Roche Canada Shortlisted for Inaugural Prix Galien Patient First Award

Nomination recognizes Roche Canada’s commitment to co-creating healthcare solutions alongside patients and caregivers.

Roche Canada, in equal partnership with Patient Partners, has been nominated for the inaugural 2026 Prix Galien Patient First Award in honour of Michael J. Fox.

Created by The Galien Foundation, the new Patient First category recognizes excellence in clinical research, clinical trials, and patient-centered care improvement initiatives that embody the principle “No decision for me, without me.”Roche Canada is being recognized for the Patient Inclusivity Initiative, a leading example of  how the pharmaceutical industry can engage with patients and caregivers, moving beyond consultation toward genuine partnership solutions. This initiative provides a model designed to ensure that patient insights shape strategy and support programs across all operational teams.Central to this initiative are the Patient Co-Creation Council (PCC) and the Chief Patient Experience Officer (CPXO): 

• The Patient Co-Creation Council: Launched in 2021, the PCC enables early, sustained collaboration with patients and caregivers as partners to define problems and co-create solutions. Today, the PCC includes patient and caregiver members serving fixed terms and working directly alongside the CPXO and Roche staff.

• The Chief Patient Experience Officer (CPXO): Held by Lisa Petermann, this first-of-its-kind executive role brings the patient voice into senior leadership and supports shared decision-making across the organization.

"It is a great honour to be nominated by a selection committee of international leaders committed to patient-centred medicine.  This recognition underscores the importance of embedding the patient voice in core activities," said Robin Harkness, Patient Partner and Inaugural Member of the Patient Co-Creation Council.  "It has been tremendously rewarding to be part of the Patient Co-Creation Council from its inception and to work alongside fellow council members and Roche staff. Knowing that my lived experience as a patient is making a difference for patients is deeply fulfilling. It also reminds me how much remains to be done. It is my hope that the outstanding work of all nominees will inspire others to boldly embrace partnership and engage patients and caregivers in meaningful ways."

"When we set out, the goal was simple: ensure patient voices aren't just heard, but are actively shaping our work," said Lisa Petermann, Chief Patient Experience Officer at Roche Canada. "Seeing our collective efforts recognized on the global stage as a nominee for the inaugural Prix Galien Patient First Award is a moment of immense pride. By creating this category, The Galien Foundation is setting a powerful global benchmark, proving that true collaboration with patients is what drives real impact across our entire sector. This recognition belongs to our patient partners, our dedicated colleagues at Roche Canada, and everyone working to build a more human-centred healthcare system."

The Patient First Award will be granted to the winning nominee in honour of Canadian actor, author and advocate Michael J. Fox, who is the recipient of the  Prix Galien USA 2025 Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award. The category winner will be announced at the Galien Patient Summit on October 29, 2026, in New York City.

Learn more about the Prix Galien Patient First Award.