Julia Fox Garrison
Stroke Survivor, Author, Julia Fox Garrison Was Told She’d Never Get Out Of A Wheelchair, Yet Taught Herself To Walk Again, And In The Process, Taught Others To Have Faith In Themselves.
Author Julia Fox Garrison is more than a survivor but evangelizes for humanness in medicine as well as in our relationships. She speaks to patient advocacy groups, women’s conferences, businesses and community groups about overcoming, transforming and empowering.
She wrote Don’t Leave Me This Way (or when I get back on my feet you’ll be sorry). A memoir that chronicles her struggle to regain control over her life and her body following a massive hemorrhage resulting in a paralyzing stroke.
Julia had been a successful software customer support manager and was rising in her career when she suffered her injury. She learned to rediscover and reinvent herself as a motivational speaker, author, and healthcare advocate.
Healthcare Keynote
My Journey on the Gurney: Perspective Inside the Bed Rails
Julia has been hospitalized so many times she likes to say she has earned a PHD (Patient Healthcare Discoveries)–a blueprint for how not to let the system dictate the direction, pace, and objectives of one’s recovery. As a long-term patient, Julia has intimate knowledge of the healthcare system and how it works. Her perspective from inside the bed rails informs her insights on what leads to better-quality healthcare and improved patient experience. Her presentations have been widely acclaimed by many healthcare organizations, including nurses, doctors, case management, social workers, healthcare administrators, pharmaceuticals, as well as occupational and physical therapy and speech therapy conferences.
Talking Points
- Integrate humanity into the treatment will shape better patient experiences and outcomes
- Improving relationships through communication that connects and humanizes vs. alienates and dehumanizes
- Power of time, plateaus, and word choice
- Person-centered care avoids labels and percentages
- Importance of positive attitude and humor in overcoming adversity
- Patient is the nucleus but loved ones must be included in the scope of the care
- Resiliency is essential on both sides of the bed rails
- Goal setting: bridging the path from care-provider to self-determined living
- Nurture teamwork not personal egos
- Preserving and maintaining dignity
- Person focus vs. illness focus delivers better recovery results
- Synchronize the medical treatment with the human spirit
Leadership Keynote
Overcoming Adversity with Attitude, Choice, and Purpose
Leaders must embrace openness and honesty in dealing with customers and employees. Treat people with respect and compassion. Listen to their point of view. Encourage a culture of dialog and exchange. It will pay dividends far beyond the bottom line. When speaking to leaders at corporate and professional conferences, Julia emphasizes the importance of effective communication, passion and compassion in effective leaders. She makes her case with gut-wrenching honesty, peppered with irreverent humor.
Talking Points
- Effective communication creates connections
- A manager is the fulcrum of a team
- Mistakes are part of the process to success
- Kindness pays dividends; lack of kindness leads to costly loss of business
- Success occurs when loyalty to a common cause develops
Keynote for Everyone
emPOWer U
Julia presents to communities, faith-based groups, and women’s symposiums where she highlights the importance of tapping into inner strength, making positive choices, and finding purpose. Through her own adversity she earned a unique PHD (Personal Happiness Discoveries) which she shares in the presentation entitled:
emPOWer U–Strategies to a Better YOU!
Talking Points
- Live your life’s purpose on PURPOSE
- Self-talk is an inside job
- Say Goodbye to embarrassment
- Sustain happiness through habit
- Overcome with resilience & attitude
- Maintain Integrity/Preserve Dignity
- Intuition that Informs
- Exercise forgiveness
- Practice gratitude
- Be a champion of your life
“Julia is an outstanding speaker…she is passionate, funny, engaging, energizing and really challenges the audience to think differently about healthcare.”
Northeast Hospital Corp.,Vice President, Human Resources and Development
”Folks are still talking about it … I’ve even noticed a developing theme around here of people saying stuff like … I’m not sure that can be done … yet. Which is totally awesome!”
President of Highliner International Foods
“I’ve heard nothing but exceptional and positive feedback on Julia from sponsors and individuals… Everyone felt inspired, motivated, and thoroughly enjoyed Julia’s personality. She’s witty, fun, honest, and quite humorous! I’d recommend her for any event.”
Events Director, AHA Greater Midwest Affiliate