1. How did you become a patient and workplace advocate?

I’d worked as a benefits lawyer (which included compensation, health and welfare plans and employment arrangements), so I knew some about the rules governing the health space and the workplace. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and it was then that I saw up close that even with coverage and relative security, access to care, information and seamless coverage for women are never a given. I wanted to use what I learned to help women navigate these complicated waters at a time when extra-medical stress and complexity was the last thing they needed.

2. After 25 years in employee benefits and healthcare advocacy, why write a book about women’s health now?

A few reasons: one is I’ve seen enough to understand the landscape deeply. I know how things change, improve and degrade. Another is that the American cultural landscape has become so siloed and tense and women’s rights to make decisions about their own bodies hang in the balance. Our healthcare system is so complicated. It’s not necessarily about what’s best for women’s health, especially women of color and economically marginalized women. I want to spread useful learning and help as many women as I can and it feels like the conversation is finally happening, so I’m adding my two cents. 

3. How do you think about holistic or whole-person care in the context of women’s health - from cancer to day to day health and wellness?

Holistic care is the way forward in my opinion. There’s no such thing as a health journey that doesn’t involve mental health, overall wellness and attention to sleep, nutrition and exercise. These things make a difference. I don’t think that whether something is covered by traditional health insurance should govern whether it is considered a necessary aspect of women’s health. 

4. How does benefits technology play a part in bridging health equity gaps?

The hope, which I think is achievable, is that tech-enabled solutions have a better chance of making their way to a wider group of beneficiaries. If the pathway to access is smoother, simpler and more affordable, this should absolutely play a role in bridging gaps in health equity. Whether it’s an app, a mobile solution that makes it easier for people who are unable to commute for care they need or other creative ways of improving access.

5. What was your favorite Fijoya user experience and why?

For me, the experience of finding fitness equipment that I can travel with stood out. It made me feel like my benefits were mine to use as I chose, with my own concerns in mind. Something about receiving a specific item that worked for my lifestyle and goals that was included in my benefit along with the other options brought home for me what an excellent workplace enhancement Fijoya can be. It was quick and easy and I’m using what I ordered.

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Rebecca Bloom is a patient and workplace advocate with a 25-year history in the field. Her personal experiences with breast cancer within her family, coupled with her high-risk status and extensive personal medical journey, have deeply influenced her professional path. Educated at Yale and NYU School of Law, Rebecca is a former workplace and benefits attorney. She has significantly impacted many through her work at Bay Area Cancer Connections in Silicon Valley, where she has assisted thousands of women over the past 25 years. Rebecca co-authored "Breast Cancer in The Workplace," a publication for California employers by the Northern California Cancer Center, and was a consulting editor for "Cancer in the Workplace" by the Cancer Prevention Institute. Her professional and personal experiences uniquely qualify her to advocate for improved patient and employee benefits. Her upcoming book "When Women Get Sick" shows women and their supporters how to maximize coverage, benefits and security and minimize stress, fear and confusion as they navigate illness