna and Jordan Rathkopf, dedicated advocates and...

In this episode, meet a long-time partner of the PATIENTS Program, Daniel Frye. He is a leading advocate and policy expert for the blind and disabled communities. With decades of experience, Daniel has dedicated his life to giving voice to those who are often left out of public discourse and policy decisions. As The PATIENTS Program expands its national reach to engage the disability community bet...

This episode reunites the dynamic cast from ourgroundbreaking Hidden Heroes of Research series to dive deep into career growth in health research. Join us as they explore pivotal topics like career pivots, mentoring, and the art of networking to elevate your career journey. Whether you’re navigating the life sciences, law, or leadership, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you...

Join us on The Bridge as we welcome Chris Blanchette, Vice President of Clinical Data Science and Evidence at NovoNordisk. Together, we explore how the PATIENTS Program’s Going National Initiative is reshaping the way pharmaceutical companies engage patients in research. The PATIENTS Going National Initiative is about sharing the PATIENTS Program’s recipe for evidence-based approach for patient an...

Join us for an inspiring episode as the PATIENTS Program proudly introduces Anna and Jordan Rathkopf, a dynamic visual storytelling duo and one of our newest national community partners in the Going National Initiative. Anna and Jordan’s remarkable journey began in 2016 when Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer—a pivotal moment that shaped their passion for capturing the raw, human stories of hea...

The ASTARISQ Summer Roundtable Series is back and more impactful than ever! This AHRQ-funded initiative spotlights changemakers dedicated to enhancing safety, quality, and trustworthiness in health delivery systems. Join host Rodney Elliott and series creator Dr. Hillary Edwards as they dive into the vision behind ASTARISQ. Dr. Edwards shares how this series is fostering a vibrant community of pra...

We have an exciting episode with one of our team members. Paris Barnes, our Senior Training Specialist, sits down with host Rodney Elliott to talk about her role with our program. But as you will hear, she has done so much for the community and reveals how her experience has helped her achieve success. Paris shares how her goals in life are directly in line with the PATIENTS Program’s mission. Vis...

May is Older Americans Month—a time to honor the invaluable contributions of older adults and explore ways to support their well-being. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Nicole Brandt from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Discover how her team is revolutionizing the aging process through innovative research and care strategies that empower older adults to thrive. Dr. Bra...

In this episode, we explore a groundbreaking study on hip fractures and the benefits of accelerated surgery for patients. Dr. Gerard Slobogean, Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, provides expert insights into the study’s findings and implications. We also hear from Margaret, a study participant, and her daughter, Donna Audia, who...

The PATIENTS Professors Academy (PPA) is revolutionizing research—and now entering its 4th year of success! In this episode, we sit down with the visionary Joe Howarth, architect of PPA, and inspiring 2024 graduate Chisa Nosamiefan. Chisa shares how she’s transforming her community with the tools and knowledge gained from PPA. Together, they discuss how this groundbreaking program is reshaping the...

If you're passionate about making a differencein healthcare, curious about the behind-the-scenes of clinical research, or eager to explore new career paths, this episode is a must-listen. In this special episode, Michelle Medeiros , the PATIENTS Program’s Administrator of Business Operations and Director of Research, steps into therole of host. She brings together three trailblazing leaders in cli...

The PATIENTS Going National Initiative isabout sharing the PATIENTS Program’s proven “recipe” for an evidence-based approach to patient and community engagement beyond Baltimore. By partnering with new communities, we aim to replicate the authentic experience of the 10-Step Framework and co-develop health research that’s truly patient-centered. We’re grateful for the support of our sponsors: Novo...