I have the pleasure of speaking with a fellow up and coming patient advocate. Melina Houston is a pediatric patient advocate currently residing in the Tacoma/Seattle area of Washington State. Although she began her journey in advocacy out of personal need, as a parent and then as a patient herself, She found her passion in patient advocacy. Her experience has ranged from assisting in navigating the health care system and medical insurance, advocating in clinical and emergency settings, writing and administering training on functional supports in individual and group settings, transitions in care, finding and utilizing resources outside of traditional medical care settings such as state supports and funding options for non-covered or inadequately covered care, and more. She believes that a person’s health journey is deeply personal, and too often one that is overwhelming and confusing. As an advocate, she seeks to make that journey less overwhelming and to help those she works with feel empowered to be active participants in their care or the care of their loved one.
