Hi, I’m Laurie Barish Pereira, Founder and President of UCan Health Advocacy LLC. I’m glad you found this site and I hope to become your patient advocate. I am passionate about serving patients and their families as I’ve done for the last 15 years.

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My goal as an advocate is to empower patients and their families so that they can make the most informed decisions about their health care.

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 I initially became interested in Healthcare Advocacy when a friend's 7-year-old daughter nearly died from a serious infection. I advocated for getting her transferred in the middle of the night to another hospital, one  that specialized in the care she needed, and we were later told that she survived because of it. 

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Several years later, I sadly lost a very close friend. Unfortunately she had been misdiagnosed for a very long time and therefore missed out on treatment she needed. She didn't fit the "profile" for her disease and no one was asking the questions that needed to be asked. By the time the questions were getting asked and she was properly diagnosed, it was too late.

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It is because of experiences like these, and many others, that I came to  appreciate why having an advocate can make such a difference in the health care you receive.  An advocate can help you figure out the right questions to ask , research conditions, locate top providers, and explore options for treatment . A good advocate will think “outside the box”  when needed, support you as you navigate the healthcare system and empower you to make the best choices for your health. It is my goal to get the best health care possible for each person and family I partner with.

 

 

EDUCATION

Northwestern University: MBA in Hospital and Health Services Management

UCLA: BA in Psychology

 

RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

Northwestern Memorial Hospital - Program Administration, Prentice Women's Hospital

Mayo Clinic - Administrative Resident in Neurology

Omni Youth Services - Youth Advocate Supervisor 

Centinela Hospital Medical Center -Daycare Administration

 

RELEVANT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Journey Care - Pediatric Hospice Volunteer

Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago -Child Life Volunteer in Hematology and Oncology

Rainbows for All Children - Facilitator for grief support groups

Century City Hospital - Volunteer

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