Connecting the Dots: Stepping off the Sidelines into Advocacy
Jen Barth,
PIC Attendee and NPAF Volunteer
March 6, 2026
"I have always felt that one cannot understand the present, much less plan for the future, without a thorough knowledge of the past.” - Dr. Alice Hamilton, industrial science, and health pioneer; first woman appointed to Harvard Medical School faculty, & more
If you told me 35 years ago when I graduated high school and moved out of Baltimore, I’d return to Maryland in 2025 for a patient advocacy conference, I wouldn’t have believed it. Though my connection to PAF is recent, attending Patient Insight Congress (PIC) helped me see this path was decades in the making.
I was born on a Navajo reservation where my dad, a physician, served in the Indian Health Service; both grandfathers were physicians, my grandmother and great grandmother were nurses, and my mom was a Planned Parenthood counselor. Despite my family’s deep healthcare roots, I never considered following in their footsteps. Looking back, the signs were there. After college I worked in fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, inspired by a childhood friend who was a survivor; years later, I supported healthcare clients in marketing agencies and served on a Board focused on women's health research. I never connected the dots but PIC inspired reflections on where my journey began.
I discovered PAF in a healthcare advocacy course I took in 2023 to fill knowledge gaps between my various roles: “sandwich generation” family caregiver, nonprofit consultant, and community member concerned about post-pandemic realities. As the daughter of a mother with Multiple Sclerosis, the mission spoke to me. After inquiring about volunteer opportunities with NPAF, attending PIC 2024 was my introduction to a community I didn’t realize I was looking for. Since then, I’ve since participated in virtual programs, served on an NPAF Media Advisory Working Group, and shared caregiving tips on the NPAF blog.
After fertility struggles my daughters were born in 2007, which opened my eyes to the disparities in care access, patient rights, and costs based on geography and insurance. In 2010 I became self-employed, purchased private insurance for the first time, and my mom was diagnosed with MS. We learned a lot from navigating care; well before health advocacy conversations were common. Ten years later, the pandemic exposed more cracks in already broken systems; for me, it was a catalyst to consider how I might channel my experiences into greater contributions.
Fast forward, given all that transpired in 2025, attending PIC during National Caregiver’s Month made it even more meaningful. Serendipitously, the Bethesda location allowed for a quick Baltimore stop, where I reconnected with my friend whose leukemia experience had inspired me early on; she took the photo above on our school campus. Serendipity continued when I came across Dr. Hamilton’s quote. I didn’t know her story, but learned we shared Baltimore roots — and that her sister Edith was the Founder of our school! Though a small detail amidst the broader systemic issues I typically focus on, it was a powerful reminder of how interconnected our experiences are, whether we cross paths directly or not. It’s amazing what can change in a few years when you embrace opportunities to learn, connect, and engage. I’m grateful to PAF and NPAF for offering the tools to help us all step off the sidelines, from wherever our vantage point may be.