Get Empowered

Find Your Voice. Become a Champion.

We’re looking for passionate patients from all backgrounds, condition areas, and regions across the United States who have experience with infused or injected therapies. If you’re ready to learn legislative advocacy and share your patient story, we want to hear from you.

As a Champion, you’ll leave our weekend with:

  • Real connections to a diverse, ten-person cohort of fellow patient advocates from across the country.
  • The skills to navigate policy conversations around various insurance barriers
  • Practice turning your lived experience into a clear, compelling story for lawmakers and the public.
  • A professionally filmed, individually produced video story — yours to keep and use for advocacy, media, or your community, for life.
  • Hands-on practice through mock legislative meetings, so you know exactly what to expect before you ever set foot on Capitol Hill.
Countdown to

Champions Weekend

February 4-7th, 2027

Austin, Texas

Travel and housing assistance will be provided

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What happens at Champions Weekend?

Champions Weekend is a 4-day, immersive leadership retreat held in Austin, TX. Designed around a collaborative “train-the-trainer” model, the weekend blends skill-building workshops, professional media production, and community connection to equip you with the confidence and tools to advocate for care access.

Welcome & Orientation

Arrive at a beautiful ranch in Austin, settle in, and meet your 10-person cohort and the Infusion Access Foundation team over an informal welcome dinner and icebreakers.

Storytelling & Media Preparation

Participate in interactive storytelling sessions where you’ll learn how to refine your personal healthcare journey, identify your narrative “hook,” and communicate your experience concisely for lawmakers and public media.

Professional Filming & On-Camera Session

Step into the studio with professional hair and makeup styling, a supportive film crew, and guided camera coaching. Each Champion records an individual, professionally produced video story to take home as a lifelong advocacy tool.

Advocacy & Policy Deep Dives

Demystify complex healthcare topics in plain language. You’ll break down the exact insurance barriers impacting infusion access—such as step therapy, prior authorization, site-of-care policies, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—and learn how these policies shape patient access nationwide.

Legislative Visit Simulations

Put your training into practice with interactive mock legislative meetings. Learn etiquette for speaking with lawmakers, build a personalized advocacy pitch, and learn what to expect during Capitol Hill visits.

Cohort Connection & Community:

Between structured sessions, connect with fellow participants over shared meals, small-group reflection time, and open conversations. Many Champions meet someone with their specific condition in person for the first time during this weekend!

The Post-Weekend Journey

The impact doesn’t end when you fly home! After the retreat, you will:

  • Receive your finished, professionally edited video story to share on social media, with media outlets, or during advocacy events.
  • Join the exclusive Champions Slack network to stay connected with your cohort and collaborate with past classes.
  • Access opportunities to participate in federal or state Hill Days, contribute to media campaigns, and speak at industry events or conferences.
What You Can Expect at Champions’ Weekend

What You Can Expect at Champions’ Weekend

Thinking about applying for Champions Weekend but want to know what it's really like? We're pulling back the curtain to give you a sneak peek into our patient retreat in Austin, TX. Champions' Weekend is more than just a conference; it's a supportive and...

The Champions Weekend Application Process

The Champions Weekend Application Process

Every year, Champions Weekend brings together an incredible cohort of patient advocates from across the country to connect, train, and amplify their voices for better healthcare access.    We often get asked: “How does the selection process actually work?”    Because...

5 Reasons to Apply for Champions Weekend

5 Reasons to Apply for Champions Weekend

Are you a patient driven to make a tangible difference in healthcare? Do you possess a unique story that deserves to be heard, and a desire to learn how to shape policy? If so, Champions Weekend offers a pivotal opportunity to transform your passion into powerful...

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is Champions Weekend 2027?
The retreat will take place from February 4–7, 2027 in Austin, TX. Applications officially open on September 1st!
Who will be considered for Champions Weekend?

We are seeking passionate patients from all backgrounds, condition areas, and regions within the United States who have experience with provider-administered therapies (infusions/injections). If you are interested in learning about legislative advocacy and sharing your patient experience, we encourage you to apply!

How Champions Are Selected
Selecting just 10 participants from a large pool of applicants is the hardest part of our work. To ensure fairness, a review team evaluates applications based on treatment relevance, experience with policy barriers, advocacy potential, and community diversity. If you applied previously and were not selected, please reapply! Our advocacy focus evolves each year, so our candidate needs change.
How many champions can come?
To ensure an intimate, high-impact environment, each cohort is limited to 10 participants.
How much does it cost to attend?
Travel, housing, and food assistance is provided for all selected attendees! Champions Weekend is made possible through the support of the Infusion Access Foundation and our event sponsors.
What happens after the weekend?
The momentum continues long after the retreat! As an Infusion Access Foundation Champion, you will join our exclusive Champions Slack community to collaborate with past cohorts. You will also be invited to participate in legislative Hill Days, speak at industry events, and lead community initiatives.

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