Patient Stories & Programs
Personal Stories for Proactive Health Behavior
The Challenge
Hereditary cancer risk screening arms people with information to prevent cancer or catch it early, yet most people don’t seek screening until it’s too late—if at all. A healthcare nonprofit wanted to motivate high risk individuals to seek proactive screenings.
My Approach
I created compelling patient story videos to inspire action from core target audiences, including Jewish adults in their 20s and 30s. I identified participants, scripted the story arc, and partnered with a video producer to craft interview questions that would elicit powerful responses.
The Impact
The end result was a series of 10 powerful videos, used by the nonprofit for fundraising campaigns, educational programs, and ads. In addition, many participants expressed gratitude for being a part of the project, noting it helped them make meaning of their own health challenges.
Peer Support for Patients, from Patients
The Challenge
Living with a chronic disease—especially an invisible illness like inflammatory bowel disease that’s often stigmatized or experienced behind closed (bathroom) doors—can feel isolating or embarrassing. Even those who are fortunate enough to have access to top-notch medical care often wish they could connect with someone who understands what they’re going through and just gets it.
My Approach
Working closely with the administrative director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center at UChicago Medicine and two co-leaders, I helped launch IBD SuperFriends—a grant-funded peer support program—recruited “mentor” patient participants, and developed and co-led trainings.
The Impact
IBD SuperFriends enrolled 20+ “mentor” participants, facilitated two trainings, and made 50 formal and informal patient matches within the first year, including one-time conversations and longer-term relationships.
Activating Ambassadors
The Challenge
Family planning is a sensitive topic—one that people often don’t discuss openly. Genetic carrier screening is most beneficial when completed prior to pregnancy, yet it’s not on most people’s radar due to lack of peer conversations and limited preconception care.
My Approach
As the associate director of the Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics, a nonprofit that facilitates a carrier screening program, I created a volunteer associate board of 10+ young professionals, provided opportunities for meaningful engagement, and armed them with information and inspiration to connect with their friends and host educational events about preconception screening.
The Impact
The associate board played a significant role in raising awareness about the Center’s screening program, which facilitated more than 350 screenings per year.