Caring For The Displaced: Advocacy For Refugee Communities featuring Emily Bernstein

In this podcast episode, we sit down with Emily Bernstein, who shares her journey into patient advocacy. Emily's advocacy work began when her mother was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019. Her mother's challenging path to diagnosis and treatment inspired Emily to get involved in helping others navigate the complex healthcare system. Emily's experience as the eldest daughter and her background in international education and customer service equipped her with the skills to negotiate with medical professionals, work with billing departments, and provide support outside the medical system.

As an advocate, Emily has specialized in medical billing advocacy, aiming to bridge the gap between patients and billing departments. She also works with refugees, primarily Haitians, helping them navigate the U.S. healthcare system and connect with vital resources. Her ultimate goal is to create a center that offers comprehensive support to those in need. Emily also discusses her certification as a community health worker, which complements her patient advocacy work, and the importance of cultural sensitivity when assisting individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Emily's story underscores the vital role that patient advocates play in helping people overcome healthcare challenges, and her work with refugees adds an important layer of cultural competence to her advocacy efforts.