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
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) –
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
