ADVOCATE
Our Ambassadors are at the heart of everything we do.
The Ambassador Network is made up of people from all of the UK who have a drive to advocate for Rare Aware medical training and practice. Ambassadors come from different backgrounds and all have unique experiences and insights to share with each other, the charity and the public. They may be doctors, live with a rare condition or both. We also have medical students, other healthcare professionals and carers in our network.
The Ambassador Programme is a two-year, fully-funded personal and professional development programme that aims to support budding rare disease advocates. It is run by two of our team members, Jo and Helen, who help build participants’ advocacy skills and facilitate their engagement with the rare disease and health community.
Our Ambassadors use these skills to provide training to their peers, to lead their own awareness events and to share their own lived experience with speaking opportunities at events. They also use their skills and knowledge to get involved in Medics for Rare Disease projects and campaigns.
“I genuinely think the ambassador programme is amazing! The addition of online brews and the end of year in-person meetings have been very positive and it’s been amazing to meet so many different people so passionate about rare diseases!”
“Medics for Rare Disease has become a sacred space where I am heard, where I am
seen, where I am believed. It has allowed me to rebuild trust in
medical professionals and to seek to understand why things
are the way they are, and what we can do to change them.”
Ambassador 2024/2025
Medical Student Ambassador (2022/23)
Ambassador 2024/2025
Ambassador 2024/2025
“I’ve loved delivering department teaching about rare diseases on each of my rotations and received positive feedback for these! People seem to really engage with the sessions and hopefully are now more Rare Aware!”
“When I make my debut onto the wards for the first time as a doctor, I will take forward the lessons that I have learnt from the Lunch and Learn, and from the wonderful people that I have met through M4RD. I know that there are tough and stressful times ahead, but being involved in this group of student, clinical and patient ambassadors will make me a better doctor going forwards, for both people who live with a rare disease and those who don’t.“
The Ambassador Programme is currently closed for applications. The next intake will be in September 2026. Please sign up to our mailing list to keep updated.
If you would like to learn more about the Ambassador Programme or to work with our Ambassador network, contact our Partnerships & Community Manager, Jo McPherson jo@m4rd.org
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