Elevating Crucial Perspectives: Peer Advisory Boards are the Key to Informed and Equitable Healthcare System
Morgan Anderson
March 20, 2025
If we want an equitable healthcare system, where do we start?
We talk about removing barriers, ensuring equal access, and giving everyone what they need to get where they want to be—but how do we know what they need? Doctors? Researchers? Policy experts? Sure, they have knowledge, but can they really know what a person needs if they’ve
never had to face those same barriers themselves, or talked to people to understand why they need what they need?
Too often, policies are created about communities, but not with them. Policies are created based on assumptions, not on the real experiences of the people they impact. So how can we truly make healthcare equitable without asking those most affected what’s actually going on in their lives?
The truth is, we can’t. So, where do we begin? By listening. By tapping into peer advisory groups—groups made up of those directly affected by healthcare challenges.
These groups don’t just represent “the voice of the people”; they are the voice.
When we stop guessing what people need and start listening to those who live it, we can create a system that truly serves everyone. This is the path to breaking down barriers, ensuring equal access, and meeting people where they are.
Creating an equitable health care system doesn’t simply mean ensuring everyone has access to care; it’s about understanding the unique challenges faced by different communities and addressing those needs in a meaningful way. But how do we figure out what those challenges are? How do we ensure the voices of those affected are truly heard? After all, it’s impossible for someone who doesn’t experience a particular hardship to fully understand it. For example, as an able-bodied white female I can’t assume I know how a person in a wheelchair experiences healthcare systems, nor can I understand how being racialized otherwise may influence someone’s health care experience. This is why we need to directly ask the groups that are affected how we can make changes they regard as positive. Rather than simply conducting surveys or standing outside the hospital hoping to engage people, there’s a much more structured and effective way to tap into these voices: peer advisory boards.
What Are Peer Advisory Boards?
Think of peer advisory boards as groups of people who share similar experiences or backgrounds, coming together to offer advice, solve problems, and brainstorm solutions. They’re made up of individuals who are directly affected by the issues at hand, and they work together to help create change based on what they’ve personally experienced (Aubrey, 2017).
In health care, these groups give voice to patients who may otherwise be overlooked. Instead of relying solely on experts or researchers, peer advisory boards create space for people who have lived through the very challenges we’re trying to solve. They’re the ones who can help identify the problems that need fixing and, more importantly, offer actionable solutions.
Peer advisory boards consist of individuals who come together to discuss solutions to problems, drawing from their own lived experiences. They combine evidence-based knowledge with their personal insights to offer advice on what they believe is necessary to address the issue at hand. Peer advisory boards are key to positive, successful, and equitable change—whether in healthcare, business, or community initiatives.
For example, a peer advisory board in health could include individuals who have experienced homelessness and are working to improve access to healthcare for others in similar situations. This group might collaborate with healthcare providers, shelters, and policymakers to address barriers like transportation, mental health support, and lack of trust in the healthcare system. They could suggest practical solutions, such as mobile clinics, more flexible appointment hours, or healthcare staff training on the unique challenges faced by homeless individuals.
By sharing their experiences, these board members help healthcare providers understand the real, often overlooked obstacles to care—such as the stigma of homelessness, the trauma that can come with it, or the difficulty of managing health needs without stable housing.
By combining lived experience with professional knowledge, peer advisory boards ensure that healthcare solutions are not only effective but also trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessible to those who need them most. After all, we cannot eliminate barriers if we do not fully understand why they exist in the first place. Peer advisory boards give a voice to those who have lived through the challenges, ensuring that solutions are rooted in real-world experiences.
Empowering Communities and Improving Care
Peer advisory boards do more than just improve health care systems—they empower the communities they represent. By directly involving individuals who have lived experience with facing barriers, these boards create a platform for individuals to not only influence change in policy and procedures but also grow personally and collectively.
Fostering Accountability and Commitment
One of the most powerful aspects of peer advisory boards is the sense of accountability they create (Dame, 2023). When community members come together, united by a shared goal of improving care, they become a support network for one another. This collective responsibility helps everyone stay focused and motivated, ensuring that the voices of those who are most impacted by disparities aren’t just heard, but are acted upon. This accountability drives real, tangible progress in addressing health care inequities.
Better, More Inclusive Decision-Making
Because peer advisory boards bring together individuals with diverse lived experiences, they foster a decision-making process that is more creative, inclusive, and effective. The solutions developed by these groups reflect a broader understanding of the challenges faced by different communities. For instance, a board of individuals with chronic health conditions might identify gaps in care that go unnoticed by traditional providers, resulting in more tailored, impactful health care improvements. By empowering community members to be part of these decisions, the solutions are not only more relevant but more sustainable.
Building Leadership Within Communities
Peer advisory boards offer a unique opportunity for leadership development within communities that are often underrepresented in decision-making processes. Members of these boards gain valuable skills in communication, advocacy, and problem-solving, which in turn helps build a network of local leaders. These leaders are better equipped to advocate for their communities’ health needs, strengthening both the individuals involved and the systems they’re working to improve (Dame, 2023).
Strengthening Emotional Resilience
Working on challenging health care issues—whether it’s access, quality, or equity—can be emotionally draining, especially when you’re directly affected by the problems being addressed. Peer advisory boards offer emotional support, building resilience by creating a space where individuals can share their struggles and successes. This shared experience helps keep the group grounded, motivated, and focused on long-term goals, ensuring that the work continues even in the face of setbacks. People on the board aren’t alone—they are surrounded by others who understand their unique experiences. This sense of connection and mutual understanding empowers individuals, knowing they are with like-minded people who share similar challenges.
It fosters a deeper sense of solidarity and strength, reinforcing the belief that, together, they can make a lasting impact.
In this way, peer advisory boards don't just improve health care—they create empowered communities of individuals who are actively shaping the future of care. These groups transform the health care landscape by ensuring that those who are most affected by disparities are at the heart of solutions to breaking down barriers, while also providing personal growth opportunities that enhance the ability of communities to advocate for their own health needs.
Let’s Start Listening!
Peer advisory boards are a real solution to creating an equitable health care system. By ensuring that those who are directly affected by disparities have a seat at the table, we’re not just making decisions for people, we’re making decisions with them. In turn, this leads to more effective, creative, and inclusive solutions to the challenges we face in health care. If we truly want a system that works for everyone, it’s time to start listening—and peer advisory boards are a powerful way to make sure those voices are heard.
References
Aubrey, S. B. (2017). Peer advisory groups: Superpowers for leaders. Forbes Coaches Council. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/06/26/peer-advisory-groups-superpowers-for-leaders/
Dame, E. (2023, August 11). Why you need a peer advisory group. Dame Leadership. https://www.dameleadership.com/research-and-insights/why-you-need-a-peer-advisory-group/
