My Library Blog
FAQ Contact

 

 

 

Meet Jessica Baladad

Founder + Chief Advocate

Jessica's experience navigating the American healthcare system during her breast cancer diagnosis revealed how difficult it can be for patients to access timely care. She's now channeling those lessons into advocacy efforts that help communities ensure their voices are represented in conversations that influence policy and the rules that govern treatment and coverage.

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of Feel For Your Life

 

Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer after performing a self exam and discovering a lump in her breast. While undergoing chemotherapy, she realized many of her friends were not regularly performing self exams, which revealed how little awareness and guidance existed around breast health. What began as a simple social media project to encourage women to check their breasts eventually evolved into the Feel For Your Life app. It has since grown into a platform that educates women about breast health and elevates patient voices in healthcare conversations.

GET THE APP

The Story of Feel For Your Life

 

Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer after performing a self exam and discovering a lump in her breast. While undergoing chemotherapy, she realized many of her friends were not regularly performing self exams, which revealed how little awareness and guidance existed around breast health. What began as a simple social media project to encourage women to check their breasts eventually evolved into the Feel For Your Life app. It has since grown into a platform that educates women about breast health and elevates patient voices in healthcare conversations.

GET THE APP

Work with Jessica

Jessica welcomes opportunities to collaborate with nonprofits, companies and organizations that want to educate, engage and elevate patient voices. To collaborate with her, reach out at info[at]feelforyourlife[dot]com. 

 

 

Equipping Advocates to Speak

Patients and advocates often feel nervous about speaking to lawmakers. Many people know the challenges they have faced but aren’t sure how to communicate them in a way that resonates. Jessica works with nonprofits and organizations to train advocates in effective communication and storytelling to help them turn their experiences into compelling messages that can be confidently shared with lawmakers, stakeholders and the public.

Driving Policy Conversations Through Media

Healthcare policy discussions often lack the perspective of the people directly affected by them. Jessica writes articles, blogs and editorials, as well as contributes to podcast and television interviews that connect patient experiences with the policies shaping healthcare. By translating these complex issues into accessible, relatable narratives, she brings greater attention and urgency to policies that impact patients and the care they receive.

Delivering the Patient Perspective

Public conversations about care and policy often benefit from hearing directly from the people living through the system. Jessica speaks at conferences, organizational events and community gatherings about the patient perspective, the mindset required to manage complex medical environments and the role informed voices play in shaping better outcomes. Drawing from her experience as both a patient and an advocate, she connects lived experience with broader conversations about personal agency, informed participation and understanding complicated institutions.

Building Health Literacy in the Workplace

Insurance coverage and medical bills can feel confusing. Jessica works with companies and organizations to host seminars and workshops that help people build stronger health literacy and become more confident in understanding how healthcare works. Her sessions focus on making important information easier to interpret while giving employees the knowledge to approach healthcare conversations with greater insight. These programs help organizations support a workforce that feels better prepared to engage with the resources available to them.

Build Your Brand as an Advocate

 

Many advocates are doing meaningful work but struggle to clearly define their voice, message and presence in a way that others can recognize and trust. Without a strong personal brand, it can be difficult to gain visibility, connect with the right audiences or be taken seriously in policy and public conversations. Jessica works with advocates to shape how they show up, guides them in refining their message and positions their experience to build a presence that aligns with their goals. 

Work with Jessica to learn how to build a strong and credible presence as an advocate. Reach out to her info[at]feelforyourlife[dot]com.

Work with Jessica

Jessica welcomes opportunities to collaborate with nonprofits, companies and organizations that want to educate, engage and elevate patient voices. To collaborate with her, reach out at info[at]feelforyourlife[dot]com. 

Equipping Advocates to Speak

Patients and advocates often feel nervous about speaking to lawmakers. Many people know the challenges they have faced but aren’t sure how to communicate them in a way that resonates. Jessica works with nonprofits and organizations to train advocates in effective communication and storytelling to help them turn their experiences into compelling messages that can be confidently shared with lawmakers, stakeholders and the public.

Driving Policy Conversations Through Media

Healthcare policy discussions often lack the perspective of the people directly affected by them. Jessica writes articles, blogs and editorials, as well as contributes to podcast and television interviews that connect patient experiences with the policies shaping healthcare. By translating these complex issues into accessible, relatable narratives, she brings greater attention and urgency to policies that impact patients and the care they receive.

Delivering the Patient Perspective

Public conversations about care and policy often benefit from hearing directly from the people living through the system. Jessica speaks at conferences, organizational events and community gatherings about the patient perspective, the mindset required to manage complex medical environments and the role informed voices play in shaping better outcomes. Drawing from her experience as both a patient and an advocate, she connects lived experience with broader conversations about personal agency, informed participation and understanding complicated institutions.

Building Health Literacy in the Workplace

Insurance coverage and medical bills can feel confusing. Jessica works with companies and organizations to host seminars and workshops that help people build stronger health literacy and become more confident in understanding how healthcare works. Her sessions focus on making important information easier to interpret while giving employees the knowledge to approach healthcare conversations with greater insight. These programs help organizations support a workforce that feels better prepared to engage with the resources available to them.

Build Your Brand as an Advocate

 

Many advocates are doing meaningful work but struggle to clearly define their voice, message and presence in a way that others can recognize and trust. Without a strong personal brand, it can be difficult to gain visibility, connect with the right audiences or be taken seriously in policy and public conversations. Jessica works with advocates to shape how they show up, guides them in refining their message and positions their experience to build a presence that aligns with their goals. 

Work with Jessica to learn how to build a strong and credible presence as an advocate. Reach out to her info[at]feelforyourlife[dot]com.

Highlights of Jessica's Leadership + Impact
 

Editorial Influence in Local Healthcare Policy

Jessica authored a widely read editorial on Tennessee's Certificate of Need laws to advocate for expanded hospital access in her community.  This led to an invitation to speak before the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission in support of two proposed hospitals serving the region. The THFC voted to approve both hospitals' Certificate of Need applications. 

Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Jessica frequently travels to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal lawmakers and discuss issues including PBM reform, QALY score concerns, co-pay accumulator policies and step therapy practices, contributing to national conversations around transparency, affordability and accountability in healthcare.

Recognized Health App Innovation

Feel For Your Life was voted Best Health App by the Nashville Scene in 2023, recognizing the platform’s impact in helping women better understand breast health and early detection.

Ponce Law Hometown Hero Honoree

Jessica was recognized as a 2023 Hometown Hero by Ponce Law for her advocacy work and contributions to improving health awareness in her community.

National Breast Cancer Foundation Leadership Award

Jessica received the National Breast Cancer Foundation Leadership Award in 2023 in recognition of her advocacy efforts and commitment to supporting breast cancer patients and survivors.

Renaissance Marketing Group Mona Lisa Award

Jessica was selected as a Mona Lisa Award recipient by Renaissance Marketing Group, recognizing her creativity, leadership and impact through Feel For Your Life.

Connect + Collaborate

Organizations looking to bring a thoughtful patient perspective into their work can connect with Jessica to explore collaboration opportunities. For collaboration inquiries, please reach out to info[at]feelforyourlife[dot]com. 

Connect + Collaborate

Organizations looking to bring a thoughtful patient perspective into their work can connect with Jessica to explore collaboration opportunities. For collaboration inquiries, please reach out to info[at]feelforyourlife[dot]com.