SPX Colloquium – Communication Sessions B2
At the SPX International Colloquium 2025, we are pleased to present the communication panel:
The participation of patients in the governance of institutions – WORKSHOP.
A hands-on session that turns plenary insights into concrete governance practice. Using a governance ladder benchmark approach and micro–meso–macro lenses, participants will map decision pathways and clarify where, and with what authority, patients influence decisions and organisations integrate patient voice into building more human healthcare. In small groups, participants will apply participatory design to produce a concise implementation plan, a future roadmap, and ready-to-use tools tailored to their institution.
This communication session will take the form of a participative workshop chaired by Rui Patricio (University of Aveiro, Portugal), and led by Ainhoa Villarubias (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Spain) and Vanessa Nicolau (ENSP – NOVA University Lisbon & Unidade Local de Saúde de São José, Portugal).
During the workshop, participants will explore in greater depth the topics addressed during the morning Governance plenary session led by Patricia Ripoll (Fundación Visible, Spain), Vita Steina (Patient Experience Expert, Riga East University Hospital; Advisor to Health Minister of Latvia, Latvia), and Nuno España (Vivalto, Portugal).
Vanessa Nicolau – ENSP (NOVA University Lisbon) & Unidade Local de Saúde de São José (Portugal).
Vanessa Nicolau is a hospital administrator at the Lisbon-based Unidade Local de Saúde de São José and a doctoral researcher at NOVA’s National School of Public Health (ENSP), with prior affiliation to the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC). Her work focuses on co-production and integrated care; she has served on the Scientific Committee of Portugal’s Good Practices in Health Prize (APDH/DGS/ACSS/DE-SNS).
Ainhoa Vilarrubias Llopis – Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (Spain).
Ainhoa Vilarrubias Llopis is User Experience project manager/coordinator in the Strategy & User Experience Office at Barcelona’s Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, where she coordinates patient and user-experience initiatives and service co-design. She has represented Sant Pau at external events, including an ICHOM site visit and regional patient-experience forums.
Patricia Ripoll — Patient & Founder, Fundación Visible (Spain)
Patricia Ripoll is a patient advocate and the founder of Fundación Visible, a Spain-based organisation dedicated to integrating patient perspectives into institutional decision-making and health communication. Through advisory work with healthcare organisations and public forums, she promotes patient co-creation, visibility of lived experience, and the human-centred redesign of services and policies. Her leadership foregrounds inclusive participation and practical mechanisms for translating patient insights into governance action
Vita Steina — Patient Experience Expert, Riga East University Hospital; Advisor to Health Minister of Latvia
Vita Steina is a leading patient experience expert working across Latvia’s largest university hospitals, Riga East and Paul’s Stradins, where she advances human-experience strategies and co-design practices. As an advisor to Latvia’s Health Minister, she connects frontline insight with national policy and has collaborated with the WHO on initiatives to strengthen quality and patient experience at the system level. She also serves in leadership roles within the patient experience community, fostering international learning and standards.
Nuno España – International Coordinator of Patient Experience at the Vivalto Santé Group.
Nuno joined Lusíadas Saúde in October 2018 as Director of Innovation and Sustainability and has held positions of responsibility and significant exposure to patients over the last six years. During this period, he was Director of Marketing, Communication and Customer Relations; he was the creator and head of the Lusíadas Dental Business Unit; and, subsequently, Director of the Lusíadas network of outpatient clinics in Lisbon. Before joining Lusíadas Saúde, Nuno was responsible for strategic planning, innovation and patient experience at the Portuguese group CUF (José de Mello Saúde) and, previously, he was a senior strategic consultant at noLimits Consulting.
Looking for another panel about Patient Experience?
For the full overview of sessions, topics and speakers, we invite you to explore the complete SPX International Colloquium 2025 programme. Discover the diversity of perspectives and initiatives that will be shared in Luxembourg from 6 to 8 October.
