Patient Advocate Profiles
Meet Dr. Mari Pantoja-Smith, DHSc, RN, CGNC
Dr. Mari Pantoja-Smith is a doctorate-prepared registered nurse and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. Over more than 15 years, she has supported individuals and families navigating complex medical conditions, and her background spans clinical care, digital health strategy, and care coordination. As a result, she brings both clinical depth and a systems-level view to…
Read MorePatient Advocate Profile: Meet Yvette Lyles
Yvette Lyles is a patient advocate and senior care consultant with Umbra Health Advocacy. She brings a blended background in healthcare advocacy and a deep dedication to supporting older adults, their caregivers, and families. Yvette Lyles’s story “My work is rooted in personal experience. I became an advocate long before I made it my profession.…
Read MoreMeet Patient Advocate: Manny Hill
Manny Hill is a Board-Certified Patient Advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy who specializes in complex and rare diseases, including cancer and genetic conditions. She brings a rare combination of deep technical training and real healthcare system leadership to families who are facing some of the most overwhelming moments in care. Manny Hill’s background Manny holds…
Read MoreMeet Ajala Clark, RN, CSA
Ajala Clark is a registered nurse, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. She has more than 30 years of nursing experience and focuses on supporting older adults and their caregivers. Ajala Clark’s nursing background Ajala’s nursing career spans acute care, emergency medicine, cardiovascular health, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and home healthcare. She…
Read MorePatient Advocate: Noel Harrington, MSN, RN, BCPA
Noel Harrington, MSN, RN, BCPA is an Umbra patient advocate and a registered nurse with more than 35 years of clinical experience. She supports older adults, people with complex medical needs, and the families who care for them, with particular depth in senior care, heart health, and care coordination. Noel Harrington’s story “My path to…
Read MoreAdvocate Spotlight: Dalia Cabrera
Dalia Cabrera is a patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy who specializes in health insurance and billing problems. She spent 17 years working inside the health insurance industry for Medicare, and she now uses that knowledge to help patients and families fight denials, understand their benefits, and get the care they are owed. Dalia Cabrera’s…
Read MorePatient Advocate Profile: Victoria de la Cruz, BSHA
Victoria de la Cruz is a patient advocate with more than 25 years of healthcare experience spanning clinical care, healthcare administration, and senior care coordination. As an Umbra advocate, she helps individuals and families of all ages navigate care transitions, coordinate services across providers, and make complex healthcare decisions with clarity and support. Victoria began…
Read MoreMeet Barbara Gaynor, RN, LNC, BCPA
Barbara Gaynor, RN, LNC, BCPA, is a registered nurse and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. She has more than 25 years of nursing experience across hospitals, long-term care, home health, hospice, and case management. Barbara supports patients and families as they navigate the healthcare system and make confident, informed decisions. She is also a…
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