(847) 901-3888

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How I Can Help
For people who are dealing with a medical issue, I help you understand the diagnosis, treatment options and complex choices to ultimately make decisions based on your values. Using my years of critical care nursing and medical knowledge and experience, I listen to your concerns and ask the right questions so we can advocate for yourself or a loved one.

Additionally, I'll help you understand possible choices about procedures, machines and life support. It can be very overwhelming. By writing out your wishes and asking someone to speak for you when you can't, your family won't have to guess what you want or feel guilty about making "wrong" decisions. You don’t have to worry about putting your family through this stress and anxiety.

Formal Education
Rush University College of Nursing, DNP Nursing, 2013
University of Pennsylvania, MSN Nursing, 1996
Illinois Wesleyan University, BSN Nursing, 1986

Why I Became a Professional Healthcare Advocate
When my Dad suffered a cardiac arrest at home and was in a coma after life-saving efforts, my Mom and our family knew exactly what he would have wanted. There was no hesitancy in making decisions because we had talked about it so often. We were advocating for what he would have said if he could speak for himself. For many, unfortunately, these discussions are often delayed or only briefly touched upon and then critical decisions have to be made in the hospital setting in the middle of a family crisis, when timing is less than optimal. I see this over and over again in the ICU setting. And I resolve to change this.

Professional Organizations and Affiliations
CCRN (Critical Care Nursing) 1978-2009
Licensed Advanced Practice Nurse
Licensed Registered Nurse
Board Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Board Certified Critical Care Nurse
Member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine
Member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses

Additional Skills:
If you provide care for others and wish you had the ear of a medical professional or an educational in-service for your team or community, I provide a range of healthcare services for individuals, couples, families, coworkers or your clients that are tailored to your situation and objectives.

Privacy: In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (HIPAA), Greater Chicago Advocates is not a covered entity. To protect yourself from disclosure of protected health information (PHI), please refrain from sending any sensitive health related information via email.

Disclaimer: GCA is not a provider of advocacy services or legal services. The advocates listed in the GCA directory are not employees or agents of GCA.  GCA does not control any aspect of any service provided by any of these advocates.  The advocates listed in the GCA directory are not paid by GCA and none of the advocates has paid anything to GCA to be listed in the directory.  GCA merely compiled information about these advocates and received permission from each advocate to be listed in the directory.

The GCA website is intended to be a source for information about patient advocacy and those who provide advocacy services. While GCA strives to provide users with accurate credentials for the service providers featured on the website, GCA does not endorse or warrant the competence of any advocates listed on the site.  The information on this website is not, nor is it intended to be, medical or legal advice. The information on this website is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or in any way replace medical advice from your physician.  Use of the GCA website indicates your understanding and acceptance of these terms and conditions.