The Type 1 Diabetes Think Tank Network (T1DTTN) came together in 2013, when healthcare professionals and patients alike agreed that more needed to be done to improve the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes. Particularly, there is a need for better communication and understanding of the patient experience. T1DTTN President and Co-Founder, Dr. Amish Parkih, is one of the healthcare professionals driving this change. Through his organization, Dr. Parkih works to put patient experience at the centre of healthcare, integrating their challenges to facilitate an environment where patient experiences drive healthcare solutions.
“The Think Tank was founded on the principle that healthcare workers and patients should have an equal platform and that we can both learn from one another,” says Dr. Parkih. The organization provides resources that patients and healthcare workers can use to facilitate important discussions. T1DTTN also hosts events where people living with diabetes can come together with health professionals to explore solutions for different aspects of diabetes care.
Since 2005, Dr. Parikh has served as a Staff Internist and Endocrinologist at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ontario. His research interests include exercise and diabetes, continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump technology, and new technology for patients with diabetes. Additionally, he is interested in medical education and holds a Masters in Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.
Dr. Parkih is passionate about promoting health and wellness in the community and improving patient experience. He has been the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)’s Chronic Disease Prevention Physician Lead for the last three years. In this role, he has advocated for an integrated approach for the management of chronic disease, looking at multiple risk factors for chronic disease instead of focusing on just one. Through this work, and his role as President of T1DTTN, Dr. Parikh continues to advocate for patients with Type 1 diabetes and works to improve clinical outcomes.
— Written by Shivani Seth