Dear ,

Message from the Chair

It should come as no surprise that I love talking to people about what we do here at HealthAdvocate^X. One of my favorite things to share is why the X in our name is superscript. Hopefully you know this already, but in case not, the X in our HealthAdvocate^X logo isn't just a letter—it's a symbol of elevation. It represents our fundamental mission to elevate the patient experience, raise the standard of care, and lift up every individual we serve above the challenges they face as we all navigate our complex healthcare system.

This concept of elevation has been at the forefront of my mind as we've begun our planning for the year ahead. It's led me to reflect on what elevation truly means in practice. When a client comes to us overwhelmed, confused, or defeated by their healthcare journey, how do we help them rise above those circumstances?

For me, a huge piece of this starts with helping people feel safe—safe to share their experiences, ask questions without judgment, and express their fears and frustrations. Without that foundation of safety, true elevation isn't possible.

Here are a few ways we can create that sense of safety for our clients:



Listen without interrupting. Sometimes people just need to be heard. Let them tell their full story before jumping to solutions. To this, we must also know that sometimes our clients are not ready for us to “fix” anything. Simply listening and sitting in the uncertainty with them is the best thing we can do. 

Validate their experiences. Acknowledge the difficulty of what they're going through. A simple "that sounds incredibly frustrating" can make someone feel less alone.

Use plain language. Healthcare is full of jargon that can make people feel intimidated or inadequate. Breaking things down into clear, everyday terms shows respect and builds trust. (I personally know so many of you already do this one extremely well.) 

Create space for "silly" questions. Let clients know that no question is too basic or obvious. The questions they're afraid to ask are often the most important ones.

Follow through consistently. When we do what we say we'll do, we prove ourselves trustworthy and give clients one less thing to worry about.

As we move forward with our planning, I want to hear from you. You understand better than anyone what resources, tools, and support are needed to elevate our clients' experiences. What do you need to serve your clients even more effectively? Whether it's training, technology, process improvements, or something else entirely, your insights are invaluable.

Your perspective strengthens this planning process, your voice matters, and my ears and email are always open. 

With appreciation,

Malynnda Stewart and the entire HealthAdvocate^X Team 

Upcoming Events

February 9 - Community Conversation - Bridging the Digital Health Literacy Divide in Communities

REGISTER HERE



When: Feb 09, 2026 | 11am-12pm (PT)

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: Free to the general public. Purchase 1.0 CE Credit for $10 for HealthAdvocateX Members; $30 for Non-Members.



As health care moves online, many people are being left behind. This session explains what digital health literacy really means, why it matters, and the everyday barriers clients and patients face. Participants will leave with three practical ways to help people feel more confident using digital health tools and services.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define digital health literacy and explain why it is important for managing overall health.
2. Identify common digital barriers clients and patients face when accessing health information and services. 
3. Apply three practical strategies to support and strengthen digital health literacy when working with clients or patients.

About The Speaker –

Katrina D. Studvent, MSW

Katrina D. Studvent is a powerhouse in cancer health equity—a fundraising executive and founder of Blare Together, boldly improving health outcomes by amplifying the voices of those impacted by the world’s leading chronic illnesses. A recognized leader in digital health, she drives education and equity through digital literacy initiatives in partnership with Karmanos Cancer Center and Wayne State University.



Introducing our new Skills Lab Series!

Skills Lab is a learning series designed to build skills you can use right away—for yourself, your clients, or your community. Each session focuses on a specific topic with interactive guidance, resources, and time to put what you learn into action.

February 18 - Skills Lab - How to Plan for a Medical Emergency

REGISTER HERE

When: Feb 18, 2026 | 11am-12pm (PT)

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: Free to the general public. Purchase 1.0 CE Credit for $10 for HealthAdvocateX Members; $30 for Non-Members.

Most people avoid thinking about or planning for an emergency, especially a medical emergency. Many of us don’t know where to start and what documents are needed in the event of a medical emergency. This interactive session will help you to start developing your own personal emergency plan or help your clients prepare their plan to communicate their wishes in the event of a medical emergency. Forms and resources will be given along with time to create the plan and identify with whom to communicate this plan.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand why people don’t prepare for a medical emergency.
2. Identify the benefits of having a plan for an emergency.
3. Describe the three steps to develop a plan for a medical emergency.
4. Identify legal and other documents needed in an emergency, how to create them and how to store them for retrieval and use.

About The Speaker –

Donna Gurule, HealthAdvocateX Board Member

Donna Gurule is an independent health advocate with a passion for seniors to help them live their best lives by empowering them with the information they need to make their best health decisions.

Her career in public health and health policy focuses on the application of health policy, regulatory compliance, accreditation in both healthcare and higher education and graduate adult learning. She has extensive experience working in government, healthcare and higher education and most recently was the academic dean at a school of public health in Southern California.

Donna received her Doctor of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Leadership from Loma Linda University.

She has traveled to 70 different countries and loves meeting new people and experiencing their cultures.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – FABULOUS CONTENT STILL AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ON-DEMAND/ CLASSROOM 

Community Conversation: Three Power Moves for Patient Advocates

ACCESS HERE

This event offered a practical, open discussion on three key strategies for advocates, including when to use small claims court, how cash/self-pay pricing can outperform insurance rates, and how to identify price gouging. The conversation also addressed how to frame and escalate appeals to successfully reverse denials. Attendees shared real-world examples, practical scripts, and left with actionable next steps.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand when small claims court can create leverage, and what a short pre-suit demand letter should do. 
2. Know how to ask for a cash price, compare it to posted hospital and insurer “allowed” amounts, and use those figures inside an appeal. 
3. Be able to spot common gouging red flags and name one immediate step to push back or appeal in the moment. 

Explore Our Online Classroom

Did you miss one of our past events? Our online classroom is always open! Browse all courses, available for free viewing and for purchase with BCPA CE credit. 

Partner Highlight

OUR COMMITMENT

Approved by the Board September 21, 2022

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Statement

Our mission is to help people transform into active participants and partners in their own health care. To make this possible, we must advocate for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) for all individuals.

We recognize that:

• Racism is a public health issue that impacts various intersections and communities differently.
• Each person is unique and therefore experiences health care differently.
• Every individual deserves health advocacy regardless of their race, ethnicity, language, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, spiritual practice, financial status, education, geography, disability, mental and physical status, age, weight, substance use disorder or other factors. 
• Our organization is uniquely positioned to raise awareness on IDEA in health and health care.

We are committed to:

• Raising awareness about the importance of IDEA in health and health advocacy in all aspects of care.
• Expanding diverse representation within our organization, expert presenters, and educational offerings.
• Intentionally messaging our values, sharing IDEA expectations for ourselves, affiliated advocates, and partnering groups.
• Creating space for respectful dialogue about representation, equitable access, and inclusive practices in health care and health advocacy.
• Educating our community and participating in opportunities about IDEA events and exercises to keep these issues in the forefront of our work.
• Implementing systems to ensure IDEA is pervasive in our organization.

We will reflect on our accomplishments with humility and grace. We will recognize our limitations and remain open to what we may not see or realize so that we can improve and or repair any harm. 



HealthAdvocate^X is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. We acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish, Suquamish, Stillaguamish, and Muckleshoot People past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and each tribe. We invite you to join us in acknowledging and thanking indigenous people for their ongoing stewardship wherever you are located.