Rose began her Cochrane journey by exploring our learning resources. Since then, Rose expanded her involvement and is now contributing to The People's Review!

Our Patient and Public Involvement Manager, April English, sat down with Rose to talk about her motivations to getting involved, the impact it’s had, top tips, and much more.

Tell us about yourself! Who are you and how did you get started in patient and public involvement in research?

I am Rose, from Egypt, a recent graduate from medical school. During my second and third years I studied epidemiology and biostatistics, our professor, Dr Ashraf Nabhan, used material from Cochrane to teach us about systematic reviews, bias detection and the Cochrane Library.  

What motivated you to become part of Cochrane’s evidence community?

During my fifth year, I wanted to get involved in any research, so I thought of checking the Cochrane website to see if anything there will help me. To my surprise I found so many things – they were all very helpful.  

Since joining Cochrane, what moment or project are you especially proud of?

It has been a huge difficulty for me and my peers to participate in any papers or publications during our university years – the lack of opportunity and mentorship is evident. So to me, Cochrane not only offered me the interactive learning course with a scholarship for HINARI countries, but it is also now giving me the chance to participate in a systematic review while guiding me, and the entire team, through every step. 

I learned a lot, contributed to evidence based medicine, received many trainings, and now I’m even participating in The People’s Review on Cochrane Crowd. I’m very excited for how this systematic review will turn out. And for that I’d like to thank the whole Cochrane community.

What resource, learning opportunity, or mentor was most helpful when you started your journey in patient and public involvement?

I found the Cochrane interactive course that reminded me of everything I was taught and taught me even more, I found the opportunity to volunteer to categorize and summarize scientific evidence on Cochrane Crowd, and I found the opportunity to write peer reviews on Cochrane Engage.

What advice or encouragement would you give to others thinking about getting involved? 

I always share all links with my friends and colleagues because I think it’s a great opportunity to learn and to contribute to the advancement of evidence-based medicine. I’m very grateful I’m now working on a systematic review with my Cochrane colleagues.

Join Rose and 2500 other patients and members of the public who are contributing to Cochrane and health evidence by signing up to our Network here.