Community Health Leaders
In order to stay up to date on latest treatments, drug discovery, clinical studies and how to cope, SocialHealthNetwork.com brings you frequent articles, points of view and advice from leading health leaders and experts.
Current Health Leaders
Emily Chen
A transnational & transracial adoptee, Emily Chen, was diagnosed with endometrial cancer weeks after her 40th birthday. With no biological family history to aid in her health care, she worked with her care team to find the best treatment for her diagnosis. Read more.
Racquel Dozier
Racquel H. Dozier was diagnosed officially with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in 2004, but the onset of the disease started in 2002 when she was given a firm diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. At the prime of her life, Racquel and her family had recently relocated to a new state with a young child, just enjoying life to the fullest. But something just wasn't right. Read more.
Phuong Gallagher
I am a 17-year stage 4 rectal cancer patient in active treatment. I am both a patient and research advocate, and I help translate things from medical vocabulary into patient-friendly language. I also offer the tips and tricks that I have learned along the way, especially as available treatment options have changed dramatically. Read more.
Kristal Kent
Kristal Kent is a disabled Army Veteran living with Fibromyalgia and served with the 256th Combat Support Hospital (256th CSH). Kristal worked with the Personnel (HR) department, then after September 11th, 2001, Kristal was re-assigned to the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) of the 256th CSH. After being medically discharged due to injuries, Kristal stayed on with her unit, the 256th CSH, and volunteered for 2 ½ years as the Family Readiness Group Leader, re-invigorating the program to become a supportive extension of the unit for the soldiers and their families. Read more.
Amanda Lee
At 27, Amanda Lee was diagnosed with stage 3A colon cancer, a life-altering discovery sparked by encouragement from her social media followers. Now 31 and NED, she dedicates her life to raising awareness about early cancer symptoms and preventative health, especially for young adults. Read more.
Allison Rosen
Allison Rosen is a patient, community, policy, and research advocate for the collective adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer and colorectal cancer communities. She has worked in the world of Oncology for over 18 years. Read more.
Previous Health Leaders
Teresa Alabata
My story begins in 1989. I was 5 years old and my family was staying with a family friend in LA on our way to Disneyland. We had arrived at the dead of night after driving 6 hours from the Bay Area and the family friend had given me and my mom one of the dogs' blankets to sleep in. It was so dark, we didn't notice at first that the blanket was a flea magnet and a few hours later, my mom and I woke up to the sight and pain of being bitten by what seemed like hundreds of fleas. Read more.
Ella Balasa
Having a background in biology, Ella has experienced both sides of the research spectrum - as a patient and a scientist. Examining antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment, which is the same bacteria that thrive in the lungs of those with CF, her work in the lab intersected with her health. This fueled her interest in involving herself in a research capacity on committees and advisory roles with organizations providing a patient perspective and promoting patient centricity. Simultaneously she developed a passion for writing, sharing her research experiences and introspectively writing about life with a chronic disease. Read more.
Aaron Blocker
Aaron Blocker’s advocacy work originally began after receiving his Crohn’s disease diagnosis. As a way to meet others and provide support to those living with IBD, he created a Facebook page in 2010. Read more.
Yolanda Bruson-Sarrabo
Yolanda is founder of Spitfir Productions brand development catering small businesses. She holds many hats as an entrepreneur: Author, Fashion Editor, Production Product Developer, Stylist, and Branding Strategist. Yolanda is a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Read more.
Erica Carrasco
Erica Carrasco, aka Achy Smile, lives with hemiplegic migraine, a subtype of migraine with aura that mimics stroke and epilepsy. She also lives with migrainous corpalgia affecting the left side of her body, fibromyalgia, PCOS, degenerative disc disease, osteopenia, a symptomatic fatty liver, and underwent a full hysterectomy and oophorectomy under 40 years old due to adenomyosis. Read more.
Diana Cataldini
Diana Castaldini is a writer and passionate patient advocate living with ankylosing spondylitis and several other medical conditions. No stranger to chronic health issues, she was diagnosed with AS at the age of 26 on the heels of a long hospital stay and several surgeries for two serious brain conditions. She is acutely aware of how quickly life can change forever and has grown more adept at navigating the unfairness of that, which she believes is an important skill (tantrums notwithstanding). After many “why me” moments, she’s learned to live by the motto: “don’t look at what you’ve lost, look at what you have left.” Read more.
Elle Cole
Elle Cole is a certified sickle cell medical advocate. She empowers moms, homeschoolers, and advocates for children with sickle cell disease. She is a mom of twin daughters, one of whom is living with Sickle Cell Disease and Type 1 Diabetes. She is the 2020 Advocating for Another WEGO Health winner and 2022 Caregiver Champion. Read more.
Tatiana Corbitt
Tatiana Maria Corbitt is a 24-year old first-generation university graduate born and raised in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. They earned their M.S. in Applied Biological Sciences from Arizona State University, where they also published their undergraduate Barrett, the Honors College thesis investigating the FAA’s research and regulation of insulin-treated diabetic pilots. They are happy to report that a year following the publication of their thesis, the FAA lifted their unwarranted regulations of insulin-treated diabetic pilots. Tatiana continues to be passionate about the use of science in advocating for equal rights. Read more
Cynthia Covert
Cynthia Covert was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis in 2003. She founded her blog The Disabled Diva in 2013 where she shares how living with multiple chronic illnesses has changed her life. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends at Disneyland and helping the disabled plan a magical Disney vacation. Her goal is to help others like her find new ways to do what they love and to remind them that they are not alone. Read more.
Isela Devora
Isela is an HS warrior born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She was 13 when symptoms began, but was not diagnosed until she was 17. Now in her mid-20s, Isela is a social worker and victim advocate in her community. Read more.
Jackie English
Jackie English was diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in June of 2010 at the age of 39 when my children were 21 (Michael), 18 (Danyelle), and 11 (Tyler). My life completely changed that year. I had many appointments with pulmonary specialists and many different tests including CT scans, x-rays, breathing tests, blood tests, and more. Read more.
Jed Finley
Jed Finley was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis at the age of 12 during a time when children of that age were not prescribed medications and the amazing treatments we have today hadn't been invented yet. Because of this, he mostly forgot about his diagnosis and remained active until his early 20s when the disease became too much and he needed to stop the sports and activities he loved. Read more.
Daniel G. Garza
Daniel G Garza has been a Patient Leader for over 20 years. He speaks publicly about his HIV diagnosis in September of 2000, Anal Cancer in May 2015, and an Ostomy in April 2016. Daniel shares his story on social media, through several campaigns such as Positively Fearless.
Natalie Hayden
Natalie (Sparacio) Hayden, is a former TV news anchor with Crohn's living in St. Louis. Her mission in life is to be an advocate for those battling inflammatory bowel disease and to show that a chronic illness doesn’t have to dull your sparkle. Natalie was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2005. Read more.
Kristine Hoestermann
Kristine Hoestermann is a rare disease patient living with OCD and the founder of RARE., an apparel and accessory brand designed to spark conversations around the invisible struggles people face. Her commitment to advocacy and creativity has earned her the Creative Collaborator Award at the 2023 Social Health Awards. Read more.
Shoshana Lipson
Shoshana Lipson is the President of Hope in Pain, Inc. and the Executive Director of Migraine Meanderings™ and Hope for Migraine™. She is a patient advocate, speaker, and writer with a passion to encourage, support, educate and inspire people with migraine and other chronic pain conditions to find purpose and value in the midst of chronic illness. Read more.
David Lyons
David Lyons was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2006 at the age of 47. A bodybuilder and former fitness center owner, Lyons chose to fight MS head-on through bodybuilding. He founded the MS Bodybuilding Challenge in 2008, and in 2009, at age 50, he competed in his first bodybuilding contest with MS. Read more.
Amy Ellen Parliman
Amy Ellen Parliman lives life by faith and enjoys spreading kindness. She has a passion for serving her community thru her career in healthcare. 25 years ago, she went to school to become a radiology technologist. She enjoys performing diagnostic imaging on her patients, she prides herself in safe and quality care. About 10 years ago she became a leader in her field and has moved into a leadership role in the Diagnostic Imaging Department. Read more.
Charles Anthony Ulloa
Charles Anthony Ulloa is a Community Health Leader, Moderator, and Author for BladderCancer.net. Charles stumbled into the community after being his mother's primary caregiver in her bladder cancer battle. He chooses to live #StrongLikeSusan. Read more.
Julie Vallortigara
I am a Life Coach, an Artist and a Scientist. I am French, originally from Bordeaux. I moved to the UK in 2008. I have always been interested in many things; I am now living a rich life through my studies, my creative explorations, and my social life. Read more.
Mildred Velez
Mildred Velez is the Founder and Executive Director of the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America, Inc. Mildred has lived with fibromyalgia since 2007. Read more.
Vickie Wilkerson
Vickie Wilkerson was 33 years old when psoriasis presented itself. Now 16 years later she still deals with active plaque psoriasis. As she likes to say "psoriasis is just the gift that keeps on giving" meaning six years ago it developed into psoriatic arthritis as well. Read more.
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