“Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.”
-Hafez of Shiraz, Persian Poet
For the last 25 years, I’ve traveled the world as an empathy educator, patient advocate, and inspirational speaker. My workshops and keynotes help medical professionals, businesses, and individuals develop empathy skills to create positively unforgettable experiences.
I’ve worked with institutions such as the FDA, Mayo Clinic, L’Oréal, Geisinger Clinic, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Nurses Association to help audiences understand the power of empathy and compassion.
As a psoriasis patient myself, I’m a passionate brand ambassador for CeraVe, a skincare line developed by dermatologists that has changed my skin and my life. Those close to me know I’m passionate about spreading “CeraVe love” because their products truly make a significant difference in the lives of those with chronic skin issues, such as myself!
When I was 17, a rheumatologist boldly declared I’d be crippled within five years due to my chronic disease and told my parents that the only option was to put me in a nursing home.
My parents were devastated, but I used that moment as a driver to become my own advocate and start my healing journey. On that day, my passion for patient advocacy and empathy training was born.
My message of personal advocacy and empowerment has taken me down many different roads over the years. I got my start in 1990 with the University of Texas football team as the first ever Life Coach for Athletes. I worked alongside Coach David McWilliams to help players learn how to control their thoughts and become the best versions of themselves, inside and out. While I loved getting to help players pursue personal growth, I knew my calling was to help people in many different areas of life improve their empathy skills and create a more compassionate world.
My lifelong battle with chronic illness and pain has helped motivate me to develop extraordinary empathy with the personal struggles and self-esteem issues of patients. Whether it’s in line at the grocery store or in a room full of thousands of people, I’ve spent my adult life teaching others about the life-changing power of empathy and the importance of compassionate interactions with others.