Articles

Patient advocacy doesn’t have to be a one-size-fits-all approach. Art is an underrated form of patient advocacy that can be beneficial, not only for the artist, but also for the...

One of the things I wish that was available when I started my advocacy is that there would exist a handbook that gives you insight into what you can do...

The new Social Health Network (SHN) provides space to connect with other Patient Leaders. In August, we posted several prompts to the Social Health Network Facebook page to act as...

As a passionate advocate for those living with multiple chronic conditions, I've walked alongside numerous individuals facing ongoing health challenges. I've witnessed firsthand the difficult nuances of the healthcare journey...

Recently, I compiled a data analysis report. The data was collected through the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America’s (FCSA) application. It was important that I understood the needs of the 351 people waiting for our...

As an advocate focused mostly on healthcare policy and legislative advocacy, I am often asked how I connect with, and establish relationships with my legislators. Here are some of my...

As a Patient Leader, you've answered the call to help other patients and caregivers in your community. Day in and day out, you're entrenched in your community's conversation. By sharing...

As Mariah Carey once sang, “you’ve got me feeling emotions, deeper than I’ve ever dreamed of.” She was singing about a romantic relationship, but did I apply these wise thoughts...

It was during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2018 when I answered the phone. It was my oncologist. He told me my blood tests were positive for ovarian cancer. I was...

If I could go back to my June 2022 self and tell her what was around the bend: a cancer diagnosis, starting the search for my birth mother, the sudden...

My journey as a health care advocate started years ago when I became a CNA (Certified Nurses Assistant) I have always enjoyed helping others. As a teenager, I knew when...

To learn more about the challenges of living with chronic, rare, and terminal health conditions, we are conducting our In America survey. By taking our survey, you can bring awareness...

Healthcare advocacy as a Health Leader is deeply meaningful work--it can also quickly lead to burnout. Crafting effective health advocacy strategies requires not only your expert knowledge as a patient...

Patient advocacy can take many forms. Some examples are writing your senators in favor of research funding, leading a support group, or writing a blog. But with social media use...

The Health Union Patient Leader Certification Program offers a comprehensive toolkit for Patient Leaders seeking to elevate their impact in the healthcare space. During the Connexion Conference in 2023, Julie...

With the arrival of cold weather, the onset of darkness, and the start of the busy holiday season, a sense of vulnerability can be felt by many. This feeling may...

Living with a chronic illness comes along with a few facts of life - the first is that our experience of our illness is a deeply personal one. The second...

Through the Social Health Network, you’ll be able to learn a lot about branding yourself as a professional Health Leader. We want you to have endless opportunities to play your...

I have been living with chronic illnesses for over 20 years. I was diagnosed with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the prime of my life. As a black woman...

Twenty years ago, when I was first diagnosed with a lifelong illness, I would never have imagined what that diagnose would mean and how it would change my life. All...