Patient Experience
At 26, my life changed when a rare spinal cord lesion left me paralyzed. Over seven weeks, I navigated care and recovery in three different hospitals—including intensive inpatient rehabilitation—gaining firsthand insight into both the challenges and opportunities within our healthcare system.
A turning point came when my family and I connected with Dr. Fred Epstein (featured in the photo with me), a pioneering neurosurgeon whose compassion, communication, and willingness to treat me as a whole person embodied the principles of person-centered care—even before I had the language for it. His approach showed me what healthcare can and should be.
To make sense of what helped and what could have been better, I draw on evidence-based frameworks like the Picker Institute’s Eight Principles and the National Advisory Board’s Six Principles to Modernize Healthcare Infrastructure. These guide my work today, helping organizations see how person-centered care transforms lives and how every patient interaction can make a difference.
Professional Background
I’ve built my career at the intersection of research, education, and real-world experience—transforming complex evidence into practical resources that empower both patients and professionals.
Highlights of my experience include:
-Serving as Co-Director of the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center at the American Institutes for Research, where I led award-winning initiatives to make healthcare research accessible to patients and families, earning multiple Telly Awards for educational media.
-Delivering keynote speeches that draw from my experience as a patient navigating a health crisis and spinal cord surgery to illustrate the life-changing impact—both positive and negative—of person-centered care.
-Advising and evaluating initiatives that advance person-centered care.
-Authoring a forthcoming book that champions person-centered care as an essential companion to clinical mastery, to advance positive health outcomes.
Services
Speaking Engagements
Insightful, story-driven presentations that use humor and lived experience to reveal how healthcare impacts patients—showcasing the benefits of person-centered care and the consequences when it’s missing. Audiences leave informed, inspired, and equipped to make care more human and effective.
Bulk Sales & Add-Ons
Elevate your employee onboarding, professional development, and other learning experiences with Clear Cane Chronicles. Enjoy humor, storytelling, and research to demonstrate the power of person-centered care. Take your team’s learning further with virtual or in-person engagements such as Q&A sessions, tailored presentations, or facilitated discussions.
Thought Partnership
Practical, focused consultations that help healthcare and payer leaders quickly identify actionable ways to advance person-centered care. I offer expert insights, tailored recommendations, and ready-to-use resources—so you can make meaningful progress without the need for lengthy assessments or major disruptions.
