‘Don’t just learn what illness is, learn what it feels like,’ Dr Ben Bravery

With the iconic Sydney Harbour as a backdrop, the Merck Healthcare team came together for a dynamic and engaging kick-off conference in early February.

The event centred on advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes, featuring powerful patient stories and insightful guest speakers. Marking World Cancer Day, leading medical oncologist Dr Laurence Krieger joined the Merck team for an in-depth discussion on helping more cancer patients become survivors.

A highlight for many was hearing Dr. Ben Bravery, author of The Patient Doctor and keynote speaker at the recent Health Industry Hub Awards. He shared his powerful journey from surviving advanced bowel cancer to becoming a doctor, offering candid reflections on his experiences as both a patient and a medical trainee. His call for greater empathy in healthcare deeply resonated with the Merck team.

“Don’t just learn what illness is, learn what it feels like,” Dr Bravery emphasised. “Everyone has a story about leaving a doctor’s office or hospital frustrated and annoyed, and doctors are stressed and burning out at record rates. Having the experience of being a patient first, and then a doctor, I can understand both sides of the story, and I know it doesn’t have to be this way.”

Launching the global Merck vision to the local team, Managing Director Josie Downey, said “What unites us as one team for patients worldwide, is our belief in science and technology as a force for good, and our shared vision to transform healthcare by sparking discovery and elevating humanity.”

“Australia is more and more seen as a place where innovation, and talent abounds. The global business looks to us for leaders, given our expertise and experience in driving better access for patients, including last year bringing the first targeted therapy to the New Zealand bowel cancer community,’ Downey added.

Dr Colin Yeoman, Medical Director of Merck Healthcare and an anaesthetist by training, added his perspective.

“At Merck, our goal is to better understand patients lived experiences and the barriers healthcare professionals face, as that can help us deliver on our purpose to create, improve and prolong more patients’ lives”, Dr Yeoman said. “More collaboration with industry to improve patient experiences of care and access to medicines is critical. Working together, we can reach those who need it most.”

Downey concluded, “Patients can face delays in accessing the medicines they need, and it is critical that all our teams have empathy and understand patients’ unique experiences, and how to support healthcare professionals deliver better care, despite the many pressures on the healthcare system.”

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