On this episode of "Behind Diagnoses: Patients", a Peer Med Podcast  special series we hear from Ella Balasa. a patient advocate, consultant, and a person living with cystic fibrosis. Diagnosed at 18 months old, and having countless hospitalizations since being a child she’s never let it be her excuse. Having a biology background, she is an advocate for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections including phage therapy, as well as speaking publicly at conferences, meetings, and to companies about the value of patient voice in research.  She serves as a member of research committees with various organizations and is a director for the US Adult CF Association. She also has a passion for writing about her health experiences, distilling clinical information for patient communities, as well as introspectively writing about the hardships yet triumph that comes with living with a chronic illness. She has been published on MedPage Today, HuffPost, and Pulmonary Therapy Journal to name a few. Through opportunities working with healthcare organizations and sharing her journey through writing and speaking, she aims to affect the healthcare landscape to promote self-advocacy to patients and valuable insights to organizations. Be sure to subscribe to the Peer Med Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow the Peer  Med Podcast on Instagram @peermedpodcast for more patient stories, disease and inspiring eye-opening content! Follow Ella on Instagram: @ellabalasaadvocacy & @thisgirlella and visit her website: https://www.ellabalasa.com