We’re proud to be
The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates
Founded in 2009, the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (APHA) is the largest and most extensive professional and support organization for private, independent health and patient advocates and care managers.
APHA’s goal is to help advocates and aspiring advocates start and grow successful practices, to help them maximize their reach, and therefore improve patient outcomes. Many people with the very best advocacy skills don’t always have the necessary business skills which are vital to that success. Others may have deep healthcare experience but are unsure how to translate their expertise into advocacy skills. We help create the balance between advocacy and business, helping people turn passion into purpose and professional practice.
APHA provides these services to support its members:
- Professional development
- Education and training
- Networking and community, via live member events and online discussion forums
- Marketing and client acquisition support, including a listing in the Umbra Health Advocacy Directory (for those who meet our criteria)
- Tools and resources
- Contracts and forms
- Best Practices
- Code of Conduct
- BCPA certification exam preparation resources and study groups
- Media opportunities
- Speakers Bureau
- Access to medical experts and consultants
- Special Interest Groups (e.g., Medical Billing and Claims, Eldercare and Solo Seniors, others)
- Course discounts for learning opportunities at sister-site PracticeUP! Online
…and much more
Meet Our Team
Deb Gordon, MBA, BCPA
Director, Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (APHA)
Founder and CEO, Umbra Health Advocacy
Deb Gordon is a seasoned health care executive dedicated to helping consumers make sense of the health care system. Deb previously served as the CEO of a technology firm serving community-based health care providers and as chief marketing officer for a top-ranked Massachusetts health plan. She is the author of The Health Care Consumer’s Manifesto: How to Get the Most for Your Money (Praeger 2020) and a contributor at Forbes.com and HealthyWomen. Her work has appeared in the Harvard Business Review blog, USA Today, The Hill, JAMA Network Open, and the Journal of Participatory Medicine, among others. Deb has been recognized as an Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow, an Eisenhower Fellow, and a Boston Business Journal 40-under-40 honoree. Deb volunteers with the MIT Legatum Center for Entrepreneurship and Development and MIT’s start-up accelerator. Deb earned a BA in bioethics from Brown University and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. Deb lives in the Boston area.
Claire Pickering, BCPA, Membership Director
With extensive experience in health promotion and public health communications, Claire is thrilled to continue supporting access to quality, affordable healthcare. Claire manages a variety of member-facing initiatives at APHA, including our regular live sessions, courses and trainings, and other educational programming.
Katelyn Austin, CHW, Membership Coordinator
Katelyn helps ensure a seamless experience for our members by managing Directory listings at our Umbra Health Advocacy Directory, assisting with member inquiries, and handling backend operations. Katelyn keeps things running smoothly so our advocates can focus on their important work. If you have any questions or need support, she is here to help!