Your Advocate
Sharon Gleason, RN, BSN, BCPA
Founder, Patient Advocate Solutions LLC
With nearly five decades of experience in healthcare, Sharon Gleason is a seasoned registered nurse and board-certified patient advocate who has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between medical systems and the people they serve. Her diverse background spans perioperative nursing, discharge planning, healthcare education, and executive leadership—uniquely positioning her to guide patients and families through today’s complex healthcare landscape.
Sharon’s career has included roles in surgical centers, trauma hospitals, rehabilitation units, and correctional health services. She has served as a discharge planner, PACU/pre-op nurse, operating room clinician, and education coordinator, all while mentoring teams and shaping policies across multiple healthcare systems.
Her firsthand experiences witnessing patients fall through the cracks—despite well-meaning providers—led her to found Patient Advocate Solutions LLC. Sharon’s advocacy work goes beyond individual cases; she is committed to driving systemic improvements and influencing healthcare policy at a national level.
Compassionate, sharp, and deeply committed, Sharon brings a rare blend of clinical insight, leadership, and heart to every interaction. Her mission is simple: ensure no patient feels alone, unseen, or confused in their time of need.
Why I Became a Patient Advocate
With nearly 50 years of experience in healthcare, I’ve seen firsthand how even the most well-meaning providers can unintentionally let patients slip through the cracks. Most healthcare professionals deeply care—but today’s medical system is complex, fast-paced, and often overwhelming for everyone involved: providers, families, and especially patients.
When time and resources are stretched thin, people can feel lost, overlooked, or underserved. That growing gap in care is what inspired me to become a patient advocate.
One moment that solidified this calling was my experience with Mr. Johnson, a stroke survivor discharged from the hospital just five days after his event. He was paralyzed on his right side, sent home with a walker, a bag of medications, and a dense 60-page discharge packet.
When I visited him two days later, I immediately saw red flags. He had been given the wrong type of walker. His medications were untouched—he didn’t understand what they were for. No one had walked him through the next steps for his recovery or ensured he had the support to manage even the basics of daily living.
Most alarming of all? His critical insulin sliding scale instructions were buried five pages deep in the discharge paperwork. The hospital couldn't email them, so I made a two-hour round trip to retrieve the correct documentation myself.
Unfortunately, this kind of situation is far too common. But Mr. Johnson’s case was the turning point for me. It made clear that advocacy isn’t just about vulnerable patients—it’s also about supporting the overburdened healthcare workers who are doing their best in a broken system.
That experience reaffirmed the importance of patient advocacy. It’s not just about equipment or paperwork. It’s about making sure people understand their care, feel empowered to ask questions, and are not left to navigate complex medical decisions alone
Sharon Gleason RN, BSN, BCPA
