L. Bradley Schwartz
Amanda Trask
Erika Warren
Caryn Isaacs
Caryn is a private professional patient advocate who champions empowered aging. Through storytelling and real-life examples, she helps older adults shape lives filled with dignity, choice, and independence.
Dr. Randi Lebar
Dr. Lebar is a retired orthopedic surgeon turned caregiver and storyteller. Her inspiring work documenting her mother’s viral dementia journey on TikTok highlights the joy and power of music in care.
Deb Gordon
Deb Gordon, Director of the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates and CEO of Umbra Health Advocacy, is a nationally recognized leader in empowering patients and professional advocates. She will share insights from her experience in health insurance, authorship of The Health Care Consumer’s Manifesto, and her work advancing health advocacy across the country.
Shiella Dowlatshahi Radel
Shiella is a board-certified patient advocate, author, and healthcare change agent with expertise in pain management, rare diseases, and elder care. Her award-winning book “Pack Your Own Healthcare Parachute” shares the powerful story of her father’s final days and highlights the critical role of advocacy.
Breakout Session Leaders
Nicole Broadhurst
Nicole is a nationally recognized healthcare financial advocate helping patients navigate medical bills with clarity and strategy. As founder of Tennessee Health Advocates and creator of The Independent Advocacy Circle, she equips both patients and professionals to prevent financial harm and build impactful, sustainable advocacy practices.
Ilene Corina
Ilene Corina is the President and founder of Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy, a community-based patient safety organization where she develops programs related to patient safety and advocacy and visits patients and their families when patient safety advocacy services are needed.
Teri Frykenberg
Teri is a leading voice in the patient advocacy movement and founder of Nurse Advocate Entrepreneur. She helps patients, providers, and professionals bridge gaps in care through education and expert advocacy.
Steve Goodstein
Steve is a nationally recognized conflict resolution expert and the founding Organizational Ombuds at Providence-Swedish. He brings decades of experience in healthcare, law, and advocacy systems to the conversation on navigating conflict in care.
Keynote Speakers
NEPAC 2025 brings together nationally recognized leaders in patient advocacy, healthcare safety, and caregiver support. Our keynote speakers are pioneers, practitioners, and passionate voices working to transform the healthcare system from the inside out.
From breakthrough insights on misdiagnosis and patient safety to powerful personal stories and practical tools, these experts will challenge, equip, and inspire you to make a greater impact.
Susan Edgman-Levitan
Susan is a national leader in patient-centered care and Executive Director at Mass General’s Stoeckle Center. She has spent decades shaping how we understand, measure, and deliver care based on the patient’s experience.
Susan will take attendees through the history and evolution of patient- and family-centered care, highlighting the elements most valued by patients and how these factors improve outcomes when prioritized by healthcare systems.
Sharon A. Kuhn
Sharon is a holistic health educator and advocate with expertise in empathy, resilience, and psychological safety. She brings science and heart to every room she enters.
Sharon will share a deep and dynamic presentation on the role of empathy in advocacy. Exploring both science and practice, she equips attendees with the knowledge and tools to create psychological safety, strengthen resilience, and build trust through empathetic connection.
Dr. Gordon Schiff
Dr. Schiff is a nationally recognized expert in diagnostic and medication safety, internal medicine, and health policy. He’s authored over 250 publications, contributed to the Improving Diagnosis in Health Care report, and leads research focused on cancer diagnosis in marginalized populations. His many honors include the Eisenberg Award, ISMP Lifetime Achievement Award, and APHA’s Donabedian Quality Award.
Meet the Speakers
Join these leading voices in advocacy, innovation, and patient-centered care.