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Teen Advisory has given me the opportunity to give my input on medical and emotional topics, and has broadened my view of how hard Boston Children’s works for their patients. Teen Advisory has helped me to embrace my disease knowing I’m somehow helping others like me.

— Lenora, Teen Advisory Committee member

 

The Teen Advisory Committee has been active at Boston Children’s Hospital since 2002. It consists of adolescents and young adults who receive their care at Boston Children’s. Meetings occur on a monthly basis for two hours in the early evening. Free parking and dinner are provided at each meeting.

Our mission

  • Serve as a forum to explore areas of interest to teen patients and their siblings.
  • Make recommendations and suggestions of ways to enhance the quality and quantity of programs and practice that affect the teen patient population through self-advocacy.
  • Inform the hospital administration, clinicians, and other hospital employees of the work of the committee.
  • Provide teens with leadership experience, as well as public speaking and presentation opportunities.

Our projects

  • social programs for adolescent patients
  • quality improvement projects
  • working with the Government Relations Department
  • innovation
  • hospital and international presentations
  • focus groups and advisory opportunities
  • creating a guide to transitioning from pediatric to adult care: One Step at a Time
  • creating videos for adolescent patients

Meeting people just like me, who have gone through treatment at Boston Children’s, has really given me a sense of normalcy in my life that I didn’t have before. Knowing that I can make a positive change in patients’ lives by providing feedback from my experiences makes TAC a really important part of my life.

— Dimitra, Teen Advisory Committee member

Other opportunities

Members of TAC are often asked to sit on hospital-wide committees and give ongoing input for specific projects. Their role is to represent the teen perspective. These committees are not part of the TAC meeting and participation is completely voluntary. Current projects include:

  • Patient Portal
  • Advisory Board for the Health Care Research Fellowship Advisory Committee
  • National Pediatric Discharge Checklist

How to join

You can submit an application to join the TAC if you:

  • are a freshman or sophomore in high school (members are welcome to stay on throughout high school and college)
  • are a patient at Boston Children’s
  • can commit to attending the monthly meetings

Please know that acceptance depends on a variety of factors.

Download a TAC candidate application here.

Completed applications can be returned to teenadvisory@childrens.harvard.edu.

This team has given me a place to share my experience with teens who can relate, which is really special. It feels great to be part of a group that values my opinion and can collaborate to find solutions.

— Sophie, Teen Advisory Committee member