• I am insured
• My geographical area of practice is Los Angeles based with nationwide clientele

The sudden onset of experiencing electrical shocks on the left side of my face in 2007 led to five unnecessary root canals and removal of a permanent tooth. In 2008, in chronic pain and acute distress, I sought a third opinion at UCLA's Orofacial Pain Clinic located within the UCLA School of Dentistry. Desperate and broken, I was immediately diagnosed with a rare cranial nerve disorder called Trigeminal Neuralgia (aka the Suicide Disease) which required corrective brain surgery to separate my left trigeminal nerve at my brain stem from a compressing artery that caused my nerve's protective coating (myelin sheath) to wear away. This resulted in electrical shocks, burning, aching, and shooting pain on the left side of my face that proved debilitating. With a correct diagnosis a proper plan of care was recommended (brain surgery, specifically microvascular decompression of my left trigeminal nerve.) My medical insurer denied services for my neurosurgeon, which I successfully appealed several months later in 2008. My neurosurgeon noted I was the only patient he ever had who won an insurance appeal and asked if I would assist his other patients. This is when I began to practice full-time as a patient advocate. No one should have to endure chronic pain due to misdiagnosis, or be denied insurance coverage for medically necessary care.