Overview

During this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Alan Balch, chief executive officer of Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation. Dr. Balch addresses the challenges and obstacles that patients face today when attempting to access and/or receive care in the U.S. healthcare system. In addition, Dr. Balch describes the Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation's important work in helping patients navigate a complex system to receive needed care. 
 

Alan Balch, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation

Dr. Balch is the Chief Executive Officer of Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation.

Dr. Balch has nearly fifteen years of executive leadership in the non-profit sector with an emphasis on consensus-building and collaboration. He has led numerous federal advocacy efforts on a range of issues both at the legislative and regulatory level over the years. He became the CEO of both PAF and NPAF in 2013. From 2006 – 2013, he served as the Vice President of the Preventive Health Partnership — a national health promotion collaboration between the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association. Prior to his work with the Preventive Health Partnership, Dr. Balch was the Executive Director of Friends of Cancer Research.

Dr. Balch has served on the Executive Board of the Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation since 2007. Dr. Balch also serves on numerous advisory boards and committees

He earned his PhD in environmental studies with a concentration in political economy in 2003 from the University of California, Santa Cruz; his master’s degree in environmental sciences in 1997 from the University of Texas in San Antonio; his bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in biology in 1994 from Trinity University in San Antonio.