Patients living with IBD have long faced and understood the importance of staying strong in the face of difficult circumstances. On the latest episode of The Scope with Dr. K, Dr. Lawrence Kosinski and Lilly Stairs discuss empowering patients to advocate for themselves, and the resilience of people living with chronic illnesses.

Stairs is the Founder & Principal of Patient Authentic, which helps healthcare companies authentically engage with patients to drive meaningful business outcomes, brand awareness, and product adoption. She also serves as the Vice Chair Board of Directors for the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA.)

Stairs has lived with three chronic illnesses since the age of 19, which motivated her to become a patient advocate.

“In everything I do, I want to empower patients,” Stairs said. “I work to connect the dots so that the companies keep the patient at the center.”

The podcast, which airs on HealthcareNOW Radio, focuses on Stairs’ own personal journey as a patient, navigating a messy healthcare system, and helping patients understand how they can take the reins in their own treatment.

“It’s important [as a patient] that you advocate for yourself, that you ask questions, that you do your own research, and bring that to your physician,” Stairs said.

“Don’t settle. Don’t accept a treatment plan if it’s not working for you; keep pushing for more and better. We should always be challenging the status quo.”