Pat Elliott
is great!!Pat Elliott provides healthcare information to consumers as a journalist, blogger and public relations professional. She has worked for major healthcare organizations as well as healthcare technology firms developing new, cutting edge services.
Pat enjoys being a translator – turning complex jargon and concepts into everyday language that enables people to better understand their own health needs; stay on top of new developments; communicate clearly with medical practitioners and become informed, active participants in managing their own health and/or supporting others.
Pat became interested in healthcare as a journalist who covered stories about treatment advances, courageous patients, community issues and the business side of the industry. This led to working in public relations for large hospital systems and volunteerism for several organizations. Early on she saw that informed patients who participated in the process had better outcomes and the quality of their lives improved.
Pat was a member of an all-female team that developed one of the country’s first self-referral breast screening centers to reduce morbidity and mortality by providing educational services and support at a time when women were dying because breast cancer wasn’t openly discussed. She later moved to California and was diagnosed with breast cancer in a community with no self-referral services or educational support. Pat became a strong self advocate and secured treatment that has enabled her to be a breast cancer survivor for more than 20 years. She also became a lifelong advocate for women's health.
In September 2009 Pat was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), a type of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow. The cause is unknown and there are almost no symptoms. CML can’t be cured, but this previously fatal disease can now be treated via highly targeted drug therapy. Pat's journey of learning to live well with CML has been strongly enhanced by having both a physical and virtual support network of friends, family, clinicians and many others, including total strangers.
Pat says: I learned about EmpowHer.com shortly after diagnosis and was immediately impressed by the integrity of the clinical information; the company’s values and mission; and, above all, the power of shared community. I KNOW women can change their healthcare experiences through support and advocacy, and am honored to be an advocate for others. I work on your behalf just as strongly as I work on my own behalf every single day. Thank you for including me in your journey.
