Public partner and contributor Margaret Ogden tells us about her experiences of being part of the SPHR Public Partners Network in the poem below.
I started with LSHTM in 2016
My first public health project and one of great esteem
A confident PPI group embedding diversity
Including topics such as deprivation as well as other adversity
It was the communities and places dynamic work stream
Led by Matt Egan, we made a great team
With Mirela whose role was PPI coordination
Our exciting activities needing careful navigation
I presented on PPI input and also on impacts
Based on opinions, as well as evidence and facts
I focused on brevity, never speaking at great length
Good preparation had always been my strength
More recently I’ve spoke of PPI evaluation in depth
Covering that specialism at considerable breadth
But in straightforward language, easy to understand
Support from the rest of the team, was readily at hand
The 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting – an event of highest profile
Chris Whitty as key note speaker, I listened with a smile
It happened during covid, so the meeting was online
In a webinar format, it all turned out just fine
What I learnt was to know in advance who’ll be there
In future I’ll ensure I’m much more aware
Of content, tone and any emerging topical theme
Thorough planning is crucial, so it would seem
By Margaret Ogden