Calliope (pronounced: kuh-LIE-oh-pee) Patient Advocates, LLC was founded in Connecticut in 2019 by Catherine Marshall.  

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After 15 years in leadership roles at a large pharmaceutical company, Catherine’s life took a dramatic shift as she embarked on a new venture, Calliope Patient Advocates®, an independent patient advocacy practice focused on the seniors and individuals with multiple chronic and complex medical conditions. She is driven by a passion to help patients not only get access to the healthcare to which they are entitled, but also to ensure they have a voice in their own care. Catherine is a Board Certified Patient Advocate, BCPA, holds a certificate in Patient Advocacy from UCLA, and is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®. 

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Catherine’s interest in becoming a patient advocate is directly influenced by experiences she witnessed with the lack of coordination in care of her younger brother, David, who suffered from several chronic conditions that required multiple hospitalizations and, over the course of 7 years, developed into many co-morbidities. She realized that the system of care in the US is not structured to provide holistic care to patients with complex and chronic conditions, but rather to treat symptoms and never the cause. Her brother was not on a path to recovery, but of gradual decline due to lack of proper care. Before his health took a sharp decline followed by his death in December 2019, Catherine had become a patient advocate for her brother. She will continue to carry out patient advocacy services to others in memory of her beloved brother. 

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The name, Calliope Patient Advocates®, and the lavender hummingbird logo were carefully chosen.  A calliope (in addition to being known as a Greek Muse) is a type of hummingbird. In Native American culture, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck and joy.* The herb, lavender, is historically known for healing powers.  “The amazing and abundant healing properties of lavender have been utilized for centuries. Lavender plants are believed to originate from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India. Indeed the history of humans using lavender for healing can be traced back over 2500 years.”** Among other nectar producing plants, hummingbirds are known to love lavender.  

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Catherine and her husband, Matthew, have successfully created a backyard landscape to attract hummingbirds starting with several small lavender bushes.  They believe the first of the tiny magical creatures to frequent their plants was a calliope, the smallest known of the hummingbird species. Year after year, the calliope returns, and more recently, several ruby throated hummingbirds common to New England have been welcome visitors.  Through the Spring and Summer months, Catherine and Matthew watch, with fascination, as these tiny birds feed on the plants and hummingbird feeders filled with homemade nectar!

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* https://wootandhammy.com/blogs/news/hummingbird-meaning-what-does-a-hummingbird-symbolize-spirit-animal-meaning

** https://spagoddess.com/blogs/spagoddess-wellness-blog/the-healing-properties-of-lavender

 

Disclosure Statement:  Certified Senior Advisors (CSAs)® have supplemented their individual professional licenses, credentials, and education with knowledge about aging and working with older adults. It is recommended that you verify the validity of any professional’s credentials with whom you conduct business. Be sure you completely understand what those licenses, credentials, and education signify. The CSA certification alone does not imply expertise in financial, health, or social matters. For more details visit: www.csa.us