International Award Highlights Ireland’s Progress in Patient Partnership
09 June 2026
Laura Kavanagh, National Partnership Lead and member of the HSE Patient and Service User Experience Team, has received the Made With Patients Champion Award at an international forum in Spain, recognising her leadership in advancing patient partnership across healthcare
Laura was presented with the Made With Patients Champion Award at the Patient Engagement Open Forum in Seville, Spain, on 3 June 2026.
This award recognises people who are making a real difference by working in partnership with patients and service users. It celebrates those who ensure patients’ voices are heard and included in decisions about healthcare, research and policy. The awards are organised by Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD), an international organisation that promotes patient-centred healthcare.
This year’s awards saw strong global interest, with more than 240 nominations from over 25 countries. Entries were reviewed by an international panel of experts, who assessed each nomination based on impact, innovation and commitment to meaningful patient involvement.
Laura was selected as the overall winner in her category in recognition of her outstanding contribution to advancing patient partnership in Ireland and internationally.
Throughout her career, Laura has worked to ensure that the experiences of patients and service users are valued as an important form of expertise. She has played a key role in strengthening how people are involved in shaping healthcare services, research and policy.
Before joining the HSE, Laura worked with the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPOSI). In both roles, she has supported new ways of working that bring patients and professionals together as equal partners.
One of Laura’s key achievements has been her leadership in developing Citizens’ Juries. These bring together members of the public to explore important healthcare issues such as access to health information, genomics and the use of artificial intelligence. The recommendations from these groups have helped inform national policy and planning.
Laura has also made a significant contribution to patient and public involvement in research. She supported the PPI Ignite Network and helped establish a national Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Hub. These initiatives help researchers and patients work together to design and improve research.
Within the HSE, Laura with colleagues in the HSE Patient Forum and the PSUE Team supported the development of structures that enable patient and service user involvement across the health service. This includes roles within the six Regional Health Areas and systems that support participation at local, regional and national levels.
Laura’s achievement reflects the strong progress being made in Ireland to involve patients and service users in healthcare. It also highlights the important work of the HSE, including the Patient and Service User Experience Team and our invaluable patient and service user partners in supporting partnership approaches across the health service.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Laura dedicated the award to patients and service users, recognising their vital role in improving healthcare.
This award is a proud moment for the HSE and recognises the continued commitment to working in partnership with patients to improve services now and into the future.