The desire for a culture of transparency and openness does not just come from us “sick people.” This is what future consumers of healthcare expect—a group that will continue to grow as people are living longer with chronic conditions and serious illness.

How might you use your skills to redesign a patient experience?

Giving people language for self-advocacy: While patients shouldn't be overwhelmed with clinical language, helping us understand what things like palliative care are and are not improves our ability to advocate for ourselves.

…after delivering this talk, I heard from many people who identified with my experience. These are people who don't normally connect with my brain cancer background. All I can say is, not everyone has a perfect home life. You never know what is really going on unless you express it.

What would you do, if you were offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that, if accepted, would force you to leave the stability and comfort of an ‘everyday job’ BUT – might also give you the opportunity to change the world?

Highly engaged and empowered patient seeks new Sacramento-area primary care physician within the Sutter Health or UC Davis network.

Changing health insurance can be scary, but especially for people with pre-existing conditions, and those who are medically complex and “expensive.”

Instead of feeling like I was robbed of my health during the prime of my life, I instead choose to respond with wonder and curiosity. I recognized I was now on a journey many others would never experience.

Chaplains can act a bit like social workers and therapists, but help patients explore the spiritual and/or existential hardships of a life-threatening illness.