by Juan Acosta | Aug 13, 2020 | Gutsy Gathering
Did you attend our Gutsy Gathering meeting in July? It was a fun-filled, yet informative meeting for ostomates, care takers, and for those preparing for surgery. Our incredible WOC nurses on the 11 Health Nursing team took the stage as they shared a special...
11 Health Patient Coach
Hi, I’m Katie! I have Crohn’s disease and an ileostomy. I’m a professional writer and editor in addition to my role as a Patient Coach. I have been training Martial Arts for about 15 years. I have taught kids self-defense and Capoeira. I am a writer and especially love to write poetry. I became a Patient Coach to share my experiences with others and help guide and encourage them as they adapt to life with an ostomy or J-pouch. The Patient Coach program offers a unique and positive approach to ensuring that patients do not feel alone as they recover. I believe this is invaluable, and I am grateful to be part of this process.
11 Health Nurse
Hi, I’m Charlotte! I have an ileostomy due to Crohn’s disease. I enjoy creative writing and blogging. I also enjoy creating powerpoint presentations and public speaking/teaching. I’m a Patient Coach because it allows me to make something positive out of this awful disease. I can use my experiences to give back! My biggest tip for new ostomates is to learn about your body in relation to your diagnosis, not the other way around. Knowledge is power, the more you can learn about yourself, the more information your care team will have at their disposal to be able to treat you in the best manner.
Chief Medical Officer & Product Architect
Dr Fearn has over 15 years’ experience as a physician and a gastroenterologist in the English National Health Service, He has advanced training in intestinal failure, ostomy care and inflammatory bowel disease.
A graduate of the University of Leeds School of Medicine, Dr Fearn undertook his postgraduate gastroenterology and endoscopy training in London and Cambridge, England. He underwent advanced fellowship training in nutrition, intestinal failure and intestinal transplant at St Mark’s and Addenbrooke’s Hospitals which involved adolescent and transitional care.
A strong advocate for innovation and the use of technology in healthcare Dr Fearn became Medical Director of 11 Health and technology in 2016, a company developing smart products and patient centered care models for ostomates.
Regional Sales Account Manager and 11 Health Patient Coach
Hi, I’m Rena! I have Ulcerative Colitis and an ileostomy. In addition to being a Patient Coach, I’m a licensed acupuncturist in private practice. I am a cat lover, I used to work as a graphic designer and I love to cook and bake. I’m thrilled that my ostomy hasn’t kept me from going on adventures to places like Hawaii and Switzerland. Coaching other ostomy patients brings me a lot of joy. I have learned a lot throughout my journey with an ostomy and it is very gratifying to be able to pass on my knowledge to other patients. My secret tip for new ostomates is a good pair of high waisted underwear will get you comfortable wearing just about anything with an ostomy. I see my work as a patient coach as an extension of my work as an acupuncturist. However, instead of using needles I am using my words as medicine.
Regional Sales Account Manager and 11 Health Patient Coach
Hi, I’m Danielle! I have a permanent ileostomy from Ulcerative Colitis. Something about me? I love cheese! I also am an avid traveler and my favorite cities are New Orleans and Savannah, Georgia. I’m involved in a lot of advocacy and speaking engagements related to IBD and ostomies with my best friend. I am a Patient Coach because my IBD/ostomy journey has been long and educational. I’m happy to be able to use my knowledge and experiences to help other people who have or will have an ostomy. We are all in this together. That is why I’m honored to be a Patient Coach! One of my favorite things to tell new ostomates is don’t compare your journey to the journey of others.
11 Health UX/UI Designer
Hello, I’m Alex Stapleton, the UI/UX Designer for 11 Health & Technologies. Based near Los Angeles, CA, I help companies turn their complex ideas into usable mobile apps and web applications.
I have a Master’s in User Experience Design and a background in fine arts and computer science. This allows me to follow the logic of developers while still providing an element of creativity to my work. My design style follows a modified Lean UX approach (think, make, check) that considers both the end-user and the business when coming up with possible solutions. I have found this to be a useful approach in a Startup setting where time and resources are limited.
Outside of the office, you’ll find me stitching up a new leather project, hiking in the nearby mountains, or kicking my way through a martial arts form.
11 Health Patient Coach
Hi, I’m Sierra! I have ulcerative colitis and an ileostomy. I’m an arts and crafts enthusiast, gardening addict, cooking connoisseur, avid camper, and a gamer aficionado. My best advice for new ostomates is to involve yourself in the ostomy community to save yourself from learning the hard way. Learning from the people that came before you is a great way to set yourself up for success and have a smoother transition into your new normalcy. I’m a Patient Coach because I know that if I had a Patient Coach to guide me when I was starting out, I wouldn’t have had to learn so many hard lessons. I want this generation of ostomates to be educated and supported in a way my generation never was. No more isolation, fear, and ignorance.
11 Health Patient Coach
Hi, I’m Megan! I have Crohn’s disease and an ileostomy. I love reading. The joy of reading books started during my second major surgery in middle school. I like the outdoors. This may involve bird watching, walking, fishing, etc. I think new ostomates can benefit from reaching out to others for help or just someone to talk to who can empathize. I am a Patient Coach because I want to help others like me and have the help or simply a listening ear from someone that has been in a similar situation. This is a program that my parents I could have benefited from many years ago. It is a great program where you can provide personalized, empathetic care.
11 Health Clinical Nursing Director
Hi, I’m Brent! I live in Los Angeles, California. My primary role is as a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse where I work with newborns up to young adult populations. I love being able to connect with patients and their families as they navigate through life with a new ostomy and helping them overcome physical and emotional barriers to this new change. In addition to the work with patients and families, I enjoy serving on internal committees with a focus on developing new ideas and technology to enhance the patient experience along the healthcare continuum. This journey is naturally what drew me in to 11Health and their mission. In my spare time, I enjoy taking my dog to the beach, hiking, volunteering, accidentally destroying baking recipes by adding too much flour, and appreciating a good Netflix docuseries binge.
11 Health Nurse
Hi, I’m Lindsey! I live outside of Cleveland, Ohio, where I have worked as a registered nurse for fourteen years. My previous career as a Paramedic brought me to the Intensive Care Unit and Observation Unit early on in nursing. I soon transitioned to Surgical Oncology, where I specialized in head and neck, urology, and gastrointestinal post-operative patient care. It was here that I began my work with both new and old ostomates with colorectal cancer and IBD. I have always had a passion for patient education and improving patient experiences and outcomes. Over the years, I have served as a hospital safety coach, worked to change policies, co-investigated research, and acted as a change agent throughout the hospital. While working on my master’s in nursing education, I worked as a Clinical Nursing Instructor and recently worked as a Quality Improvement Nurse. I enjoy hiking, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family.