Tell Us About Your Business
HEARD for Life is an independent patient advocacy business that helps individuals and families navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. Our top service is one-on-one advocacy, where we help clients achieve better health outcomes by ensuring they receive the right diagnosis and treatment, coordinating care, assisting with insurance challenges, and even navigating end-of-life decisions when necessary.

Our target market includes working professionals managing their aging parents’ healthcare and individuals who are overwhelmed by the healthcare system and need expert guidance. While the business is still young—it began in May 2023—the impact on those I’ve served has been life-changing.

My favorite thing about my work is the meaningful difference it makes in my clients’ lives. People come to me with life-altering problems: debilitating symptoms with no diagnosis, unsafe discharge plans, or getting the run-around from various providers with no one stepping up to make a decision or create a plan.

I have the ability to solve those massive challenges that seem to have no solution. It’s amazing to see the transformation when my clients finally feel heard, understood, and supported. Knowing I can be a part of that journey is the most rewarding aspect of what I do.

In addition to advocacy services, I host a podcast called How to Survive Healthcare, which empowers listeners with the knowledge and tools to advocate for themselves and their loved ones. I’m also committed to public education, offering monthly speaking engagements to raise awareness about how to utilize the healthcare system effectively and avoid medical errors.

How Did Your Business Get Started?
HEARD for Life was born out of my own very negative experience with the healthcare system. As a critical care nurse, I had all the knowledge and skills to navigate healthcare, but when it was my health involved, I found it nearly impossible to advocate effectively. It was a humbling and eye-opening experience.

After recovering, I realized how many others must face these same challenges, often without the medical knowledge or resources I had. I decided to become the advocate I needed during that difficult time—to help people navigate the healthcare maze, fight for their care, and ensure no one has to face this alone.

What Are Some of Your Long-Term Goals for Your Business?
I have two main goals for HEARD for Life:

Expand Advocacy Services: I aim to provide expert, unbiased advocacy services to everyone on the Eastern Shore who needs them. This means growing a team of advocates to serve more clients and help even more people achieve better health outcomes.

Empower Through Education: I am passionate about empowering individuals with the knowledge to advocate for themselves and their loved ones. My podcast, How to Survive Healthcare, and my monthly speaking engagements are just the beginning. In the future, I’d love to expand this mission to a nationwide platform, offering workshops and public speaking engagements across the country.

How Has MCE and the Women’s Business Center Helped You?
MCE and the Women’s Business Center have been invaluable to my journey. They helped me create a comprehensive business plan and connected me with a marketing expert who guided me in crafting a plan to achieve my goals. They’ve also introduced me to numerous helpful contacts within my community, making it easier to grow my business and network.

Had I known about MCE earlier, I could have saved myself so much time and money. Their resources, offered at no cost to entrepreneurs, are a game-changer for anyone starting a new business.

What Advice Would You Give to Someone Starting a New Business?
Feel the fear, and do it anyway! One piece of advice that has stuck with me is to live without regrets. I once read an article where elderly individuals shared their biggest regrets, and most of them regretted the things they never did. Don’t let fear hold you back from turning your vision into reality.

Reach out to MCE—they offer incredible resources, guidance, and support that can save you time, money, and stress. They’ll help you turn your ideas into a solid plan and connect you with the right people to make it happen.

Take action today. At the very least, you’ll learn something!

Learn about Heard for Life at the Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, February 6th, at the Rommel Center in Salisbury. For more information and to register through the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, click this link: https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=mdsal&evtid=437138&class=E