AMBASSADOR

Patient Ambassadors: Your Voice, Your Community

A Patient Ambassador is a person with kidney disease or family member who volunteers to represent GOALIFE by being a leader in their community and local dialysis facility. One of your primary responsibilities will be to provide dialysis patients with the education, access and confidence to be their own advocates. Click here to join today!

Why Become a Patient Ambassador?

You want opportunities to make a significant difference in the lives of all dialysis patients by representing GOALIFE and ensuring that your voice and the voices of other pre­dialysis and dialysis patients are heard!

How does the program work?

  • In our monthly e-newsletters and our our webstie, we provide you with instructions and resources for all the different actions you can take. Actions include everything from writing a letter to inviting your member of Congress to your facility.
  • Every month we hold multiple teleconference calls with Ambassadors throughout the USA. These calls will focus on a variety of topics that will help you as advocates including:
    Policy Updates- calls with GOALIFE staff or guests to discuss any policy changes in the renal community.
    Leadership Training- covering strategies to become leaders in your facilities and communities.
    Coordination between Ambassadors- every call provides and opportunity for you to learn and connect with fellow dialysis patients across the USA. Some Ambassadors have been on dialysis for over many years and have many tips and experiences to share.
  • Once you join the program, we will provide you with an advocacy orientation to get you started. Even after the orientation, we are always available to help and support you with whatever you want to do as an ambassador.

What are the benefits of serving as a Patient Ambassador?

  • Recognition as a leader in your community.
  • Potential to visit Washington, D.C. for Washington D.C. Advocacy Days (all expenses covered by GOALIFE)
  • Potential visits to your state house to participate in State Advocacy Days (all expenses covered by GOALIFE)
  • Expectations and Responsibilities of a Patient Ambassador

    We will provide you with a wide range of opportunities. If you are assisted in making a difference, we are here to help you with whatever you want to do. GOALFE provides all the training, tools, materials and support you need to:

    • Build a Relationship with your Legislators
      • Contact your Members’ Washington offices
      • Respond to GOALIFE's Action Alerts and distribute them to other patients and families
      • Invite your members of Congress and/or district staff to visit your dialysis facility
    • Educate Fellow Patients and Members of your Community
      • Distribute articles and other educational materials to the patients in your clinic and be prepared to answer non-medical questions
      • Educate your community on kidney disease
    • Recruit new GOALIFE members and mobilize patients to advocate for their care
      • Encourage other patients in your facility and community to join GOALIFE
      • Recruit new Patient Ambassadors

    Qualifications

    Patient Ambassadors must be current dialysis patients, pre­-dialysis patients or family members, interested in acting on behalf of dialysis and pre-­dialysis patients to improve the quality of life for all patients.

    A Patient Ambassador must perform at least one of the following activities every months:

    1. Take Action. >Email, call or send a letter to his/her local lawmakers about legislative policy issues impacting dialysis patients (reach out to GOALIFE for information on the latest pressing issues for patients)
    2. Site Visit. Request a dialysis clinic site visit with his/her Members of Congress, their staff, or other state representatives
    3. Letter to the Editor. Write and submit a letter to the editor to his/her local newspaper about a kidney disease issue and/or the importance of advocating for better dialysis patient care
    4. Community Outreach. Lead a community outreach event (GOALIFE will send you a packet of information)
    5. Advocacy Day. Apply to participate in GOALIFE'’s Annual Advocacy Day
    6. education call at his/her dialysis facility (after asking permission)
    7. Social Media. Share his/her story about living with chronic kidney disease by reaching out publicly to his/her Members of Congress on social media
    8. Community Event. Connect and build a relationship with his/her Members of Congress at a community event

Patient Ambassador Spotlight

GOALIFE's Patient Ambassadors are pivotal in fulfilling our mission to amplify the voices of patients in policymaking. These Ambassadors lead within their communities and dialysis facilities, helping us engage others in our cause. They often take the initiative to organize meetings and facility tours, providing elected officials with invaluable insights into the realities faced by dialysis patients. Additionally, they raise public awareness by writing letters to the editor on crucial ESRD-related issues. Our Patient Ambassadors drive our advocacy efforts with their unwavering dedication, and we are proud to spotlight their remarkable contributions here.

Above are photos of GOALIFE Ambassador

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