About

As a Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA), I am passionate about empowering individuals facing complex and uncertain diagnoses to navigate the healthcare system clearly and confidently. My expertise lies in guiding patients through the crucial process of assembling the right healthcare team—a team tailored to address their specific needs, ensure optimal care, and achieve full informed consent. Correcting gaps in care with a focus on continuity can greatly improve patient outcomes. I’m active on various social media platforms to make patient advocacy more accessible and understood.

I became a board-certified patient advocate in July 2020 and a member of The National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC) and The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (APHA). Continuing education is required to maintain certification, and I am incredibly grateful for each course I take; healthcare and patient advocacy are multifaceted and ever-changing, requiring a constant dedication to lifelong learning. My vision of patient advocacy has drastically transformed over the past year. I used to think it was simply informing and empowering, but now I realize it requires a vast understanding of ethics, the healthcare and insurance systems, government regulations, private sector policy, and numerous other entities.

I see that advocacy isn’t just telling my story and encouraging others to follow my path; it’s empowering patients to create their path. Advocates walk alongside patients, present the necessary information, and always ensure informed consent from the patient. Advocates do not tell the patient which direction to go, which medication to take, or which doctor to see. We help them find more than one direction to take, we help them find all of the information we can about the medications they are prescribed, and we help them find the doctors and second opinions that are helpful to their case.

I started my advocacy journey out of necessity and passion for managing my own complex health conditions, and I needed that drive to get me started, but as the dust has settled and the reality of advocacy has set in, I am now in a more comfortable and confident place; I can help guide those in need.