Susan Mountain – PPIE member awarded British Empire Medal (BEM)

Congratulations to Susan Mountain, one of our PPIE members, for being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) as part of the New Years Honours List, for sharing her story of becoming addicted to cigarettes as a teenager, getting cancer and the impact it had on her loved ones.

This related to Susan’s tireless work and services to Public Health and supporting people to give up smoking through the “stop smoking campaigns”.  Ms Mountain has been part of anti-smoking TV campaigns and has addressed parliamentary groups on the issue many times.

It’s really great to see this important work recognised nationally through such awards.

She said: “It’s an honour – when I first found out I was running around crying.”

“I think most people given the opportunity to help others would do the same,” she said.

Blog by Olivia Grant

I attended the first AIM RSF conference, my first foray into the world of medical-related events. As someone new to research and the realm of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), I found the experience both stimulating and fascinating. Having been a caregiver to my husband as he battled multiple health issues in his final years, I was acutely aware of the complexities that come with managing various conditions and issues.

Victoria’s introductory talk at the conference was nothing short of brilliant. Her insights resonated with me and many others in attendance, shaping the discussions and interactions over the next two days. It was inspiring to see how her words were referenced and used to explain the importance of engaging PPIE members in research projects.

Listening to the conversations between PPIE members and researchers, including those involved in AI Multiply, filled me with hope. The commitment to meaningful engagement and the collaborative spirit displayed by all involved reinforced my belief in the potential of the PPIE project structure we had planned. It was clear that the groundwork laid during the first two years of our research was leading us in the right direction.

Overall, the conference was a valuable learning experience for me as a relative newcomer to this world. I am excited to continue exploring ways to support and enable medics and researchers in their efforts to improve patient experience and outcomes through effective PPIE initiatives.