Kay
McKeon← All Work

Patient advocacy / Lived experience · Public engagement

Patient Advocacy

Using lived experience to advocate for clearer information, stronger patient involvement and better cancer care.

Kay McKeon standing on a snowy mountain summit with arms outstretched

Patient advocacy is a distinct part of my practice, connecting lived experience with research, communication and practical change.

This work includes contributing to cancer-awareness campaigns and bringing a patient perspective into research, communication and public engagement.

Patient and Public Involvement

Patient Advocate

I have been a patient advocate and involved in cancer research as a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributor since 2018. This timeline gives an overview of the organisations I have worked with and how my PPI work has integrated with my design and research practice.

In February 2023, I was named the Irish Cancer Society PPI Champion 2023 for my contribution to driving patient-centred cancer research forward in Ireland. It was a huge honour to receive the award and wonderful to feel that this work was appreciated.

Irish Association for Cancer Research

I joined the Irish Association for Cancer Research (opens in a new tab) (IACR) as a Patient and Public Involvement (opens in a new tab) member in 2018. I was later appointed IACR PPI Champion, with a remit to help define and grow the organisation’s PPI agenda.

I have assisted academics to communicate their research effectively to the public and contributed my design expertise. I rebranded the IACR (opens in a new tab), created its new website, designed the annual conference brochure and associated visual collateral for five years, and managed and updated the website.

In 2023, I facilitated the first IACR PPI Council workshop, an initiative designed to foster future research partnerships between researchers and people affected by cancer. I secured funding from the Irish Cancer Society (opens in a new tab), the All Ireland Cancer Research Institute (opens in a new tab) and HSC Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab).

The funding supported a three-hour workshop (opens in a new tab) with four speakers and eight round-table discussions, a dedicated PPI stand (opens in a new tab), and PPI seed-funding vouchers for IACR members. The initiatives proved a major success.

Contribution

  • 2023: Facilitated and organised the first IACR PPI Council workshop, established the dedicated PPI stand and announced the PPI Council Seed Funding Vouchers at the IACR conference
  • 2022: Became PPI Champion for IACR
  • 2019, 2020 and 2022: IACR Paddy Johnston Communication Workshop partner
  • 2018: Joined the IACR PPI Council and created the new logo and website

Irish Cancer Society

In February 2023, I was named the Irish Cancer Society PPI Champion (opens in a new tab) for my contribution to driving patient-centred cancer research forward in Ireland.

I became a PPI contributor for the Irish Cancer Society (opens in a new tab) in 2019. As a patient advocate, I have taken part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month media campaigns, including interviews with The Irish Times (opens in a new tab), The Irish Independent (opens in a new tab) and RSVP Magazine (opens in a new tab).

I have served as a PPI reviewer for PhD and postdoctoral funding applications, the annual PhD Lay Abstract Awards and the €4 million Collaborative Cancer Survivorship Research Centre Grant. I also received the Patient Advocate in Cancer Research Champion Award.

Contribution

  • 2023: Co-facilitator on Irish Cancer Society PPI training for researchers
  • 2022: Secured a Patient Advocate in Cancer Research Champion Award, supporting the first IACR PPI Council workshop
  • 2022: PPI grant reviewer, Collaborative Cancer Survivorship Research Award (€4 million)
  • 2021: PPI grant reviewer, Translational Fellowship
  • 2020: PPI grant reviewer, PhD Research Awards
  • 2019: PPI grant reviewer, Social and Allied Health Scholarship
  • 2019: PPI reviewer, PhD Student of the Year

Breakthrough Cancer Research

I became involved with Breakthrough Cancer Research (opens in a new tab) in 2020. I have helped academics with lay communication, presented on infographic best practice and contributed my story to campaigns celebrating survivors and life after cancer.

In 2020, I successfully applied for funding from Breakthrough Cancer Research to complete a Master’s in Design for Change at IADT. Motivated by my own experience, the research examined the information gaps experienced by breast-cancer patients in Ireland. I graduated with First Class Honours.

Contribution

Patient Voice in Cancer Research

As a Patient Partner with Patient Voice in Cancer Research (opens in a new tab), I have taken part in communication and innovation workshops.

Contribution

  • 2026: PVCR 10 Year Anniversary, speaker and co-presenter
  • 2023: Have Your Say in Research seminar, speaker and co-presenter
  • 2022: Patient Innovation workshop with the Innovation Academy
  • 2020: Fireside podcast host
  • 2020: Dragons’ Den in Galway, presenting my research question on information deficit
  • 2019: Biobanking workshop in Cork
Timeline of Kay McKeon's patient and public involvement and research work from 2017 to 2023
Kay McKeon appearing in the 100% Survivors cancer campaign film
Kay McKeon speaking about patient and public involvement at UCD Dublin