What if your symptoms were dismissed as anxiety… when you knew something was terribly wrong?

What if test results came back “normal,” but your body was falling apart?

And what would you do if the healthcare system left you feeling invisible and alone?

Lyme disease affects millions — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and controversial illnesses in modern medicine.

This month is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This episode aims to spread awareness of an illness that affects nearly 500,000 new people in the U.S. annually.

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli sits down with Maria Malaguti, Founder and Executive Director of the Lyme Disease Resource Center, to discuss the long and often isolating road of tick-borne illness — and how advocacy can change everything.

Maria’s journey began after what she believed was a simple spider bite while backpacking. What followed was a steady health decline, unexplained neurological symptoms, and a terrifying ER visit where her concerns were dismissed and she was handed a prescription for Prozac — without a thorough evaluation.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Lyme disease is still frequently misunderstood

• The emotional toll of being dismissed in medical settings

• How chronic tick-borne illness impacts work, identity, and mental health

• The difference between physical treatment and whole-person healing

• What self-advocacy truly looks like after a diagnosis

• Why no patient should have to navigate disability or healthcare bureaucracy alone

• The power of community in moving from victimhood to empowerment

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395.

Connect with Maria Malaguti:

https://www.lymedrc.org/

https://www.facebook.com/ldrcnoho

https://www.instagram.com/lymedrcincnorthampton/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lyme-disease-resource-center-inc-/

https://www.youtube.com/@LymeDRCIncNorthampton/videos

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered if the answers you’re looking for might exist somewhere beyond your local healthcare system?

Have you seen multiple providers but still feel like your care has stalled?

Or ask yourself whether seeking care in another state — or even another country — could open the door to better options?

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore an important and often emotional question many patients quietly face: When should you consider looking farther away for medical care?

Most healthcare journeys begin close to home. Local providers are convenient, familiar, and often the first place patients turn for answers. But sometimes, despite following every recommendation, completing extensive testing, and consulting multiple specialists, patients may still feel like they’re not moving forward.

In this thoughtful discussion, Dr. Borrelli explains:

• The key signs that it may be time to explore care beyond your local healthcare system

• Why certain conditions require highly specialized programs or multidisciplinary teams

• When traveling for care may make a meaningful difference in outcomes

• The powerful role that second and third medical opinions can play in complex cases

• What patients should carefully consider before traveling for medical care, including logistics, finances, and follow-up planning

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395

Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence.

✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s.

👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ to get started.

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is holding the caregiver together?

Who checks in on the person managing the medications, the appointments, the fear — and the family?

And when was the last time a caregiver was told they don’t have to earn their rest?

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the spotlight — rightfully — focuses on the patient. But behind nearly every patient is someone quietly carrying the weight of it all.

In this heartfelt episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli turns the focus to the often invisible role of the caregiver with special guest Charlotte Bayala — speaker, yoga and meditation teacher, caregiver advocate, and host of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast.

Charlotte shares her lived experience caring for her husband through cancer and unpacks what caregiving really looks like behind the scenes.

Because caregiving isn’t one role.

It’s dozens.

Together, Dr. Borrelli and Charlotte explore:

• Why caregiver burnout often goes unrecognized — even by the caregiver

• The slow creep of exhaustion, irritability, and “normalizing” survival mode

• The emotional tension of feeling grateful and resentful at the same time

• Why caregivers don’t need permission to rest

• How caregiving reshapes identity, partnership, and personal strength

• The power of learning to “take up space” in medical settings

• A simple breathing tool anyone can use to regulate the nervous system in moments of overwhelm

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395.

Connect with Charlotte Bayala:

https://www.charlottebayala.com/

https://www.instagram.com/cancercaregiverpodcast

https://www.facebook.com/charlottebayalayoga

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered how medical errors happen?

Have you ever left a healthcare appointment worrying that something might have been missed?

Or asked yourself what patients and families can actually do to help prevent mistakes in complex medical situations?

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore a difficult but essential topic in modern healthcare: medical errors.

For many people, trust in the healthcare system feels automatic—until something goes wrong. A missed test result. A medication mix-up. A breakdown in communication between providers. When these situations occur, patients and families are often left with the same painful questions: How did this happen? Could it have been prevented?

Healthcare today is incredibly complex. Multiple specialists, medication changes, electronic records, and busy clinical environments create countless moving parts.

In this important conversation, Dr. Borrelli explains:

• What medical errors are—and why they sometimes happen

• Why even strong healthcare safety systems cannot eliminate every risk

• The emotional impact medical errors can have on patients and families

• The powerful role patients play in improving safety through awareness and communication

• How asking questions and confirming information can help prevent misunderstandings

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395

Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence.

✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s.

👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ to get started.

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you do if you were told you had eight to twelve months to live?

How would you respond if the statistics said you probably wouldn’t survive?

And what if your greatest battle began while you were already serving your country in a war zone?

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli sits down with Brandy L. Benson — Army veteran, Ewing sarcoma survivor, author, Department of Defense research contributor, and fierce patient advocate — to share a story that redefines resilience.

At just 23 years old, while deployed in Iraq, Brandy discovered a lump in her leg. Within weeks, she was facing a diagnosis of terminal Ewing sarcoma — a rare and aggressive cancer — and given a 15% chance of survival.

Today, more than 17 years later, she is in full remission.

But this episode isn’t just about surviving cancer. It’s about challenging statistics. Rewriting narratives. And discovering the power of advocacy — especially when navigating complex systems like military and VA healthcare.

Brandy shares:

• What it felt like to receive a terminal diagnosis while deployed

• The emotional weight of preparing for death at 24

• How her mother became her fiercest advocate when she couldn’t advocate for herself

• Why rare cancers require second (and third) opinions

• The hidden realities of survivorship — trauma, identity shifts, and financial toxicity

• Why quality of life must be part of every treatment conversation

• How she now contributes to sarcoma research review for the Department of Defense

• The mindset shift that helped her respond better to treatment

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395

Connect with Brandi Benson:

https://brandilbenson.com/

https://www.instagram.com/resumeadvantage

https://www.facebook.com/brandi.benson.92

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandilbenson/

https://www.youtube.com/@brandil.benson6432/featured

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever delayed seeing a doctor because getting to an appointment felt like too much?

Have you ever wished you could ask your provider a quick question without taking time off work or sitting in a waiting room?

Or wondered if telehealth could actually make healthcare easier — not harder?

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore a powerful tool that has quietly reshaped how patients access care: telehealth.

Dr. Borrelli, whose research and clinical work have long focused on telemedicine and telehealth, explains why she often calls telehealth “your friend” in healthcare.

Together, they break down:

• The difference between telehealth and telemedicine

• How telehealth reduces common barriers like transportation, time off work, and long wait times

• Why quick virtual check-ins can prevent small health issues from becoming major problems

• How telehealth improves access for patients with mobility challenges, chronic illness, or caregiving responsibilities

• Why patients often feel more comfortable advocating for themselves from home

• How private patient advocates can join virtual appointments and support patients in real time

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395

Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence.

✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s.

👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ to get started.

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you do if a sudden medical emergency changed your life overnight?

If you survived… but walked out of the hospital feeling completely alone?

Where do you turn when your diagnosis is rare — and no one around you understands it?

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli sits down with Ben Munoz — stroke survivor, entrepreneur, angel investor, and founder of Ben’s Friends, one of the largest online networks of patient support communities for rare diseases.

Ben’s journey began in 2006 with a sudden, life-threatening AVM-related brain hemorrhage at just 29 years old. What started as nausea and a headache turned into emergency brain surgery within minutes. He survived — but like so many patients with rare conditions — he left the hospital with more questions than answers.

No roadmap.

No community.

No clear “what’s next.”

So he built one.

Drawing on his background in software and entrepreneurship, Ben created an online community for AVM survivors. What began with a handful of members quickly grew into thousands. Today, Ben’s Friends supports dozens of rare disease communities and has helped countless patients feel seen, informed, and less alone.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it feels like to survive a rare medical crisis

• The emotional isolation that often follows hospital discharge

• Why peer support can be just as powerful as medical treatment

• The evolving role of AI and democratized medical information

• How patients can responsibly fact-check and advocate for themselves

• Why asking questions in healthcare is no longer optional — it’s essential

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395.

Connect with Ben Munoz:

https://www.bensfriends.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bensfriendsorg/

https://www.facebook.com/bensfriendsorg

https://www.youtube.com/@BensfriendsOrg

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed trying to coordinate appointments with multiple specialists?

Have you ever left a medical visit with more questions than answers?

Or wondered who can help you navigate the increasingly complex world of healthcare?

In today’s healthcare landscape, patients are facing more information, more specialists, and more complicated treatment decisions than ever before. While medical advancements have improved care in many ways, they’ve also made the system harder to navigate — leaving many patients and families feeling confused, stressed, and unsupported.

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore the evolving role of private patient advocacy and why it’s becoming an essential part of modern healthcare.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• The key difference between general patient advocates and private patient advocates

• Why healthcare complexity is increasing — and what that means for patients

• How private advocates provide personalized, one-on-one support throughout the healthcare journey

• The many ways advocates help coordinate care, prepare for appointments, and organize medical records

• How advocacy has evolved beyond hospital stays to include proactive, ongoing support

• Why experience and insight are critical when navigating complex diagnoses, treatments, and second opinions

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395

Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence.

✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s.

👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ to get started.

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.