How to Manage the Business of Being Sick: Advocacy and Support Strategies for Women

Rebecca Bloom, Author & Women's Health Advocate

Presented on: Thursday, March 26th 2026 at 9:00 AM PDT




Resources

  • Patient Advocate Foundation Website
    Patient Advocate Foundation is a national 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which provides professional case management services to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses.
  • Triage Cancer® Website
    Triage Cancer® is a US nonprofit organization that provides free education on the legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, through events, materials, and resources.
  • The Women's Health Coalition of Canada Website
    The Women’s Health Coalition, based in Canada, is advancing a movement to speak openly, learn, and engage, to address barriers, gaps, and biases in menstrual, reproductive, and sexual health.
  • HERmedicine Website
    HERmedicine believes every woman and healthcare provider should have access to the most reliable and accurate health information. They're here to transform women's health education, ensuring its foundation is solid, scientifically backed, and accessible to all.
  • Patient Advocacy Strategies Slide Presentation
    The slide deck from Rebecca Bloom's "How to Manage the Business of Being Sick: Advocacy and Support Strategies for Women" presentation.
  • $4.98 Book Purchase - When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need
    Order your $4.98 copy of Rebecca Bloom's book: "When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need."


View Upcoming Events View Past Event Recordings

Facing a serious illness is overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Join health advocate and former benefits lawyer Rebecca Bloom for a session designed to replace fear with confidence. Drawing on over 25 years of expertise in insurance, employee benefits law, and patient advocacy, Rebecca provides women with the tools to manage the business of being sick. This webinar dives into taming the insurance beast, communicating effectively with doctors, and managing workplace dynamics. Learn how to streamline the logistical burdens of illness so you can focus fully on your recovery, mindfulness, and long-term wellness.

Key Takeaways

  • How to navigate complex insurance hurdles and manage workplace communications during treatment.
  • How to build a robust support network and guide family, friends, and your community to provide the specific help you actually need.
  • How to use mindfulness techniques and emotional resilience tools to stay grounded and focused throughout the journey to recovery.

About the Author

Rebecca Bloom, JD, is the author of When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need. After practicing as an employee benefits lawyer at a top New York City firm, she left the corporate legal world to follow her passion for health advocacy. For over 26 years, she has served as a patient advocate and insurance advisor at Bay Area Cancer Connections, helping thousands of women navigate the complex intersection of healthcare, employment, and recovery.

 

 

The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by California State University, Monterey Bay.