Amgen Summit Highlights Behavioral Science and AI Impact on Patient Advocacy Groups

Amanda Pullinger, Co-Founder at Global Female Investors Management, LLC, attended Amgen's 2026 Advocacy Summit in Thousand Oaks, CA on behalf of Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer. The event featured several key sessions and learnings for patient advocacy groups.

Pullinger attended two sessions with Richard Shotton, author of 'Hacking the Human Mind', which focused on behavioral science and how to create better outcomes from conversations and communications using simple techniques tied to understanding human behavior. According to Shotton, translating language from abstract ideas into something people can visualize is crucial in external comms. He also emphasized the importance of emphasizing that proposed actions have already been taken by others.

Additionally, Pullinger attended a session on Policy priorities for Amgen in an increasingly challenging global healthcare ecosystem, moderated by Michelle Carrillo and featuring Murdo Gordon, Exec VP, Amgen Global Markets and Policy. The sessions also highlighted the impact of AI on patient advocacy groups' ability to maintain visibility and credibility as patients increasingly use AI searches to diagnose and manage their health.

Pullinger noted that key government health agencies and other broad-based cancer and disease institutions are cited most prominently in patient searches, emphasizing the importance of aligning comms with The National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, and others. She also stressed the need for patient advocacy groups to be strategic in positioning themselves as trusted go-to sources in this brave new world of AI.