PRESS RELEASE: Patient Empowerment Network Joins the National Health Council
A New Chapter in Patient Advocacy
We are thrilled to announce that Patient Empowerment Network (PEN) has become a member of the National Health Council (NHC), a leading organization dedicated to providing a united voice for people with chronic diseases and disabilities.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to empower patients and amplify their voices in healthcare. By joining the NHC, we are aligning ourselves with a diverse community of over 160 national health-related organizations and businesses, all working towards improving health outcomes for millions of Americans.
Randy Rutta, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Council, welcomed our organization, stating: “The National Health Council welcomes the Patient Empowerment Network (PEN) into our diverse community of members. PEN personifies the NHC motto of Putting Patients First™ and will bring a valuable perspective from the cancer community.”
Tracy Rode, Chief Executive Officer of Patient Empowerment Network, expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership: “Joining the National Health Council is a significant step forward in our mission to empower patients, their care partners, and healthcare providers. We are excited to work alongside other leading organizations to drive meaningful change in healthcare and improve patient outcomes across the country.”
This collaboration will enable us to:
- Expand our reach and impact in patient advocacy
- Contribute to shaping patient-centered health policies
- Share best practices and innovative approaches in patient empowerment
- Collaborate on initiatives that promote access to quality, affordable healthcare
As we embark on this new chapter, we remain committed to our core values of integrity, collaboration, and patient-centricity. We look forward to working alongside the NHC and its members to drive positive change in healthcare and improve the lives of those living with chronic diseases and disabilities.
Stay tuned for updates on our collaborative efforts and the exciting initiatives that will stem from this partnership. Together, we can create a healthcare system that truly puts patients first.
Marketing and External Affairs Director
Nicole Normandin, LMSW has worked with vulnerable populations in several capacities for over ten years. Most recently, Nicole served as the Executive Director for Stuff the Sleigh, a nonprofit organization that supports the psychosocial and emotional needs of pediatric cancer and hematology patients and families. Prior to this, she was a Clinical Social Worker at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers and as a Patient Resource Specialist with the American Cancer Society.
Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Social Work, both from the University of Texas at Austin. In May 2017, she completed the Rice University Glasscock School of Continuing Studies Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives Certificate program. She has extensive work volunteering and serving others, including time as the President of Student Hope, a pilot program through the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
What motivates Nicole is the ability to give cancer patients and caregivers a sense of hope despite the devastating circumstances around them. When Nicole’s father lost his 7-year battle to pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, her personal and professional passion for positively impacting the lives of cancer patients was reinforced.
Nicole grew up in South Texas but has spent the most of the last decade between Houston, TX and Austin, TX, where she currently lives with her husband Armando, who is an engineer and Development Manager, and their two dogs – a French Bulldog named Moose and a boxer named Hooch Merengue.
