Matthew Zachary

Matthew Zachary Worldwide
Matthew

Matthew Zachary

Matthew Zachary Worldwide
Advocate Location
New York , NY 10001
Specialty
Survivor Support
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
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*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
I amplify patient and caregiver voices by fostering authentic storytelling, advocating for systemic change, and creating platforms that inspire, educate, and empower them to navigate healthcare with confidence and dignity. I am a convener who builds community, connects dots, and creates movements.
Important Information About Me
  • I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
  • I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
  • I am insured
  • My geographical area of practice is Global
My Survivor Support Advocacy Qualifications
I am a survivor of Brain cancer
People Magazine once called me 'The People's Voice in Healthcare,' which feels both humbling and a bit surreal. I’m a 28-year brain cancer survivor who stumbled into advocacy through my own journey. What began as personal adversity turned into something much bigger than I could have ever imagined—a global movement to give a voice to young adult cancer patients who had been overlooked for far too long.

In 2007, I founded Stupid Cancer and helped launch the Young Adult Cancer Movement. Along the way, I created The Stupid Cancer Show, a healthcare talk radio show that no one asked for but somehow worked, blazing a trail for conversations that needed to happen.

These days, I host Out of Patients, a Top 10 podcast (another pinch-me moment) and produced The Cancer Mavericks, a documentary celebrating the untold stories of cancer advocacy pioneers.

As Principal of Matthew Zachary Worldwide, I’m privileged to lead a consultancy that champions bold, empathy-driven strategies to amplify patient voices and challenge the norms of healthcare. My team and I work to prove that storytelling, when done authentically, can drive real change for patients and organizations alike.

At the end of the day, I’m just a guy with a Gen X edge and a sharp wit, hoping to inspire others to keep it real, tell their stories, and make some noise for what matters.
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
My patient advocate story began 29 years ago when I was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at 21, just as my life was taking off. The experience thrust me into the brokenness of the healthcare system, where young adult patients were often invisible. Surviving cancer wasn’t just about beating the disease—it became a calling to challenge the status quo and demand better for others.

I founded Stupid Cancer to shine a light on the forgotten young adult cancer community, giving them a voice and a seat at the table. Over the years, I’ve embraced storytelling as my superpower, creating platforms like The Stupid Cancer Show, Out of Patients, and The Cancer Mavericks to empower patients, educate the public, and advocate for change. My journey has been about turning personal adversity into action—leveraging wit, grit, and a refusal to accept mediocrity in healthcare to fight for dignity, transparency, and humanity for patients and their loved ones.
Address Line 2 (if applicable)
711
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Formal Education
Binghamton University, B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies (Comp Sci, Music, Digital Media), 1996
Faith Experience
  • Judaism
Additional Skills
Authentic Storytelling: Ability to craft narratives that resonate deeply with patients, caregivers, and industry leaders, blending humor, empathy, and raw honesty.

Creative Disruption: Proven track record of challenging norms in healthcare with innovative, empathy-driven strategies that inspire change.

Network Builder: Unmatched access to a wide array of stakeholders across life sciences, advocacy, media, and policy, fostering collaboration and impactful partnerships.

Visionary Leadership: Founding and scaling movements like Stupid Cancer and pioneering platforms that redefine how patient advocacy intersects with healthcare systems.

Media Expertise: Host of a Top 10 healthcare podcast and producer of award-winning content, showcasing the power of lived experiences.

Patient-Centric Consulting: Guiding organizations to align with patient needs and values, creating campaigns and strategies that elevate trust and engagement.

Gen X Edge: A unique ability to combine cultural wit and nostalgia with forward-thinking approaches to connect across generations.
Professional Affiliations
N/A