A recent conference held in Italy brought together healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and educators to reflect on the value of multidisciplinarity and the power of collaboration in personal care. The event carried a clear and vital message: truly effective care is built on listening, inclusion, and the recognition of every person’s experience—especially the voices of patients.
The European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO) participated in the event to ensure that the patient perspective was heard and valued. Representing ECPO, President Diana Castillo delivered a heartfelt message that underscored the importance of compassion and connection in healthcare.
“For more than five years I have participated in meetings with patients as a Peer Educator. These spaces are safe and welcoming, where patients recognise their own stories in mine. They realise they are not alone. Together, we work through fears, doubts, expectations, and dreams,” said Castillo.
“We exchange practical advice, smiles of complicity, and the awareness grows in each person that it is possible to choose a treatment path that is dignified, respectful, and tailored to the patient.”
This Italian conference invited all attendees to look beyond roles, encouraging a people-friendly approach to healthcare that fosters understanding, empathy, and meaningful collaboration between all professionals involved in care pathways.
ECPO’s contribution was a powerful reminder that patients are not passive recipients—they are experts in their own right. Their lived experience adds depth and humanity to the clinical approach. In any collaborative model of care, their perspective is not only welcome—it is essential.