Rebecca Strong
Non-Profit Professional
North Andover,MA
Summary
Experienced patient advocacy and engagement professional with a nursing background and over eight years of experience in patient support, education, and community outreach. Adept at developing and maintaining relationships with patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to enhance access to care and improve the patient experience. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, implement national patient support programs, and advocate for individuals with rare diseases. Passionate about empowering patients and ensuring they receive comprehensive support through education, mentorship, and resource navigation.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Outreach Director
International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation
05.2019 - Current
- Developed Patient Education Programs: Designed and implemented comprehensive educational initiatives to inform patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers about pemphigus and pemphigoid, promoting disease understanding and management strategies. Repondents report 80% or greater satisfaction in these products
- Managed Educational Resource Creation: Led the development of patient-focused educational materials, including brochures, webinars, videos, and digital content, ensuring accessibility and relevance for diverse audiences.
- Led Patient Conferences and Webinars: Planned and executed patient education conferences and virtual webinars, offering critical insights into disease management, treatment options, and patient advocacy with greater than 80% satisfaction rating.
- Facilitated Patient and Community Engagement: Engaged patients and caregivers through community outreach programs, social media campaigns, and support groups, building a strong network of empowered individuals and families.
- Collaborated with Healthcare Experts: Worked closely with dermatologists, researchers, and medical professionals to ensure educational content is scientifically accurate and aligned with the latest research in rare disease management.
- Enhanced Patient Advocacy Efforts: Advocated for patient and access to care by collaborating with national organizations and supporting patient engagement with policy initiatives.
- Provided Individual Patient Support: Offered personalized education and guidance to patients and caregivers, addressing their unique challenges and connecting them with necessary resources for more than 500 patients annually with a greater than 90% satisfaction rating.
- Measured Program Impact: Developed and implemented evaluation methods to assess the effectiveness of education initiatives, using feedback and data analysis to refine programs and improve patient outcomes.
- Leveraged Partnerships for Education Expansion: Built partnerships with healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, and academic institutions to expand the reach of education programs and resources.
- Trained and Empowered Volunteers: Coordinated volunteer training and empowerment programs to ensure they are equipped to support educational outreach and patient engagement initiatives effectively.
- Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and organizations to expand outreach reach and collaborations
Outreach Mananger
International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation
09.2016 - Current
- Spearheaded outreach activities, enhancing the foundation's reach and impact with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to develop educational materials and programs.
- Provided support to patients and medical professionals, fostering a supportive community environment.
Staff Nurse - Operating Room
Beaumont Trenton Surgery Center
11.2004 - 09.2016
- Provided comprehensive nursing care to patients, ensuring their comfort, well-being, and safety.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes.
- Demonstrated proficiency in patient education and support.
- Managed medication stock
- Precepted Downriver Career Technical Consortium students and new employees
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MISkills
- Event coordination
- Campaign management
- Communications management
- Partnership development
- Event management
- Community engagement
- Event organization
- Volunteer management
- Brand awareness
- Staff management
Custom Section
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8957-3655
- Kasperkiewicz, M., Strong, R., Yale, M., Dunn, P. and Woodley, D.T. (2023), A cross-sectional study of dermatologists' attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immunobullous diseases. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 37: e132-e134. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.18674
- Kasperkiewicz, M., Strong, R., Yale, M., Dunn, P. and Woodley, D.T. (2023), Safety of the COVID-19 vaccine booster in patients with immunobullous diseases: A cross-sectional study of the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 37: e9-e10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.18493
- Yale, M., Dunn, P., Strong, R., Davies, I., Gallu, L., Joly, P., Murrell, D. F., Werth, V. P., & Payne, A. S. (2023). The importance of patient-focused drug development in pemphigus and pemphigoid. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 143(10), 1868–1871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.1673
- Patel, P.M., Jones, V.A., Kridin, K., Strong, R.A., Yale, M. and Amber, K.T. (2022), Assessing the risk factors for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder through the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 36: e139-e141. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17700
- M. Kasperkiewicz, R. Strong, K. Mead, M. Yale, D. Zillikens, D.T. Woodley, A. Recke, COVID‐19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in patients with immunobullous diseases: a cross‐sectional study of the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 186, Issue 4, 1 April 2022, Pages 737–739, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.20906
- Kasperkiewicz, M., Strong, R., Yale, M., Dunn, P. and Woodley, D.T. (2022), Role of the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 36: e664-e665. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.18180
- Kasperkiewicz, M., Yale, M., Strong, R., Zillikens, D., Woodley, D.T. and Recke, A. (2021), COVID-19 pandemic and autoimmune bullous diseases: a cross-sectional study of the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 35: e418-e421. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17228
Certification
Professional Patient Advocates in Life Sciences (PPALS) Patient Advocacy Certificate Training (PACT) https://ppals.org/certification-training/ June 2024
Timeline
Outreach Director
International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation
05.2019 - Current
Outreach Mananger
International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation
09.2016 - Current
Staff Nurse - Operating Room
Beaumont Trenton Surgery Center
11.2004 - 09.2016
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Michigan University