Dave deBronkart

Dave deBronkart, known on the internet as e-Patient Dave, is the author of "Let Patients Help: A Patient Engagement Handbook" and one of the world’s leading advocates for patient engagement. After overcoming stage IV kidney cancer in 2007, he became a blogger, health policy advisor, and international keynote speaker. With a robust speaking career that predates his cancer diagnosis, he remains the best-known spokesperson for the patient engagement movement, having attended over 600 conferences and policy meetings across 19 countries, including testifying in Washington for patient access to the medical record under Meaningful Use.

As a co-founder and chair emeritus of the Society for Participatory Medicine, deBronkart has been featured in prominent publications such as Time, U.S. News, USA Today, Wired, and MIT Technology Review. His broad appeal is reflected in his writings, which have appeared in respected journals and magazines, including the British Medical Journal and the HealthLeaders cover story "Patient of the Future." His work has earned him recognition, such as being named to the annual list of "20 People Who Make Healthcare Better" by HealthLeaders in 2009, and he has graced the cover of Healthcare IT News and the Australian GP magazine Good Practice.

deBronkart's TED Talk "Let Patients Help" has resonated widely, amassing over a half-million views and being subtitled in 26 languages. This speaks to the international relevance of his advocacy. The National Library of Medicine recognized the significance of his contributions by archiving his blog in its History of Medicine Division in 2012. His commitment to education and engagement was further acknowledged when he served as the Mayo Clinic’s 2015 Visiting Professor in Internal Medicine. In addition to his ongoing advocacy, deBronkart is set to release another book titled "Superpatients: Patients Who Extend Science When All Other Options Are Gone," which continues his mission to empower patients and enhance participatory medicine.