"It felt almost moving to be on the other side of the table."

When Mark Cackler attended the inaugural Pulmonary Clinical Trials Workshop (PCT), he wasn't new to scientific conferences. Throughout his career at the World Bank, he had participated in countless technical meetings on agricultural development, where scientists, policymakers, and researchers gathered to tackle complex global challenges.

But this time, his seat at the table was different.

Living with pulmonary fibrosis and currently awaiting a lung transplant, Mark attended PCT as a Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Ambassador, representing not only himself, but the broader patient community.

"In my previous work, we always tried to have farmers at our conferences. They weren't the technical experts, but they were the people we were trying to help. Their perspective mattered."

For years, Mark had seen firsthand the value of including the people most affected by the decisions being made. At PCT, the roles had reversed.

"This time, I got to be the farmer beneficiary. It felt almost moving to be on the other side of the table."

Although many of the scientific sessions explored highly technical topics, Mark believes that patient participation is not about replacing scientific expertise—it's about adding something equally important.

"Patients aren't there because we're going to contribute to the technical aspects of clinical trials. We're there because we bring the human perspective. We broaden the context of what everyone is working toward."

For him, some of the most meaningful conversations happened outside the lecture hall.

"Like almost every conference I've attended, the coffee breaks, lunches, and dinners were often the most valuable moments."

Those informal discussions created opportunities for researchers, clinicians, and patients to connect beyond presentations and slides, reminding everyone of the shared goal behind the science.

Asked to describe PCT in a single word, Mark didn't hesitate:

"Inspiring."

"I have a terminal, incurable disease, and I'm waiting for a lung transplant. Every time the phone rings, I wonder if it's the call to go to the hospital. To be at a workshop with hundreds of people trying to make my little piece of the world a better place—that's inspiring."

His message to other patients considering attending future scientific meetings is simple:

"Just relax. Everyone in the room is on your side. You are there because they want you there, and because your voice matters."

For Mark, becoming a Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Ambassador is also about giving back.

"You've got all these people trying to keep me alive. It feels good to try to give back somehow. "

His story is a reminder that behind every protocol, endpoint, and clinical trial is a person whose life depends on the progress being made and whose voice deserves a place at the table.