For people living with rheumatoid arthritis, knowledge is power, whether it’s here in the United States or around the world. In this episode, learn how a leading health advocate in the UK is serving 450,000 adults living with RA and 12,000 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

“Everything we do is about giving the individual living with inflammatory arthritis as much knowledge and as many tools for them to understand their condition,” says Clare Jacklin, CEO at National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society in the United Kingdom.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:06: Listener comment

1:40: The U.S. is working to increase access to Evusheld, the preventative COVID treatment to help protect the immunocompromised against COVID

2:37: President Biden tested positive for a rebound case of COVID-19 after being treated with Paxlovid, the antiviral treatment

3:56: The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society is “the only patient organization in the United Kingdom that focuses specifically on rheumatoid arthritis,” says Clare

5:41: Clare describes the changes she’s seen for rheumatology patients in her 15 years advocating for the organization

7:43: Clare shares what she and other advocates learn by attending the European Conference on Rheumatology

9:53: The ways Clare’s organization keeps  rheumatoid arthritis patients up-to-date with the latest health information

11:43: “I think the key thing about being an advocate for yourself is really to have the knowledge and knowledge is power,” believes Clare

13:03: Clare describes ways, big and small, that her organization helps patients

15:27: Clare provides an update on COVID in the UK: “I wouldn't say our community feels safe. But we feel safer than we did two years ago”

17:28: What our hosts learned from this episode

Learn more about Clare’s organization, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society in the United Kingdom 

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to thehealthadvocates@ghlf.org

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.