Becky Barnes
BSW, CHW, LMT
Patient Voices Matter
Becky Barnes
BSW, CHW, LMT
Patient Voices Matter
Advocate Location
Richmond , KY 40475
Specialty
Medical Guidance
Other Services
Insurance & Billing
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
Becky is passionate about empowering patients and their loved ones—especially in rural Appalachian communities—to navigate the complexities of healthcare with confidence and clarity. With over 15 years of experience in legislative advocacy and a deep personal connection to chronic illness and cancer care, she helps patients by providing:
Clear guidance on accessing healthcare and community resources
Practical advocacy coaching so patients and caregivers can speak up effectively
Education on patient rights and self-advocacy skills
Compassionate support focused on dignity and resilience
Training and mentoring for emerging patient advocates in rural areas
Through her leadership with the Patient Voices Matter Foundation, Becky is committed to making healthcare systems more responsive and patient-centered, ensuring no one faces their health journey alone.
Clear guidance on accessing healthcare and community resources
Practical advocacy coaching so patients and caregivers can speak up effectively
Education on patient rights and self-advocacy skills
Compassionate support focused on dignity and resilience
Training and mentoring for emerging patient advocates in rural areas
Through her leadership with the Patient Voices Matter Foundation, Becky is committed to making healthcare systems more responsive and patient-centered, ensuring no one faces their health journey alone.
Important Information About Me
- I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
- I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
- My geographical area of practice is Virtual
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
My sister Rachel was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at just 18. I stood by her through appointments and became her stem cell donor in 2004. She passed away the following year at only 22. Watching her fight and witnessing the cracks in the system lit a fire in me—I applied to nursing school with one goal: to become an oncology nurse and stand beside patients like her.
I was accepted. But during my final clinical semesters, I became dangerously ill. My condition—a rare autoimmune disease—was left undiagnosed for too long due to medical gaslighting. I nearly died. The dream of becoming a nurse ended there, but something deeper began.
I know what it’s like to be dismissed, misdiagnosed, and made to feel invisible in exam rooms. I also know how critical it is to have someone who can speak the language, ask the right questions, and advocate when you're too sick or scared to do it yourself.
I became a professional patient advocate because no one should have to fight alone—or in the dark.
With a background in nursing, oncology massage therapy, and community health work, I blend clinical insight with lived experience. I help patients and families understand diagnoses, navigate systems, and regain control of their healthcare journey.
In 2024, I founded the Patient Voices Matter Foundation to train and support rural patient advocates. I recently graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and was honored to be selected for the Vital Voices Visionaries Estée Lauder Cohort 9 in May 2025. This fall, I begin my Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Kentucky—continuing my mission to bridge social work, advocacy, and rural public health.
I don’t just believe in patient advocacy—I live it.
I was accepted. But during my final clinical semesters, I became dangerously ill. My condition—a rare autoimmune disease—was left undiagnosed for too long due to medical gaslighting. I nearly died. The dream of becoming a nurse ended there, but something deeper began.
I know what it’s like to be dismissed, misdiagnosed, and made to feel invisible in exam rooms. I also know how critical it is to have someone who can speak the language, ask the right questions, and advocate when you're too sick or scared to do it yourself.
I became a professional patient advocate because no one should have to fight alone—or in the dark.
With a background in nursing, oncology massage therapy, and community health work, I blend clinical insight with lived experience. I help patients and families understand diagnoses, navigate systems, and regain control of their healthcare journey.
In 2024, I founded the Patient Voices Matter Foundation to train and support rural patient advocates. I recently graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and was honored to be selected for the Vital Voices Visionaries Estée Lauder Cohort 9 in May 2025. This fall, I begin my Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Kentucky—continuing my mission to bridge social work, advocacy, and rural public health.
I don’t just believe in patient advocacy—I live it.
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