Dear ,

I've been thinking a lot lately about what empowerment really means, not just as a concept, but in the everyday moments that make up our work.

For the patients and families we serve, empowerment often begins with someone believing them. Believing that what they're experiencing is real, that their questions matter, that their voice deserves to be heard. So many people come to us feeling invisible in a system that moves too fast and speaks a language they don't understand. As advocates, we get to be the ones who say, "I see you. I hear you. You're not alone in this."

But here's what's been on my heart: we need that same empowerment, too.

This work we do, it's beautiful and meaningful, but let's be honest, it's also hard. Really hard sometimes. We navigate endless barriers, absorb so much emotion, fight battles that can feel insurmountable, and carry stories that stay with us long after our work day ends. We pour so much into lifting others up that we can forget we need lifting up too. And the truth is, we don't have to do this alone. We were never meant to.

I encourage you to look through our directory sometime, really look at it. Those aren't just names and credentials. Those are people who get it. People who've sat exactly where you're sitting, felt exactly what you're feeling, and who would genuinely want to help if you reached out. They're colleagues who could become friends, mentors who remember being where you are, and collaborators who might be working on the exact same challenge you're facing right now.

I'm genuinely asking you to reach out when you need support. Call me. Email someone from the directory. Ask a question during our community talks or in the follow-up surveys. Share what's weighing on you. We're here for each other, not just for the people we serve.

You spend your days empowering others. Please let us empower you, too.

With warmth and gratitude,

Malynnda Stewart

Upcoming Events

March 9 - Community Conversation - How to Choose a Primary Care

REGISTER HERE



When: Mar 09, 2026 | 11 AM–12 PM Pacific Time | 1–2 PM Central | 2–3 PM Eastern

Where: Online via Zoom

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



This session will explore why everyone needs primary care and the critical role it plays in long-term health. We’ll highlight the advantages of primary care that many people overlook. You’ll also gain practical strategies for identifying and working effectively with a high-quality Primary Care Provider so you can make confident, informed healthcare decisions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn why everyone needs Primary Care
2. The advantages of Primary Care most people miss
3. Explore strategies for identifying and working with superior PCPs

About The Speaker –

Tarnesa Martin is a dedicated healthcare professional and passionate community advocate with extensive experience in patient support and wellness. As a Registered Nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), she blends clinical expertise with a heartfelt commitment to empowering individuals to take charge of their health and wellbeing.

March 11 - Case Review - When Pain Has No Clear Answer: Navigating Chronic Orofacial Symptoms Through Patient Advocacy (Dental Advocacy)

REGISTER HERE

When: Mar 11, 2026 | 4–5:30 PM Pacific Time | 6–7:30 PM Central | 7–8:30 PM Eastern

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: FREE to HealthAdvocateX Professional Members to attend. $15 for HealthAdvocateX Professional Members earning CE Credit; $40 for Professional Non-Members earning credit

In this presentation, I will walk through a real-world dental advocacy case involving a senior patient navigating insurance confusion, care coordination challenges, and medical diagnosis uncertainty related to dental treatment. Using a de-identified version of the client’s case, I will outline my advocacy process from intake to resolution (still ongoing), including documentation review, insurance navigation, and patient support. I will highlight how advocacy can reduce patient stress, improve outcomes, and support ethical, transparent care. The session will conclude with key takeaways and best practices for advocates working within complex dental and insurance systems.

Learning Objectives:

1) Identify the key advocacy steps I used to navigate dental-medical insurance claims and reimbursement challenges in a real-world case.

2) Apply patient-centered care coordination strategies I utilized to support a patient facing complex dental issues with multiple providers.

3) Evaluate how dental advocacy improves communication between patients, providers, and payers while promoting ethical and transparent care.

About The Speaker –

Shelbey Arevalo, BCPA, CDBS 

Founder & Executive Director 

National Dental Advocacy Program® (NDAP)

I am a Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA), Certified Dental Billing Specialist (CDBS) and the Founder and Executive Director of the National Dental Advocacy Program® (NDAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping patients navigate dental care, insurance reimbursement, and complex healthcare systems. I bring over 16 years of experience in the dental industry, combining clinical knowledge, billing expertise, and patient advocacy to support individuals facing barriers to care.

My professional background includes certification in dental assisting, medical billing and coding, dental sleep medicine, and advanced training in healthcare administration and compliance. I have worked extensively with patients who experience denied claims, unclear treatment plans, and financial distress—particularly seniors and individuals with disabilities. 

My passion lies in bridging the gap between patients and providers through education, transparency, and ethical advocacy. Through my work with NDAP, I focus on empowering patients, improving communication across care teams, and supporting fair, informed healthcare decisions. 

April 20 - Film Screening - Taking Care Virtual Screening and Expert Panel Discussion

REGISTER HERE

When: Apr 20, 2026 | 4-6 PM Pacific Time | 6-8 PM Central | 7-9 PM Eastern

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: $15 to attend. Also available to purchase CE Credit for $25 for Members or $40 for Non-Members.

Join the HealthAdvocateX Community and expert panel for a live virtual screening and post-movie discussion of Taking Care. Taking Care is a 38-minute documentary that follows actor Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen as they face the challenges of Lauren’s mother’s early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Directed by award-winning filmmaker James Keach (Walk the Line; Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me; Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice), the film captures the Rogens’ unique blend of humor and honesty as they navigate the challenges of caregiving.  Taking Care is a story about family, resilience, and the power of taking action in the face of adversity. With expert insights and touching personal moments, the film is a powerful reminder of the difference we can all make in the effort to end Alzheimer’s.

After the live, virtual screening, HealthAdvocateX Expert Panelists will discuss the movie’s impact and call to action from a health advocacy perspective. This event is geared toward the public, health advocates and professionals who would like to learn more about how EVERYONE can help prevent dementia and how to help people caring for those living with dementia.

Objectives:

1. Identify specific actions anyone can take to help lower or prevent dementia.
2. Understand concrete ways to help people who are caring for a loved one with dementia.
3. Learn where to find memory screening and how screenings may be helpful in early dementia detection.

About the Panelists –

Annie Jacobsen is the founder of Jacobsen Dementia Care Coaching, where she provides personalized support to families navigating the challenges of dementia care. With over 20 years in elder services, including managing daily enrichment for memory care residents, Annie helps caregivers develop skills that ease daily interactions and strengthen connections with their loved ones. Her approach centers on the “Three C’s” – Compassion, Comfort, and Creativity – empowering families to find moments of grace and connection even in dementia’s most difficult moments.

Dr. Ann Braus, MD, CMD attended medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, NY. She went on to complete her residency in family medicine and a geriatrics fellowship at UW Madison. After 3 years working at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, Dr. Braus came back to Madison to join the faculty of the UW Division of Geriatrics in 2018 where she is now a clinical associate professor. Her practice now consists of a primary care geriatrics clinic, skilled nursing facility rounds at different SNFs around Dane County, a geriatrics assessment clinic and medical directorship at Capitol Lakes Skilled Nursing Facility in downtown Madison.

Lily Drescher, LICSW, currently services as the clinical social worker on the Mind and Memory Care team within the Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine at Mass General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. The Mind and Memory Care program supports patients living with dementia and their caregivers in the outpatient primary care setting, allowing an interdisciplinary team to follow patients longitudinally throughout the course of their illness.

Lily earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Sociology from Gordon College and Master of Social Work from Boston College with a Concentration in Older Adults and Families. Prior to joining MGH, Lily served as a Clinical Social Worker with Hebrew Senior Life: Center Communities of Brookline as well as Brooksby Village Continuing Care. She held clinical social work internships at Hebrew Senior Life, Springhouse Senior Living as well as the Beverly Council on Aging. Lily is passionate about serving older adults throughout the aging journey and has a deep commitment to advocating for and supporting their care partners.

Moderator



Megan Landry is a dynamic public health professional with over eleven years of experience driving impactful health initiatives and fostering strategic community partnerships. Currently serving as Associate Director of Cancer Center Partnerships at the American Cancer Society, Megan manages cancer center accounts across Michigan and Indiana, promoting evidence-based interventions and quality improvement strategies to enhance patient outcomes.

Megan holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Child Development from Western Michigan University. She is an active member of several advisory and advocacy groups, including the Karmanos Cancer Institute Research and Advocacy Council. She also volunteers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Women for Women Advocacy and Awareness Working Group.

With expertise in quality improvement, program development, training, and public speaking, Megan is passionate about advancing health equity and empowering communities through sustainable, data-driven solutions.

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

Skills Lab: How to Plan for a Medical Emergency

ACCESS HERE

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.

Explore Our Online Classroom

Did you miss one of our past events? Our online classroom is always open! Browse all courses available 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.