I am excited to announce that I have been nominated for the WEGO Health Award “Advocating for Another” in the 6th Annual WEGO Health Awards.
WEGO Health is a mission-driven company connecting healthcare with the experience, skills, and insights of patient leaders. They are the world’s largest network of patient leaders, working across virtually all health conditions and topics. Click here to learn more about their Patient Leader Network.
The WEGO Health Awards were created to celebrate those who tirelessly support the mission of WEGO Health: empowering the patient voice. The WEGO Health Awards recognize over 100,000 inspiring patient leaders and advocates who raise awareness, share information, and support their communities — often without recognition. There are 16 award categories, with many names on the nominee list you’ll recognize! Be sure to endorse all your favorites, not just me. 😉
WEGO Health Award “Advocating for Another”
The “Advocating for Another” award is my favorite. This award recognizes the work that patient leaders and advocates do on behalf of others. This is why I’m particularly honored to receive this nomination.
My personal mission truly is to change the lives of fibromyalgia patients all over the world. In 2013, I began working with doctors and advocates to change how fibromyalgia is treated in Oregon. (See Fibromyalgia Treatment Not Covered Under Oregon Health Plan.) I have been a regular panelist at Oregon Health & Science University speaking with their medical students on what life is really like for chronic pain patients. I’ve had the privilege of being interviewed for two different chronic pain documentaries (still in process) and have published two books on fibromyalgia (hint, these links will get you free copies of the ebooks!): Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom from Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain and The Fibromyalgia Coach: Feel Better, Change Lives, and Find Your Best Job Ever.
It is my mission to change the face of fibromyalgia in the world. I dream of the day when fibromyalgia patients can receive the care, support, and education needed to feel their best. Fibromyalgia doesn’t need to feel like the death sentence it is today. There is hope. You can feel better! All you need is someone to come alongside you. Someone to help you discover what works, what doesn’t, and get the treatment you need. This is exactly what a Fibromyalgia Coach does.
Patient Advocacy Summit & WEGO Health Awards
This year, the 16 WEGO Health Award winners will be honored at the 5th Annual Patient Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC October 23rd and 24th, 2017. Events like these have been an important part of my journey as a patient advocate and leader. Each conference builds my knowledge and network of colleagues and collaborators. As a fibromyalgia patients, we need to be as educated as possible about the policies affecting our care. We also need to know about medical research on our condition, possible treatment options, and where to find help. If you’d like more information about the summit, you can learn more here.
