This blog shares Zac’s cancer journey, highlighting stark differences in care quality across institutions and how coordinated, compassionate care can profoundly shape a patient’s experience. It also examines the critical role of insurance, Medicaid, and nonprofit organizations in helping patients manage the financial and logistical burdens of cancer treatment, particularly amid shifting policy landscapes. In this piece, summer intern Christian Espinoza sat down with Zac to center his story as a patient advocate and to shed light on systemic barriers—especially those affecting LGBTQ+ patients—and the healing power of advocacy.

This blog highlights Sharon’s lived experiences navigating a healthcare system where bias and dismissal too often prevent multicultural women from being heard, alongside the moments when compassionate, patient-centered care made a meaningful difference. It explores how racism and institutional bias show up in everyday medical encounters, the emotional toll of having to self-advocate or advocate for loved ones, and the importance of clinicians who truly listen. In this piece, summer intern Yasmeena Jones sat down with Sharon to center her voice as an Expert by Experience and to underscore the need for more humane, equitable healthcare.