Julia Maues, patient advocate

The Health Design Podcast

Julia Maués was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 while pregnant. Following the birth of a healthy baby boy, Julia did tests she couldn’t do while pregnant and discovered the cancer had spread to her brain, liver, and bones. After many treatment setbacks, her cancer began to respond to treatment. After adjusting to this new reality, she made it her mission to use this “bonus time” to make an impact in the lives of others dealing with cancer and consequently creating something positive out of a very tragic experience. She has found meaning and purpose in working with patients and researchers to make cancer research more patient-centered, innovative, and inclusive. Julia is a co-founder of GRASP, a program connecting researchers and patient advocates, and elevating patients as a critical voice in the research process as the experts in living with cancer. She’s also a member of a patient-led effort to shine a light on dosing for therapies given to metastatic breast cancer patients, therightdose.org. Lastly, Julia is very passionate about using her privilege as a white woman to work towards ending disparities for patients of color, especially Black women with breast cancer. She is a founding member of the #InclusionPledge and has pledged to not participate in advocacy initiatives, conferences, panels, projects, that don’t include the perspective of patients of color.