All I can say is WOW! Great job! It’s so comforting to know there’s someone there advocating for Dad. Once again, thanks for all you’re doing.”
Lauren A.
Texas
Guiding Your Journey Through Illness and Aging
All I can say is WOW! Great job! It’s so comforting to know there’s someone there advocating for Dad. Once again, thanks for all you’re doing.”
Lauren A.
Texas
Elisabeth Russell, CSA
Debora Harvey, CSA
www.csa.us
Elisabeth Schuler Russell
The company’s founder, Elisabeth Schuler Russell, launched Patient Navigator LLC in October 2004 after navigating her 2-year old daughter’s journey through an inoperable brainstem tumor. In September 2009, Elisabeth Russell was elected Vice
President of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy
Consultants.
Elisabeth experienced first-hand how difficult and frightening it is for a family under stress to navigate the complexities of the American health care system. When her daughter recovered, Elisabeth committed herself to a new career using what she had learned as a patient advocate to help and teach others. In 2007, she earned the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® credential which provides specialized training in aging and the important issues that affect seniors.
Elisabeth Schuler Russell was trained in 1991 by her local hospice organization as a bereavement counselor. She founded a parent loss support group which she facilitated for ten years. She has been a full-time caregiver for a family member and understands the needs of the elderly.
In her first career, Elisabeth worked 24 years in the U.S. Government, 22 of them as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State. She holds a Master’s Degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She has lived abroad, traveled extensively and speaks French and Spanish. She is married with two children, including her daughter who is now a healthy, thriving 12-year old.
Of her new calling, Elisabeth recounts a conversation with her pastor in 2003. “I asked him, ‘what can I do to thank God for the miracle of my daughter’s survival?’ He told me, very simply, ‘You should help other people going through the same thing.’ I knew at that moment I had been given my answer.”
In June 2009, Elisabeth completed CancerGuides® II training, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine's course in integrative oncology for people with cancer and their families.
Debora Harvey - Director of Client Services
Debora Harvey has been working to support families in the Washington D.C. area since 2001. By providing condition-related information to clients, she has enabled them to make informed decisions with their care providers regarding their health care. She also works as a patient advocate in the hospital, or any clinical setting, with the patient when the need arises.
In addition to serving clients, Debora has had personal experience with close family members having Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, heart disease and several forms of cancer. This intimate association with these difficult conditions has given her a unique perspective from which to provide support to clients. Prior to working as a patient navigator, Debora spent 15 years working in international telecommunications, earned two degrees from American University, and completed post-graduate work at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
In June 2009, Debora completed CancerGuides® II training, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine's course in integrative oncology for people with cancer and their families.
Christine Evans, RN, BS - Oncology and Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator
Tina is the Founding President of the National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators received her degree from St. Joseph's College and has been a nurse for 29 years. Tina has experience as a health care consultant for Cardinal Health, Clinical Director for the first freestanding outpatient surgery center in Maryland, clinical pediatric nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Performance Improvement Director, Project Manager and independent consultant to physician office practices. In 2002, Ms. Evans developed and currently manages the Center for Breast Care at Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, MD. In her role as Director of the Center for Breast Care, she has created and facilitates the weekly breast cancer tumor board. She developed the Survivors Offering Support program, the Breast Cancer Support Group, created partnerships with the Howard County Public School System, The Red Devils, and speaks throughout the community on the subject of the importance of early detection of breast cancer. She navigates women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer and has worked with more than 700 women through their breast cancer journey.
In 2004 Tina Evans was recognized with Women of Distinction award from the Howard County Soroptimist International. In 2005 she was chosen for the Nurse Hero award by the Daily Record. She has led the MD/DC/VA Coalition of Breast Center Coordinators since 2003. She is the Founder of the National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators. She writes a column for the Oncology Net Guide Nurses Edition on the newly evolving role of the oncology nurse navigator. She speaks nationally on the topic of patient and nurse navigation.
Heather Matthews - Cancer Information Research Specialist
Heather Matthews has been working as a patient navigator in the New York City and Long Island region for nearly seven years now. Beginning her career at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Heather has provided guidance to many patients and families in their time of need.
In 2004 Heather received her certification as a Cancer Information Specialist from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service. At this time she began providing cancer information to both the general public and health professionals via the 1-800-4-CANCER phone bank. She directed callers to national and local resources depending upon their need, provided information regarding side effects of specific cancer treatments and conducted clinical trial searches for patients and family members.
With her vast knowledge of the cancer illness, Heather has spent the last three years providing patient navigation at the community level for a Long Island based non-profit organization.
Heather’s skill set allows her to work with large-scale insurance companies, nationally recognized hospitals and organizations, and your home-town doctor to help you and your family obtain the necessary medical care you need and deserve.
Cindy Schwalb - Integrative Oncology Research Specialist
Cindy Schwalb joins Patient Navigator following her certification in CancerGuidesŪ Integrative Oncology. Working from early studies in biochemistry, Cindy began researching cancer when she became a patient advocate for a family member diagnosed with cancer. The experience navigating the medical terrain to find relevant and meaningful information and treatment protocols has led her to share her efforts with others.
Cindy believes some of the best information and advice has not filtered down into the mainstream. Every patient should have access to an avid researcher to review current options and the latest diagnostic tools that may not be offered by all doctors.
She believes in the integrative cancer care model that treats the whole person, not just the cancer. Cindy researches supplements and natural products looking for evidence both for and against, tracks new treatments and trials including engaging with the scientists and doctors sponsoring investigations.
She looks forward to educating patients on the integrative model and providing information on how to put together a trusted team of experts. Currently, she is researching the FDA's investigational drug protocols and personal importation programs.
Jane Smith-Decker - Mental Health Resource Specialist
Almost 10 years ago, Jane suffered a major depressive episode for which she was hospitalized twice. Her son has schizoaffective disorder. She has been involved with mental health issues for over 20 years, both as a consumer and as an advocate. Jane works to help people through the weary battle of getting adequate mental health services and medication/health management. She is very familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other local and national mental health resources. Jane is earning her Medical Assisting Degree and has a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science with over twenty years professional experience. In recent years, she has been researching the metabolic effects of depression and medications on the endocrine system.
Jane believes that patients must understand the product information of prescribed medications, such as drug interactions and routine blood tests to detect adverse health effects. In order to communicate effectively with their doctors and receive appropriate care, mental health patients must be more fully educated about their diagnosis, medications, side effects, and treatment options. General practitioners may not be as well versed as mental health professionals, making it even more important for the patient to understand the product information of the medications that have been prescribed for them. Jane works with patients to organize their information and teaches them to keep good records. She will help them decipher, monitor, and understand their treatment program, in addition to providing assistance in accessing mental health services.
Patient Navigator, LLC also draws on the expertise of other trained professionals in our network as needed to develop and implement your action plan.