Welcome to Ask the Patient!
A platform that bridges the gap between medical expertise and lived patient experience—revealing critical insights healthcare systems can’t afford to miss.
I’m Sylvie, a systems designer, cancer survivor, and the first patient to lead a major academic research initiative. I secured $1.75 million in research funding to uncover what healthcare metrics and protocols often overlook: how well-meaning systems can quietly fail the very people they’re meant to help.
My expertise lies in turning lived experience into operational intelligence—applying human-centered design and systems analysis to expose the hidden risks embedded in everyday care.
Ask the Patient is for you if:
You’re a healthcare professional seeking operational insights from lived patient experience to improve safety, equity, and care delivery
You’re a systems thinker or healthcare innovator looking for design-informed perspectives grounded in real-world breakdowns
You’re a medical educator or quality leader exploring new ways to integrate patient experience into safety, quality, and system redesign
You’re a patient or caregiver trying to understand what went wrong—and how the system can be redesigned to do better
What you’ll find here:
Sharp, story-driven system analysis from the bedside
Unseen breakdowns in care delivery that clinical data doesn’t capture
Strategic insights to help healthcare leaders design safer, more effective systems—from the inside out
About Me
I bring a dual perspective few others can offer: lived experience as a cancer survivor and deep expertise in systems design, human-centered innovation, and experiential research.
My work spans multiple worlds—I’ve keynoted national medical conferences, taught CME at leading institutions, served on editorial boards, and published in respected outlets. My mission is to help healthcare leaders see what they’ve been missing—and use that intelligence to improve care for everyone.
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Subscribe to Ask the Patient to gain insights that bridge clinical expertise with patient reality—and illuminate what healthcare needs but hasn’t yet been able to see.
"Ask the Patient is essential reading for anyone who believes healthcare can and should improve. As a physician and healthcare executive, I have witnessed the urgent need for reform firsthand, and this newsletter offers a much-needed beacon of hope. The author highlights critical yet often overlooked factors contributing to poor health outcomes. Her personal journey adds depth to her eloquent and engaging writing. Don't miss Sylvie's invaluable insights—subscribe for fresh perspectives on building a more human-centered healthcare system." – David Price, MD
