A smiling patient stands in a hospital hallway with three members of his care team in white coats. The group is standing close together, smiling warmly, showing a supportive relationship.

Patient & Family Advisor

Patient and/or family advisors - volunteer patients and family members - share their stories, experiences, opinions and perspectives to help champion initiatives that create more patient-centric programs, operations, services and research. 

The goal is to improve the safety and quality of patient care. Advisors work in partnership with Michigan Medicine staff from the executive level to special councils. They also participate in focus groups and surveys, review patient facing materials. Most advisors are referred by staff and physicians for specific committee/project roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Patient and family advisors are individuals who have experienced the care at Michigan Medicine as a patient and/or family member – and are willing to share their experiences, positive and negative, to help us improve care in our system. Our advisors range in age from teens to seniors, and each has a unique perspective and expertise that helps us continue to improve the care and experience for all patients and families at Michigan Medicine.

The advisor onboarding requirements for virtual roles (committees/project teams that meet via Zoom or Teams) are:

  • Completion of application and advisor bio
  • Advisor interview/screening
  • Code of Conduct Agreement
  • Background Check Agreement
  • UM-Health Volunteer Policy Review
  • Memorandum of Understanding
  • Flu/Respiratory Review
  • Completion of HireRight Background Check Form
  • Must pass two criminal background checks yearly
  • Upload driver’s license in volunteer portal
  • Attend two-hour Zoom training

NOTE: If an advisor will be assigned on onsite role, they will also need to complete an Occupational Health Screening and obtain a UMID volunteer badge. Office of Patient Experience staff will guide the advisors through these steps

If you are a UM Health staff member or physician and you would like to refer a patient or caregiver to partner with your team, please send their name, email address, phone number and advisor role to [email protected].

Patient & Family Advisory Councils

Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) are made up of patient and family advisors who provide their perspective and feedback at specific clinics and for diseases/conditions. Though each PFAC has unique qualities and priorities based on the area they represent, each has an overarching mission to help sustain a culture of true collaboration and partnership among patients, families, staff, and faculty throughout the entire care process.

The Office of Patient Experience supports PFACs by assisting with recruitment and training of advisors, assisting with facilitation as needed, and connecting site leads to additional resources across Michigan Medicine.
  • Adolescent Young Adult Oncology
  • Adolescent Young Adult Mott
  • Brighton General Medicine
  • Chelsea Family Medicine
  • East Ann Arbor General Medicine
  • Northville General Medicine
  • West Ann Arbor General Medicine
  • Frankel Cardiovascular Center
  • East Ann Arbor Geriatrics
  • C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
  • University Hospital
  • Cancer Center
  • Congenital Heart
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Neonatal ICU in C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
  • Pathology
  • Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiation/Oncology
  • Sparrow Grand Rapids
  • Teen
  • Ypsilanti Health Center – Currently recruiting new advisors
    • This committee meets for one hour on the fourth Tuesday of every month via
      Zoom. Committee members – advisors and staff – partner to include the patient
      and caregiver voice in projects and procedural changes. They collaborate to
      improve the patient and family member experience for all who are served in the
      Ypsilanti Health Center.
  • Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, Induction of Labor Workgroup – Currently
    recruiting new advisors
    • Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital (VVWH) is hoping to speak with three to five advisors who have received an induction of labor there in the last 3 years. Reasons for inducing labor can be medical or elective. “We are aiming to improve
      the patient's understanding and experience during an induction of labor by
      balancing evidence-based practice with honoring patient autonomy,” said
      Workgroup Lead Ashley Logan-Sitko. Advisors will participate in conversations
      around this topic – meeting times are flexible. They may also be asked for input
      on patient education methods and materials.

View the Virtual PFAC Meeting Guide.