The Autoimmune Registry hosts a monthly webinar series bringing together leaders across patient advocacy communities. This month, we are honored to welcome Cori Woolf, Director of Patient Advocacy at Patient Health Alliance (PHA), where she leads the advocacy team and oversees strategy, program development, community engagement, and initiatives that support individuals and families affected by neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and other rare neuroimmune conditions.
Topics covered include:
Building peer support and creative wellness programs for rare disease communities
Addressing the mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of immunocompromised individuals post-COVID
Developing accessible mental health toolkits that complement medical treatment
Designing sustainable advocacy programs rooted in lived experience
Supporting individuals and families across the full spectrum of rare neuroimmune conditions
About the Speaker: Cori Woolf brings more than 25 years of patient-support experience, blending her background as a caregiver, rare disease advocacy leader, and former business owner with a deep commitment to equity, connection, and patient-centered care. She has led national and international programs supporting the rare disease community, including educational events, volunteer leadership development, peer mentoring initiatives, and wellness-centered programming. She is also a frequent guest speaker at national conferences, industry-sponsored events, and educational programs, known for her ability to moderate inclusive discussions that amplify the patient and caregiver perspective.
About PHA
The Patient Health Alliance is a nonprofit organization comprised of a coalition of patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, industry and beyond. It specializes in three areas that focus on neuromyelitis optica advocacy, education, and research. Its mission is to support a patient-centered approach to improving health and wellness through advocacy, education and research.
If you work in patient advocacy, clinical research, healthcare policy, or live with chronic illness, this conversation will provide meaningful insight into how patient-centered mental health support programs are built and sustained.