Assertiveness is Not Aggression: Accessible Strategies to Advocate for Quality Care

A native New Yorker and former senior executive in five preeminent marketing and communications companies, Sheila has spent more than two decades designing marketing, media and health education campaigns for the top 50 pharmaceutical companies across a broad range of therapeutic categories from molecule to market. A former high school teacher of foreign languages, she has worked on behalf of the healthcare industry throughout North America, Western Europe and Latin America with a focus on communities of color. She teaches and has lectured on health equity and cultural competency at Quinnipiac University School of Medicine, Rutgers, New York University and Queens College. She has given over 250 keynote presentations and conducting workshops on cultural competency, anti-bias and diversity. She is published in Pharmaceutical Executive, PharmaVoice, Medical, Marketing & Media and numerous articles published in a variety of consumer health and ethnic publications. Sheila is known for her unique ability to galvanize communities of color around health and social justice issues. She has been featured in Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise, The Positive Community, Madame Noire, The Network Journal and a frequent panelist during the sessions of the annual Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Institute and the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. Sheila has received numerous awards for her innovative health marketing strategies to reach people of color.

Utilizing over 17 years of medical education experience, Gary has developed a unique skill in forming, facilitating, and nurturing community collaborations to support mutually beneficial outcomes. He is an expert in identifying unmet educational needs, navigating sensitivities and co-creating alliances that strive to lift levels of knowledge. Gary applies his passion for co-creation and scientific rigor to all partnerships and the collaborations he supports.

Neil has over 25 years’ experience in bringing the patient voice to life for healthcare decision makers. Neil has been a patient advocate in the field of HIV since the early 90s, and is the past chair of HTAi’s patient & citizen involvement group where he continues to work with HTA bodies around the world on improvements to patient engagement in HTA. Neil is also a board member of Patient Focused Medicines Development, an international multi-stakeholder effort to bring patients into the heart of medicine research and development. Neil regularly works with patient groups, healthcare decision-makers and the industry to collectively develop approaches that benefit patients. 

Neil has over 25 years’ experience in bringing the patient voice to life for healthcare decision makers. Neil has been a patient advocate, and is the past chair of HTAi’s patient & citizen involvement group where he continues to work with HTA bodies around the world on improvements to patient engagement in HTA. Neil is also a board member of Patient Focused Medicines Development, an international multi-stakeholder effort to bring patients into the heart of medicine research and development. Neil regularly works with patient groups, healthcare decision-makers and the industry to collectively develop approaches that benefit patients.