Women's Month Spotlight: A Doctor's Journey into Patient Advocacy

I’ve known since an early age that I wanted to be a doctor. I had a love for science, an insatiable curiosity about how things work, and an overwhelming desire to help people. In school, I even tried to strategically answer those occupational assessments so it would suggest I become a doctor.

I attended medical school at Wright State University and served as my class president. As more women started to pursue medical careers, I was proud that my class was the first in school history to have more women than men. I chose to specialize in internal medicine for the versatility in training and clinical opportunities it would afford.

Working as an internist was professionally gratifying. As the primary practice landscape changed, it highlighted an unmet need. When my patients faced a new or serious healthcare diagnosis, they needed guidance, time to process, and someone to help them understand their treatment options and facilitate next steps. Often, there wasn’t enough time during appointments for physicians to fully engage their patients on all fronts. The necessary dialogue that would likely produce an empowered and motivated patient just wasn’t always possible. Patients felt overwhelmed, confused, and uncertain of what to do next. They needed someone with the right combination of medical knowledge, experience, and time to guide them as they faced some of the more difficult decisions of their lives.

I knew I could fill this void. I saw this as an opportunity to use my love for medicine, my calling to help people, and my desire for a better work-life balance to start my own business. I left private practice to pursue a career in patient advocacy and started Guided Patient Services (GPS) in 2014.

Through GPS, I help patients and their families interpret complicated medical diagnoses and guide them as they navigate their healthcare options. I’m their “doctor in the family,” and I’m by their side whether they need full support, a one-time consult, or anything in between. I know the medical landscape, speak the language, and appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with my client’s healthcare team. Our goal is to help improve communication, facilitate care, coordinate resources, and ultimately empower patients to make the medical decision that’s right for them.

I’ve carved out a unique and valuable place in the doctor-advocate-patient relationship that benefits all involved. I feel grateful to have created a rewarding career that uses my medical training and compassion for people to bring peace of mind to clients as they navigate their healthcare journey.