Putting Patients First 2026 will continue the conversation on learning communities in BC. Together, we’ll explore how bringing diverse groups of people together to solve a shared health problem — including people with lived and living experience — can improve health and health research ecosystems.
Latest updates
- Speaker list and bios available: Explore speakers.
- Q&A with Sarah Greene: We interviewed keynote speaker Sarah Greene about why it’s vital to put patients first. Read more.
- Program highlights available: Highlights from the day are now available. View program.
- Registration open: Join us in-person or online on March 3, 2026.
- FAQs now available: Find out answers to frequently asked questions. View FAQs.
Key event details
- Tuesday March 3, 2026
- Please note that space to attend in-person is now at capacity. Virtual attendance is still available. Please see the registration form for more details.
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Join us free of charge
Virtually
In-person at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel (1128 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC)
Program
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Please note
- A wellness room will be available throughout the day.
- Movement and networking breaks will take place throughout the day.
Speakers
Keynote speaker: Dr. Antoine Boivin, MD, PhD
Antoine is a primary care physician and the co-director of the Canada Research Chair in Partnership with Patients and Communities. He dedicates his life to fostering relationships between people, communities and health systems.
For the past two decades, Antoine’s clinical practice, research, and teaching are conducted in partnership with people and communities. His research and clinical team include people facing chronic and mental health challenges, people with lived experience of homelessness, Indigenous navigators, migrants, youths and elders.
In recent years, Antoine has facilitated local and international collaboration on social participation in health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization and partners from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Antoine is passionate about how music, storytelling and nature can strengthen our communities, nurture caring relationships within and around ourselves, and help us learn from our differences.
Keynote speaker: Sarah Greene, MPH
Sarah is a Senior Advisor, Research Advocate, and Consultant with recent engagements supporting the National Academy of Medicine, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the National Cancer Institute, and Kaiser Permanente. With a 30-year career in health care research, strategy, and communication, she combines scientific expertise with a commitment to improving health and health care experiences for all.
Much of Sarah’s career focused on building productive and sustainable national research networks in the areas of cancer, aging, and communication. She applies her versatile skillset on a range of topics including patient-centered care, evidence mobilization, team science, and community engagement, and is a recognized international leader in understanding how to bridge research and care delivery using a learning health systems approach. Her perspectives on health system transformation are informed by her recent experience with a cancer diagnosis and successful treatment in a community-based oncology practice.
An accomplished writer and speaker with more than 180 publications and invited presentations, Sarah has presented her work at the National Academies, American College of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, American Medical Informatics Organization, PCORI, and numerous other organizations.
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About
What is Putting Patients First?
Putting Patients First (PPF) is an annual conference hosted by the BC SUPPORT Unit, part of Michael Smith Health Research BC. In 2026, PPF will continue the conversation on learning communities in BC.
This event is being organized and developed with Patients Included™ principles. Visit our FAQs to learn more about Patients Included™.
What are learning communities?
Learning communities are groups of people with shared interests and goals, multiple perspectives, experiences, and expertise that meaningfully collaborate to solve health and health system problems.
Conference goals
At the conference, we aim to:
- Show how the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) has made a real difference in BC’s health and health research ecosystems.
- Highlight the power of connection across BC’s health and research communities in driving solutions.
- Celebrate the conference’s legacy as a vital gathering place that brings people together across the province.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Putting First is for everyone interested in improving health care or the health system. This includes:
- Physicians, allied healthcare professionals, and health system staff
- Patients, caregivers, people with lived or living experience, and communities
- Researchers and trainees
- Health system leaders, decision-makers and policymakers
For Putting Patients First 2026, we are not accepting abstracts for presentations or posters. If you are still interested in attending as a participant, we encourage you to register.
Patient Included™ was an initiative started by patient Lucien Engelen. It aims to ensure patient experiences and insights are meaningfully included into organizational work, including events.
For a conference to be Patients Included™, it must meet the five criteria below in a self-assessment. Putting Patients First 2026 meets these following criteria:
| Patients Included™ criteria | How Putting Patients First 2026 meets the criteria |
|---|---|
| Patients or caregivers with experience relevant to the conference’s central theme actively participate in the design and planning of the event, including the selection of themes, topics and speakers | Patient partners are actively involved in the design and planning event, through advisory committees and working groups. Their lived experience shapes the event rollout, including the day’s events and activities. |
| Patients or caregivers with experience of the issues addressed by the event participate in its delivery, and appear in its physical audience | Patients and people with lived experience will be part of the event program and will also join as audience members. |
| Travel and accommodation expenses for patients or carers participating in the advertised programme are paid in full, in advance. Scholarships are provided by the conference organisers to allow patients or carers affected by the relevant issues to attend as delegates | Patient partners who are part of the Patient Partner Network with the BC SUPPORT Unit, or who are involved in presenting at or planning Putting Patients First 2026, will receive travel and accommodations in advance of the event, as delegates to the event. |
| The disability requirements of participants are accommodated. All applicable sessions, breakouts, ancillary meetings, and other programme elements are open to patient delegates | All sessions and parts of the event program are open to patients and the public. When a participant registers for the event, they can also share their accommodation needs with the event planning team, whether in the physical or virtual space. We’re very excited to work with a diverse advisory council throughout every stage of the event, from planning to execution, to ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as Indigenous cultural safety, are centered and that the event reflects the needs and requirements of people with lived and living experience. We’re grateful for their expertise. |
| Access for virtual participants is facilitated, with free streaming video provided online wherever possible | Conference sessions will be streamed online, free of charge. Virtual attendees will be able to ask questions and participate in sessions. |
For Putting Patients First 2026, we are not accepting abstracts for presentations or posters. If you are still interested in attending as a participant, we encourage you to register.
At this time, we are only able to cover travel and accommodations for patient partners who are part of the Patient Partner Network with the BC SUPPORT Unit, or who are actively involved in presenting at or planning Putting Patients First 2026, as delegates to the event. Currently, those positions are filled and there are no travel bursaries offered to other patient partners at this time.
If you are interested in travel support, there may be community or research organizations in your area that offer bursaries. You can also register to attend the event virtually.
Photography, audio or video recording will take place in all designated conference spaces. Some conference sessions will be recorded and made available following the event. Read the AV notice (PDF).
More details will be available closer to the event date.
The event will take place in-person in Vancouver, BC, and virtually.
Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel
1128 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/yvrdt-vancouver-marriott-pinnacle-downtown-hotel/overview/
Yes. There is no charge to attend, in-person or virtually.
Yes. Please refrain from wearing cologne, perfume or other scented products.
Please contact: ppf@healthresearchbc.ca.