Hello, my name is Antoine, I am 41 years old and I am a surgeon. Passionate about my work, I strive to provide the best possible care to my patients. My experience and commitment allow me to approach each intervention with precision and compassion.
Recently, I had the privilege of participating in the Symposium on Patient Engagement Science organized by the National Health Council in 2025. This event allowed me to discuss the crucial importance of involving patients in innovation in medical technology. Alongside renowned panelists, we explored how their unique perspective can shape the future of healthcare. The exchanges were rich and inspiring, highlighting the need for close collaboration between healthcare professionals and patients. This approach aims to ensure that technological advancements genuinely address the real needs of end users.

Engaging Patients from the Start
The heart of our discussion focused on the fact that patients must be involved from the early stages of development and refinement of groundbreaking medical technologies. This not only ensures that these innovations achieve their primary goal of improving and saving lives but also that they exceed expectations. At AdvaMed, the engagement of the patient voice manifests through several initiatives. We hold quarterly meetings with patient advocacy groups to understand their priorities and concerns. These discussions directly influence the policies we advocate for with Congress, the FDA, and CMS. For example, through our meetings with diabetic patient advocacy groups, we identified the necessity of a medical exception for the use of smartphone-connected continuous glucose monitors in schools.

A Personal Experience with Patient Engagement
This issue touches me deeply on a personal level. My daughter has type 1 diabetes, and I have seen with my own eyes how medical technologies can transform lives. Her journey has evolved from multiple daily injections and finger pricks to the use of integrated and less invasive technologies. This evolution has not only changed how we manage her condition but has also improved our overall quality of life. Such transformation should be accessible to every patient.

Diversity in Clinical Trials
Another crucial aspect to ensure that the patient voice is considered in the research and development of medical technology lies in the diversity of populations engaged in clinical trials. It is essential that these trials include a variety of patients from different racial backgrounds, genders, geographical areas, and individuals with disabilities. This ensures that the developed technologies benefit a wide range of patients, free from bias or disparities.

The Need for Coverage of Cutting-Edge Medical Technologies
Once the medical technology is developed and approved by the FDA, it is imperative that patients have access through effective coverage and reimbursement mechanisms. We firmly believe that every patient in need should be able to benefit from the latest technological innovations for their condition. That’s why one of our priorities at AdvaMed is advocating for policies that require Medicare to cover medical technologies that the FDA considers “breakthroughs”.

A Welcome Partnership
I am grateful to Randall Rutta for giving me the opportunity to join this enlightening roundtable. He and his team at the National Health Council do remarkable work to amplify the voices of millions of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities in the United States. We are proud to be their partners!

AdvaMed’s Patients First Agenda
Many patient-serving policies take root at the state level. To learn more about our Patients First Agenda targeting state legislatures, I invite you to explore our available resources.

Scott Whitaker is president and CEO of AdvaMed, the world’s largest trade association representing innovators in medical technology.

Hearing the Stories of Patients
The Story of Medtech section allows patients to share their experiences with medical technologies with the aim of educating, inspiring, and creating a supportive community.

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In the rapidly evolving field of medical technology, it is essential to place the voice of patients at the heart of the innovation process. This patient-centered approach ensures that the solutions developed truly meet their needs and improve the quality of life of end users. At the 2025 Symposium on Patient Engagement Science organized by the National Health Council, the importance of this approach was significantly highlighted.

Why is it crucial to engage patients early in medtech innovation?

Engaging patients from the earliest stages of the development of medical technologies ensures that innovations truly address the challenges and daily needs of users. This early collaboration facilitates the creation of more effective and tailored solutions while strengthening patients’ trust in new technologies. For example, during the symposium, it was discussed how involving patients in the design process can lead to more intuitive and easy-to-use devices.

At AdvaMed, we hold quarterly meetings with patient advocacy groups to understand their priorities and concerns. These director exchanges directly influence our policies and actions with Congress, the FDA, and CMS. A concrete case is our collaboration with diabetic patient advocacy groups, which informed us of the importance of developing medical exceptions for the use of continuous glucose monitors connected to smartphones in schools. This initiative led to advocacy actions at the state level considering general bans on cell phones.

How does AdvaMed integrate the voice of patients into its processes?

Integrating the voice of patients into medtech innovation processes requires a structured and continuous approach. At AdvaMed, this means not only listening to patient feedback but also actively incorporating it into our strategies and initiatives. For example, by working closely with patient organizations, we can identify unmet needs and steer our research and development efforts accordingly.

This approach was strengthened by my recent participation in the symposium, where I had the opportunity to engage with experts like Dr. Juan Espinoza and Christine Waggoner, as well as our moderator Karl Cooper. Their perspectives, both as practitioners and as parents of children with rare diseases, enriched my understanding of the importance of patient engagement. These insights allow me to guide our team at AdvaMed towards more humane and effective solutions.

The importance of diversity in clinical trials in medtech

Diversity in clinical trials is a key element to ensure that the developed medical technologies are effective for a varied population. By including a wide range of patients in trials, whether it be racial diversity, gender, geographical, or disabilities, we ensure representativeness that reflects the different realities of end users.

This diversity also helps identify and rectify potential biases in technology development. For example, certain populations might react differently to a technology due to genetic or environmental factors. By addressing these variations early in the testing phases, we can create more robust and universal solutions.

Initiatives like those described in the use of technology to improve therapeutic adherence perfectly illustrate how a diverse approach can lead to innovations that benefit a larger number of patients.

Ensuring access to innovative medical technologies: challenges and solutions

Once medical technologies have been developed and approved by the FDA, it is crucial to ensure that all patients have access. This requires adequate coverage and reimbursement policies. At AdvaMed, one of our priorities is to encourage the adoption of policies that require coverage for technologies classified as “breakthrough” by the FDA by Medicare.

Ensuring this access requires close collaboration with policymakers and payers. For example, by working with advocacy groups and utilizing data from our quarterly patient meetings, we can demonstrate the positive impact of these technologies on patients’ lives and justify their integration into reimbursement schemes.

Recent cases, such as that of Johnson & Johnson, show that despite advancements, safety concerns can hinder deployment. It is therefore essential to navigate these challenges with an informed and collaborative approach.

Essential partnerships to amplify the voice of patients

Partnerships play a crucial role in amplifying the voice of patients. Working with organizations like the National Health Council provides a platform for patients to share their experiences and influence policy decisions. I am especially grateful to Randall Rutta and his team for their commitment to this cause.

These collaborations not only strengthen our current initiatives but also create new opportunities to engage patients in the development of medtech. By sharing stories and feedback, like the Hear Patient Stories series does, we can inspire and educate the community while building a solid foundation for future innovations.

AdvaMed’s Patients First Agenda

Our Patients First Agenda at AdvaMed emphasizes the importance of starting at the state level to influence national policies. Many initiatives aimed at improving access and innovation in medtech take root at the local level, where patient needs can vary significantly from region to region.

By collaborating with legislators and local stakeholders, we can tailor our policies to better address the specific needs of the populations served. To learn more about our Patients First Agenda, you can check our detailed initiatives at the state legislature level.

A personal experience with patient engagement

This approach is particularly personal for me. My daughter has type 1 diabetes, and I have witnessed firsthand how medical technologies can transform lives. Her journey has evolved from multiple daily injections and finger pricks to the use of integrated and less invasive technologies. This transformation has not only improved the management of her condition but has also significantly influenced our daily lives.

Seeing the direct impact of medtech innovations on my daughter’s life reinforces my commitment to placing the voice of patients at the center of everything we do. It is this personal experience that motivates my work at AdvaMed and supports our belief that every patient deserves access to the best available technologies.

Learn More

• Biography Dakuity Care J18: Innovation for Health
• At the heart of product recalls: a medtech executive from Minnesota reveals having faced pressure to ignore safety standards
• The use of technology to improve therapeutic adherence
• Johnson & Johnson relaunches PFA cases, but analysts warn that safety concerns could hinder deployment
• Biography of Decision Makers Magazine: A dive into the world of health circles and medtech startups