Shows
Clinical Research CoachElla Balasa- Cystic Fibrosis Patient AdvocateIn this episode of the Clinical Research Coach, I sit down with Ella Balasa, a cystic fibrosis patient advocate whose lived experience is shaping how our industry understands trust, transparency, and meaningful patient engagement.Diagnosed in infancy with cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic lung disease, Ella has spent her life navigating hospital systems, breakthrough therapies, and clinical trials — not as an abstract participant, but as someone whose health and future depend on research progress. Along the way, she has become a powerful voice for improving how industry partners with patients....
2026-02-1648 min
Unifying ResearchUnifying Research - Workforce Crisis and Patient AdvocacyIn the second episode of Unifying Research, I sit down with a research expert to discuss our current workforce crisis in clinical research. It's a complex and very timely problem that deserves our attention. Then, I had the privilege of speaking with a research patient advocate, who explains what patient advocacy is and why it's so important.My research expert guest is R'Kes Starling, an executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the field. Not only does R'Kes shine a light on the current state of the clinical research workforce crisis, he also shares his...
2025-08-181h 17
Trials with Maya ZThe patient journey in US vs EU and how involving patients early on can help with Ella BalasaElla Balasa has experience on both sides of the research spectrum - as a patient with cystic fibrosis and as a scientist examining antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She is on a mission to amplify patient voices in drug development. In this episode Ella and Maya discuss:Ella’s journey and advising experienceThe difference in the patient journey in US vs. EuropeThe often overlooked challenges in patient access to careFollow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Ella Balasa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-balasa/
2024-11-1426 min
The Strategy of HealthBridging the Gap: A Personal Journey from Cystic Fibrosis to Patient AdvocacyJoin Ella Balasa as she shares her compelling journey from battling cystic fibrosis to becoming a staunch advocate for patient engagement and a scientist in environmental microbiology. Despite her traumatic experiences with constant medical care, Ella's passion for science led her to a career where she could make a difference. In this video, she discusses how her work on antibiotic resistance in environmental settings intersects with public health and personal advocacy, and how she uses her experiences to bridge gaps between patient communities and the healthcare industry.
2024-05-1424 min
Healthcare Policy PopDrug Supply Shortage Emergency + PASTEUR ActDr. Marion Mass, a pediatrician, has seen up close and personal what supply chain shortages can do; a news article from Oncology Business Review says that the proportion of oral cancer drugs that needed prior authorization increased from 53 percent to 96 percent between 2010 and 2019; Diane Talbert, patient correspondent from MD-05, discusses the devastating effects of prior authorization; and Ella Balasa, a cystic fibrosis patient advocate, tells us the importance of the PASTEUR Act being reintroduced. Healthcare Policy Pop Episode: Crises in Drug Shortages + Medical Supplies Frank Pallone Jr. News Release: Pallone Calls on E&C Republican...
2023-06-2905 min
On One ConditionEpisode 12: Ella Balasa - Cystic FibrosisElla is a patient advocate for people living with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic condition that affects the lungs and the digestive system. Ella describes how it impacts her and what she needs to do every day to manage her condition. She shares how she feels about potentially needing a lung transplant in the future, and the implications of this procedure. We also talk about how she turned her experience as a patient into her career, as she helps pharmaceutical companies develop protocols and documents that are more easily understood by patients. The song Ella chose is Forever b...
2023-06-2841 min
Contagious ConversationsCreatively Combating Antimicrobial ResistanceHow can creative messaging and the arts help people better understand issues around antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance? Our guests discuss the power of art to promote public health and protective behaviors, as well as the power of patient advocacy in raising awareness about these issues. This episode is hosted by Dr. Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, in conversation with Dr. Meghan Perry and Ella Balasa. Dr. Perry is an infectious disease physician in the Scottish National Health Service and a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Her experience with...
2023-01-0626 minLiving WithLiving With Cystic Fibrosis: Ella BalasaElla Balasa is the 2022 winner of the Social Health Award of Healthcare Collaborator, recognizing her work of bridging the gap between industry stakeholders and healthcare consumers. Ella shares how living with CF inspired her to advocate for herself and others and why she empowers others living with chronic conditions to be their own advocate.
2022-12-0700 min
Superbugs UnpluggedWe Talk with a Patient Advocate about How Antibiotics Are Life-Saving for People Living with Cystic FibrosisOur guest this month is patient advocate Ella Balasa who was born with the rare and chronic lung disease cystic fibrosis (CF). She shares how important antibiotics are for people living with CF to be able to fight off dangerous lung infections. She also shares how she became a patient advocate. It’s a really great discussion that you won't want to miss.
2022-10-2036 min
The Health Design PodcastElla Balasa, patient advocateElla Balasa is a patient advocate, consultant, and a person living with cystic fibrosis. She was diagnosed at 18 months old and has experienced countless hospitalizations since being a child. She has committed her time to empowering patients and advancing research and healthcare strategies through her connections with researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and patient organizations. She is an advocate for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections and speaks publicly at conferences, meetings, and to companies about the value of patient perspective. She also has a passion for writing; distilling clinical information for patient communities, and sharing about...
2022-01-2329 min
The Rare Disorder Podcast33. Meet a Partner: The Rare Disorder Podcast X Ella Balasa, Patient Advocate, Speaker, and ConsultantIn this episode, I chat with Ella Balasa, a Patient Advocate, Speaker, and Consultant.
Ella is passionate about amplifying the patient voice in healthcare.
Having a background in biology, Ella has experienced both sides of the research spectrum - as a patient and a scientist. Examining antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment, which is the same bacteria that thrive in the lungs of those with CF, her work in the lab intersected with her health. This fueled Ella's interest in involving herself in a research capacity on committees and advisory roles with organizations providing a patie...
2021-11-0542 min
DKBmed RadioCF Patient Advocacy - eCystic Fibrosis Review bonus episodePlease note, this podcast is not accredited and does not provide continuing education credit. eCystic Fibrosis Review Program Director Donna Peeler, RN, is a Clinical Nurse at the Johns Hopkins Cystic Fibrosis Center in Baltimore. Recently she interviewed Ella Balasa, an adult with cystic fibrosis in Richmond Virginia, who has been working in CF Patient Advocacy. Their discussion exchange focused on what clinicians and their patients with CF, as well as the parents of pediatric patients with CF, can do to help develop the kind of effective shared-decision making that leads to improved outcomes. Their di...
2021-10-2526 min
The State of Health with Gunnar EsiasonAntibiotic Resistance: Bacteriophages, a Possible Answer?The antibiotic resistance series on the State of Health has discussed, at length, the policy and market dysfunctions at the heart of the antibiotic crisis. This week, Gunnar talks with Dr. Ben Chan, an Associate Research Scientist in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, and Ella Balasa, a cystic fibrosis patient advocate who advocates for new options to treat highly antibiotic resistant bacteria. The show details a chance meeting for Dr. Chan and Ella, which led to Ella being one of the first cystic fibrosis patients in the US to dose a phage cocktail fresh...
2021-10-0630 min
Peer Med PodcastBehind Diagnoses: Patients - E4: Cystic Fibrosis ft. Ella BelasaOn this episode of "Behind Diagnoses: Patients", a Peer Med Podcast special series we hear from Ella Balasa. a patient advocate, consultant, and a person living with cystic fibrosis. Diagnosed at 18 months old, and having countless hospitalizations since being a child she’s never let it be her excuse. Having a biology background, she is an advocate for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections including phage therapy, as well as speaking publicly at conferences, meetings, and to companies about the value of patient voice in research.
She serves as a member of research committees with vari...
2021-09-2929 min
HumancareResearcher & Patient Collaboration to Humanize CareResearcher & Patient Collaboration to Humanize Care: Ella Basala“ People really do accept and like us for who we are. It has taken a long time to understand that. As a younger person dealing with a chronic illness, that was definitely an inhibitor for me to make these close relationships and to just to be myself.“– Ella BasalaAbout Ella: Ella Balasa is a patient advocate and a person living with cystic fibrosis. Diagnosed at 18 months old, cystic fibrosis (or “CF”) is a life-limiting, invisible, chronic, and rare lung disease. Before digging into Ella...
2021-04-1359 min
Because We Are StrongINTERVIEW: Ella Balasa & Cystic FibrosisElla Balasa is a patient advocate and a person living with cystic fibrosis. Diagnosed at 18 months old, cystic fibrosis (or “CF”) is a life-limiting, invisible, chronic, and rare lung disease. Since early childhood, Ella has had countless hospitalizations to receive intravenous antibiotics to treat the lung infections that are the hallmark of the disease. These infections deteriorate the lung tissue over time, reducing function, and ultimately leading to failure requiring a double lung transplant to prolong life. Her disease is becoming visible as she requires using supplemental oxygen with physical activity. But d...
2021-02-2327 min