Meet the 2026 Patient Innovator Award Winners
Rare Disease Champions
Patient Services Team of the Year
Field Access Team of the Year
Patient Champion of the Year
Patient Innovators of the Year
Rare Disease Champions of the Year
KalVista
a Company of Chiesi Group
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) causes sudden, unpredictable swelling attacks that can become life-threatening when they reach the airway. KalVista, a Company of Chiesi Group, built its support around a simple principle: every patient is unique. The team tracks attack frequency and alerts providers when attacks increase. One patient hospitalized with laryngeal swelling couldn't be discharged without on-demand medication, so KalVista coordinated with its hub to expedite delivery, helping the patient return home.
Beyond its own program, KalVista partners with the U.S. Hereditary Angioedema Association and HAE International to support research, patient education, and advocacy.
Beyond its own program, KalVista partners with the U.S. Hereditary Angioedema Association and HAE International to support research, patient education, and advocacy.
Patient Services Team of the Year
Priovant Therapeutics
Priovant's Patient Access Liaisons (PALs) guide people living with dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and painful skin lesions, through every access touchpoint. PALs work directly with both providers and patients, partnering closely with Case Managers to keep each patient moving toward the next milestone.
Priovant built collaboration and real-time visibility into their launch strategy, investing in innovative solutions that connect directly to SP and copay vendor systems and help automate intakes, so teams can spend more time supporting patients with the latest information.
Priovant built collaboration and real-time visibility into their launch strategy, investing in innovative solutions that connect directly to SP and copay vendor systems and help automate intakes, so teams can spend more time supporting patients with the latest information.
Field Access Team of the Year
UCB
UCB's Field Access Specialists and Field Reimbursement Executives reduce barriers and minimize the time it takes for patients living with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases to begin treatment. The team visits offices two to three days a week while managing thousands of patients. They work across patient services,
specialty pharmacy, trade, and payer teams to help providers navigate complex access and reimbursement pathways.
Their culture starts at the top, with leaders who mentor, care deeply for their people, and make sure every voice matters.
specialty pharmacy, trade, and payer teams to help providers navigate complex access and reimbursement pathways.
Their culture starts at the top, with leaders who mentor, care deeply for their people, and make sure every voice matters.
Patient Champion of the Year
Rob Chuba, Alkermes
Rob Chuba leads Alkermes' Sleep Business Unit Fulfillment Strategy and Operations function and is widely recognized as an innovative leader in patient access and support.
Across more than two decades supporting patients with complex and rare diseases, he has challenged the status quo to improve how patients access and remain on therapy. Rob champions technology, analytics, and innovative service models that strengthen
patient engagement, streamline operations, and enhance access outcomes.
Just as important, he is a trusted mentor who builds a culture of doing what's right for patients and raises the standard for patient support across the industry.
Across more than two decades supporting patients with complex and rare diseases, he has challenged the status quo to improve how patients access and remain on therapy. Rob champions technology, analytics, and innovative service models that strengthen
patient engagement, streamline operations, and enhance access outcomes.
Just as important, he is a trusted mentor who builds a culture of doing what's right for patients and raises the standard for patient support across the industry.
Patient Innovators of the Year:
Bristol Myers Squibb
Only 2 in 10 eligible patients receive cell therapy today, in part because treatment can be stressful, often requiring travel to specialized centers and staying nearby for weeks. The BMS Cell Therapy Patient Access Support Services team built an operating model around that reality.
In Q4 2025, the team launched the first-ever mobile companion in CAR T therapy, giving patients real-time travel, lodging, and meal details. AI-powered workflows cut enrollment from 37 to 15 minutes and travel booking from 73 to 16.5 minutes, resulting in 96% satisfaction across 218 patient surveys in 2026.
In Q4 2025, the team launched the first-ever mobile companion in CAR T therapy, giving patients real-time travel, lodging, and meal details. AI-powered workflows cut enrollment from 37 to 15 minutes and travel booking from 73 to 16.5 minutes, resulting in 96% satisfaction across 218 patient surveys in 2026.
