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Why I Packed the Parachute

My father, a respected physician, taught me that medicine is both science and compassion. When he became the patient, even his expertise couldn’t protect him from the fragmentation of the system. Watching that struggle reshaped my life’s purpose.

I founded Healthcare Parachute to ensure patients have the guidance, preparation, and voice they deserve. Today, I help clients and families navigate pain, complex diagnoses, and healthcare barriers with empathy and precision.

– Shiella Dowlatshahi, MSc, Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)

Shiella's Credentials
& Expertise

Education

MSc–Pain Research, Education, and Public Policy, Tufts School of Medicine

Certification

Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)

Background

Leadership roles at Acacia Pharma, Scios (J&J), Myogen (Gilead), and Cadence/Mallinckrodt

Specialties

Pain, Cardiovascular, GI Disorders, Complex Case Advocacy, Insurance Appeals, Acute and Chronic Disease, Inpatient Care, and Rare Disease

Blue Parachute
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David C. Liu, MD

Chief, Clinical Advisory Board

David C. Liu is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and serves as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He specializes in complex cardiac and aortic surgery, minimally invasive cardiac procedures, valve repair and replacement, and advanced cardiovascular care.  

 

Dr. Liu earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed his General Surgery residency at the Medical College of Ohio (now the University of Toledo College of Medicine), a research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and his Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship at Tufts University–New England Medical Center.  

 

As Chief of the Clinical Advisory Board for Healthcare Parachute, Dr. Liu provides strategic clinical insight and educational guidance in complex medical situations. His role includes helping patients and families better understand diagnoses, treatment options, evolving therapies, and relevant clinical research to support informed decision-making in collaboration with the treating medical team.

 

Dr. Liu serves in an advisory capacity only and does not direct medical treatment or establish physician-patient relationships through Healthcare Parachute.

Recognition & Affiliations

These recognitions reflect Shiella’s ongoing work in patient education. Her writing and talks give families and care teams clear, practical steps they can use right away.

Author, Pack Your Own Healthcare Parachute: A Physician's Death Through His Daughter's Eyes, 2023

Winner: Best Publication in Patient Advocacy, 2023​

Board Certified Patient Advocate-2023​

Author, Oxford University Press (2024) – 

The Emerging Role of Independent Patient Advocates

Board Member, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation-New England Chapter​

Board Member-Patient Advocacy Certification​

Member, National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC)​

Member, Greater National Advocates (GNA)​

Member, Massachusetts Health Care Advocates (MAHCA)​

Member, Alliance for Professional Healthcare Advocates (APHA)​

Member, PULSE Center for Patient Safety, Education, and Advocacy

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Philosophy

Patient-first advocacy that combines science, empathy, and strategy to deliver better outcomes and restore dignity.

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