Greater National Advocates helps patients and loved ones who don’t know where to turn when healthcare becomes overwhelming. Now, through PA360°, the nonprofit is extending that same commitment to the professionals on the frontlines, giving them a community of their own to share expertise, tackle complex challenges, support one another and discover new opportunities.
CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2026 — Independent Patient Advocates are often the people patients and loved ones turn to when the healthcare system becomes overwhelming. They help navigate difficult medical decisions, insurance disputes and countless other challenges. But who do advocates turn to when they need guidance themselves?
That’s the idea behind Patient Advocacy 360° (PA360°), a free online professional community created by Greater National Advocates (GNA). Built specifically for the growing field of Independent Patient Advocacy, PA360° brings professionals together to exchange expertise, tackle complex challenges, build relationships and discover opportunities that can help them succeed.
The initiative builds on a mission born from a devastating personal experience.
GNA founder L. Bradley Schwartz was taken to a local emergency room with a severe headache. A missed diagnosis of bacterial meningitis ultimately left him a quadruple amputee. His experience inspired him to establish a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring no one has to navigate healthcare alone.
Today, GNA, a 501(c)(3) public charity, provides free guidance through its Advocacy Support Center and helps patients and loved ones find Independent Patient Advocates who work on their behalf rather than for hospitals or insurance companies.
Its national directory features more than 1,000 patient advocate profiles. In 2025, GNA recorded 200,000 unique directory searches and facilitated more than 120,000 calls directly to advocates through its system.
“Independent patient advocates are often the people patients turn to when they don’t know what to do next,” said Schwartz, GNA’s founder and president. “But no advocate has every answer. PA360° gives them a place to turn to one another, share what they’ve learned and build the relationships that make their work stronger.”
A Professional Community With Real Opportunities
PA360° welcomes established and emerging independent advocates, healthcare professionals including nurses and social workers, and deeply knowledgeable patients who are exploring careers in patient advocacy.
Members can exchange expertise across specialties, discuss complex challenges, learn from colleagues, discover educational resources and industry events, and access exclusive professional offers. For those considering a career transition, the community provides an opportunity to connect with people already working in the field.
For GNA-vetted advocates with approved directory listings, private referral rooms offer access to potential client opportunities identified through GNA’s Advocacy Support Center, along with referrals shared by fellow advocates. Advocates can express interest in opportunities that match their expertise, while patients and loved ones retain the choice of whom to contact.
Built specifically for the advocacy profession, PA360° offers an alternative to general social networks: a dedicated community where members can exchange ideas, share challenges and collaborate with colleagues. From open professional discussions to private referral rooms for GNA-vetted advocates, PA360° creates a focused environment designed around the needs of advocacy professionals rather than the distractions of a general social media feed.
For advocates accustomed to helping everyone else, PA360° offers a place to find support of their own.
For advocacy professionals and those exploring the field: Join PA360° free at https://gnanow.org/pa360.html.
For patients and loved ones seeking healthcare guidance: Visit https://gnanow.org to connect with GNA’s free Advocacy Support Center or search its national directory of independent advocates.
About Greater National Advocates
Greater National Advocates is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to ensuring no one has to navigate healthcare alone. As America’s nonprofit gateway to Independent Patient Advocacy, GNA provides free guidance through its Advocacy Support Center and maintains a nationwide directory connecting patients and loved ones with Independent Patient Advocates.
Media Contact
Sofie Schwartz
Greater National Advocates
sofie@gnanow.org
888-400-4621
Media gallery
