Who Am I?
Hi, I’m Shruti Chopra, I’m a patient and I am a Patient Health Advocate.
There is a gap between what patients experience, what doctors understand, what doctors relay and what patients then understand. As a professional patient, yes I call myself a professional patient because I’ve been managing over 13 chronic medical conditions for 27 years including being disabled for – I have gone through the grind of trying to bridge this gap of understanding with my doctors, of trying to decipher the medical jargon and be able to communicate most effectively with my doctors and therapists. I have advocated very well for myself.
I realised that there are many patients and loved ones of such patients who aren’t able to advocate for themselves. This isn’t a patient flaw, the flaw lies in the system created by medical professionals and medical educational systems.
As a patient advocate, I look to help and educate both patients and doctors through six avenues.
1. This blog – All Things Endometriosis
With over a hundred blog posts, on this blog I share all my experiences and everything I have learnt about my medical conditions and disability. This is a website that provides extensive resources and educates by keeping the language simple and easy to understand.
2. My YouTube channel – Footprints, No Boundaries
This is an extension of my blog. I look to convert a lot of my blog posts into videos to reach an audience that may not like to read through blog posts but prefer to watch or hear videos instead. Again, the basis of the YouTube channel is to share, educate and open up a dialogue amongst patients and doctors.
3. On The Parexel Patients Advisory Council (India)
A global clinical research organisation, Parexel works to also improve patient experiences and this is where being part of such a patients advisory council helps. It gives patients and patient advocates like me a genuine platform to be vocal with our points-of-view.
4. Consultant for Small-Scale Companies & Multinationals Corporations
This is where I work with businesses to create a conducive working environment for those with health and disability challenges. This helps to ensure that employees are respected, feel safe, are efficient and productive.
5. Trainer for Doctors
This is a 21-point module that trains doctors on how to be with patients – how to treat them as soon as they’re in their care. It not just helps patient experience, but it allows for apt care, better chances of on-time diagnosis and better patient referrals which also helps meet financial targets.
To clarify, I created this training module through understanding my own experiences, speaking to other patients and doctors too.
6. Volunteer Work with NGOS
Understanding when the body is sending us messages that something is wrong is not really taught to us. Now more specifically, period pain is seen as normal. In fact, many doctors dismiss patients who come with such complaints. As a volunteer, I look to educate, share my experiences and empower people who are less privileged when it comes to access to such information. This is all done in the hope that they can advocate for themselves.
Services I Offer
1. Consultant for Small-Scale Companies & Multinationals Corporations
To create a conducive, productive and human working environment, I work with HR Heads to understand how your company currently functions, where its loopholes are and to understand the needs of your employees.
I carry out a thorough investigation and suggest changes that are needed to make your company more friendly for those with health issues and disabilities.
2. Doctor Training – The Doctor-Patient Connect
I have created a 21-point module that trains doctors on how to be with patients – how to treat them as soon as they walk through the door. It not just helps patient experience, but it allows for apt care, better chances for an on-time diagnosis and better patient referrals which also help meet financial targets.
Patients understand that this is a business too, that doctors have educational and practical experience behind, but it’s the patient that is actually experiencing the symptoms therefore it’s very important the patient is valued otherwise that patient or ‘business’ would just go elsewhere.
So let’s not add to patient woes and be better trained.
3. Sponsored Posts & Reviews
As a patient, I’m always on the look out for ways to improve my quality so if you have a product that you would like an honest review on, or if you would like to sponsor a post that mentions your product then I would happy to do that.
4. Content Writing
I take on content writing for one-off posts and for projects where my patient / medical expertise can be well utilised. If you would like content writing done for your health related website, newspaper/magazine articles, brochure etc then do get in touch.
Contact Me
I am available and most responsive through email, so please feel free to email me on:
If you wish to get in touch with me through LinkedIn then you can here.
I look forward to hearing from you.
– Shruti
