For an overview of our organization’s work, take a look at our 2023 Annual Report!

Generation Patient was created out of my own experience living with severe ulcerative colitis since the age of six.

I was extremely ill for the majority of my childhood and, because of the severity of my disease, I was isolated from society for nearly five years during a crucial stage in my development. At 14, my large intestine was removed, followed by several other surgeries conducted in an attempt to give me a better quality of life. By my junior year of high school, I was finally able to go back to school full-time. Unfortunately, a chronic disease is exactly that –chronic– and while my condition is not as severe as it once was; it has had lasting effects on my childhood and my life as a young adult. 

Your young adulthood is supposed to be the “prime” of your life. The time to figure out who you are and the person you want to become. But it isn’t easy to form any kind of identity, to socialize, or to take advantage of all the opportunities that life has to offer when you’re sick and coping with the physical and emotional scars of a chronic illness. My story is long and intersectional, as are the stories of millions of other young adults living with chronic diseases, but there is monumental hope in coming together.

When I created the Health Advocacy Summit (now Generation Patient) as a freshman in college, I did so as a way to heal and connect with my Indiana community. I did not realize the impact we would have across the country and beyond. At Generation Patient, our goal is to build a sustainable movement that will empower the voices of young adults living with chronic conditions and ensure that they are given the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.

Thank you for your time to view our website and we hope you will join our community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to become a supporter, volunteer, or simply share your story. 

Sincerely,

Sneha Dave, Founder & Executive Director