This founder is combating medical gaslighting in women's health
A patient concierge and advocacy service created out of personal experience
Nicoletta Sozansky first experienced her own health issues in her early 30s, but, like many women, her symptoms were initially dismissed as anxiety or a viral infection.
“For many years I was tirelessly seeking care for my unexplained GI symptoms which at one point seemed to completely overtake my life and force me to almost quit my job,” she says.
“Facing inadequate care from over a dozen doctors, I turned to exhaustive medical research as my last hope to reclaim my health and life.”
After consulting multiple specialists, Nicoletta was finally diagnosed with a rare and complex condition called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
But it was later when her daughter was diagnosed in utero with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), that her start-up mission was finally sparked.
“I recognized an urgent need for compassionate patient advocacy in navigating the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system,” she continues.
“Understanding firsthand how physically and mentally draining misinformation, lack of support, and financial strain can be, I founded Healthcare Redefined in 2024 to address these challenges head-on for other patients.”
A helping hand for patients in need
Healthcare Redefined now offers concierge care, specializing in women’s health - helping clients to plan and prepare the best for their medical expenses so they can maximize the amount of benefits provided in their medical plan and minimize their out of pocket cost.
Nicoletta, now a Board-Certified Patient Advocate, supports patients nationwide from her base in New Jersey, helping women navigate systemic barriers to quality care.
“Often, patients are referred to a physician who may not be a true specialist in treating a particular condition, and sometimes, it can take a decade to assemble a medical team that not only reduces the burden of the illness but also provides a greater quality of life for patients,” she says.
“This is where the concierge care comes in – we strive to reduce the burden of research and administrative roadblocks for our clients by directing them to proper resources quickly and efficiently.”
Nicoletta has helped other moms who have faced difficult diagnoses during their pregnancy, as well as atients with chronic issues such as pelvic floor dysfunction, endometriosis and autoimmune conditions such as fibromyalgia. Her work might. involve matching patients with specialists, coordinating multidisciplinary care, helping women articulate concerns and ask the right questions.
“Most of all, I always strive for the best outcomes for my patients which could only be achieved by helping them assemble a results-driven medical team that will be with them every step of the way in the present and future in case they need to manage the condition long-term,” she says.
The growing field of patient advocacy in women’s health
While patient advocacy is not new, it continues to be a growing field and independent patient advocates like Nicoletta see a specific and increasing need for personalized guidance and support to help women navigate the healthcare system and fight for the care they deserve.
For women, the complexity of the healthcare system is compounded by medical gaslighting—a phenomenon where healthcare professionals trivialize or misinterpret patient complaints—and this has disproportionately affected women.
“Women who are often portrayed as emotional are still being treated and assessed by doctors differently than men. This situation can often result in medical gaslighting and what goes with it is delayed, improper, or no diagnosis at all which has devastating effects not only on women but also on entire families,” says Nicoletta.
“Amongst other factors, there’s an implicit bias that relates to underfunding the research on diseases that typically affect women, such as autoimmune conditions or endometriosis where it takes up to a decade to receive a proper diagnosis after seeing 10+physicians and still leaving 6 out of 10 women undiagnosed.”
A lifeline service
Healthcare Redefined and services like it arguably shouldn’t need to exist - particularly if barriers such as medical gaslighting can be removed. However, often they are more than just a response to gaps in the healthcare system, and can be a lifeline for women who have long been let down by it. For women who’ve spent years searching for answers, patient advocacy can help restore dignity, trust, and agency in a system that has too often failed them.