Helene Epstein

Sometimes, our dreams are realized in ways that exceed our expectations. All I wanted was for my son to survive his multi-year diagnostic odyssey. He has survived and thrived. 

I never thought it would also lead to becoming a national advocate for patients and families, a healthcare journalist, a speaker, and a co-producer of patient safety research.

My column PATIENT NO MORE is the site of my serialized book, A GUIDE TO SURVIVING AMERICAN HEALTHCARE. I’m sharing two chapters every month in 2025. My personal mission is to ensure no patient is harmed, as we are unprotected and unarmed. I seek to help educate, empower, and encourage patients to ask questions, pursue answers, access resources, and work together to make healthcare safe for all.

I’m thrilled to be a Champion for Patients for Patient Safety US as well as a member of the Steering Committee of Patient-Partnered Diagnostic Center of Excellence.

Both are working effectively at the national level to reduce patient harms. I also served in many capacities for The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) until it closed in the summer of 2024.