Dave deBronkart came to focus on participatory healthcare after being diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer in 2007. Through online research and connecting with other patients, he learned about an immunotherapy treatment that significantly extended his survival, whereas his doctors had given him only a few months to live. This experience led him to become an advocate for empowering patients through technology and social media. He argues that empowered, engaged patients who actively manage their own healthcare can help doctors spend more time with each patient and potentially achieve better health outcomes.