Coalition Members
member OrganizatioN
American Medical Student Association
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. It is a student-governed, national organization representing 35,000 future physicians, whose concern is preserving the integrity of patient care. AMSA strongly supports access to quality health care, with treatments based on meaningful clinical trial data measuring outcomes that patients care about, such as improved health and quality of life.
American Medical Women's Association
AMWA empowers women to lead in improving health for all within a model that reflects the unique perspective of women. Membership is comprised of physicians, residents, medical students, and health care professionals. The oldest multispecialty organization dedicated to advancing women in medicine and improving women’s health, AMWA functions at the local, national, and international level.
Annie Appleseed Project
Annie Appleseed Project provides information on cancer risk reduction, recurrence reduction, ways to reduce toxicities from conventional treatment (Integrative oncology) and alternative medicine from the patient perspective.
Advocating Safety In Healthcare E-Sister
ASHES (Advocating Safety in Healthcare E-Sisters) educates and informs women and men about the importance of researching any prescription drug or medical device, and advocates for help to those who have been harmed and to improve the U.S. drug and device approval processes. The nonprofit organization grew from an informal support and advocacy group for women harmed by Essure, a permanent birth control device.
Association for Medical ethics
The Association for Medical Ethics (AME) consists of physicians from every specialty of medicine. The purpose of the Association is to promote patient care and good, evidence-based medicine.
Breast Cancer Action
Breast Cancer Action (BCAction) is a national, feminist grassroots education and advocacy organization working to end the breast cancer epidemic, which is a public health crisis and a social justice issue. BCAction advocates for systemic change and provides information to anyone who needs it via a free information and referral service, webinars, and more.
Breast Cancer Consortium
The Breast Cancer Consortium (BCC) is an independent, international nonprofit organization aimed at deepening understanding of the social, cultural, and system-wide factors affecting breast cancer. BCC promotes research and development in the social sciences and humanities and uses evidence-based models to inform and improve the breast cancer paradigm.
Breast Implant Safety Alliance
Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA Nonprofit) is a 501(c)(3) organization created by women. The mission of BISA Nonprofit is to raise awareness, optimize outcomes and ensure informed consent for patients considering breast implant surgery. BISA Nonprofit empowers patients and works collaboratively with all stakeholders including healthcare providers, regulators and legislators, to support systems of education and accountability that promote patient safety.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund
Helps patients, policy makers, and health professionals prevent cancer and improve treatments for cancer through the use of evidence-based policies, programs, and treatments. It is the major program of the National Center for Health Research.
Connecticut Center for Patient safety
An independent nonprofit organization that works to promote patient safety; improve the quality of health care, and protect the rights of patients.
Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Federation of America is an association of nearly 300 nonprofit consumer organizations that was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy and education.
DES action USA
DES Action USA identifies, educates, empowers and advocates for DES-exposed families. DES was the first synthetic estrogen and first endocrine disruptor. It was given to millions of pregnant women in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. It caused increased breast cancer rates for the mothers. Prenatal exposure is associated with reproductive cancers, infertility and structural changes in the reproductive tract for both DES daughters and sons. Research continues to find ongoing damage to the second generation and now is finding damage to the grandchildren.
Doctors for America
Promotes corporate and government accountability by protecting whistleblowers, advancing occupational free speech, and empowering citizen activists.
Generation Patient
Generation Patient is the only organization both led by and serving young adults with chronic and rare health conditions. By focusing on peer support, advocacy, and access to educational information, Generation Patient works to ensure that young adults with chronic conditions have the opportunities and resources to thrive.
Government Accountability Project
An independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. CU publishes the popular magazine Consumer Reports, and CU’s staff works with the organization’s more than 600,000 online activists to protect consumer interests.
I-MAK
I-MAK is a nonprofit organization working to address structural inequities in how medicines are developed and distributed. Their mission is to build a more just and equitable medicine system for all.
Institute for Ethics and Emerging technology
The IEET’s mission is to be a center for voices arguing for a responsible, constructive, ethical approach to the most powerful emerging technologies. We believe that technological progress can be a catalyst for positive human development so long as we ensure that technologies are safe and equitably distributed. We call this a “technoprogressive” orientation.
Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
The Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health is based at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University and publishes the peer-reviewed journal Women's Health Issues. Our mission is to identify and study aspects of healthcare and public health, including legal and policy issues, that affect women’s health at different life stages; to foster awareness of and facilitate dialogue around issues that affect women’s health; and to promote interdisciplinary research, coordination, and information dissemination.
Medical Device Problems
Born out of The Bleeding Edge documentary, Medical Device Problems is a place for patients and advocates harmed by medical devices to receive support and form a united coalition for change. Our goal is to improve the safety and efficacy of all medical devices by pushing for more rigorous approval processes and increased post-market surveillance. We invite prospective patients and the general public to use our website as a resource to make better-informed decisions regarding their health when considering an implantable medical device.
MedShadow
MedShadow is a social media based nonprofit educating the public that all medicines have side effects and many have long-term effects. Most drugs have not been studied long enough to know what all the side effects might be. We gather information on what is known so people can balance the benefits against the risks in order to work with their doctors to determine the best health care decisions for themselves. MedShadow does not accept pharmaceutical or health insurance support.
MISSD
MISSD is a unique non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the memory of Stewart Dolin and other victims of medication-induced suicide and akathisia by raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of akathisia. Akathisia is a disorder, induced by SSRI medications, which can cause a person to experience such intense inner restlessness that the sufferer is driven to violence and/or suicide.
Mothers Against Medical Error
Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME) is composed of patient safety advocates supporting patient's rights and healthcare quality improvement.
MRSA Survivors Network
MRSA Survivors Network has been the key catalyst for change on an international and national front with its groundbreaking crusade and mission to stop MRSA deaths and infections. MSN was the first organization to initiate and pass mandated screening and public reporting legislation in the U.S. (Illinois) and worked with other advocates in other states that followed her lead.
National Center for Health Research
A nonprofit research and education organization that is dedicated to improving the health and safety of adults and children by using research findings to improve policies, programs, and evidence-based medical treatments.
National Consumers League
Protects and promotes social and economic justice for consumers. NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer’s perspective on concerns including food safety and medication information.
National Women's Health Network
A nonprofit advocacy organization that works to improve the health of all women by developing and promoting a critical analysis of health issues in order to affect policy and support consumer decision-making. The Network aspires to a health care system that reflects the needs of diverse women.
Not Putting on a Shirt
Not Putting on a Shirt is a 501(c)(3) patient advocacy nonprofit promoting an optimal standard of care for patients going flat after mastectomy (aesthetic flat closure, or AFC). NPOAS provides education, tools, and peer support to empower patients and educate medical providers, supports research on AFC, and conducts institutional advocacy to improve outcomes for patients.
Our Bodies Ourselves
Our Bodies Ourselves (OBOS) is a nonprofit, public interest women’s health education, advocacy, and consulting organization that provides accessible, research-based information about women’s health and sexuality. OBOS advances health and human rights within a framework of values shaped by women’s voices and a commitment to self-determination and equality.
Patient Safety Action Network
PSAN is a coalition of individuals and organizations consisting of patients who have been medically harmed, their loved ones, and concerned patient safety advocates.
SCAD Alliance
SCAD Alliance is the leader in advancing the science of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) through improved knowledge and cooperation among health care professionals, patients and their families. We pursue this mission by educating key audiences and fostering unique, interdisciplinary research collaborations.
The Society for Patient centered orthopedics
The Society for Patient Centered Orthopedics is a group of orthopedic surgeons dedicated to placing patient interests first and foremost within the American healthcare system. We understand that the concerns and problems of our patients are the raison d’etre of our profession and must take precedence over our professional desires. We advocate for policies that improve the patient experience and increase the quality and value of American healthcare. Our goal is a system that is patient centered and provides care that is both effective and meaningful to patients.
The TMJ Association
A patient advocacy organization whose mission is to improve the quality of healthcare and lives of everyone affected by temporomandibular disorders (TMJD).
Union of Concerned Scientists
Now an alliance of 400,000 citizens and scientists, the Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines
Our Mission is simple but powerful: we work to promote access to medicines and medical innovations, change norms and practices in academic patenting and licensing, and empower students to advocate for a biomedical R&D system that works for everyone. Guided by principles of non-partisanship, democracy, transparency, solidarity and respect, we are a non-profit organization driven by the passion and commitment of our members.
USA Patient Network
The USA Patient Network consists of patients, caregivers, and their friends and family members that are united by a common goal: to make sure that medical treatments are as safe, effective, and as affordable as possible. Representing individuals from across the United States, we are educating ourselves and others about the treatment standards that are most important to us, including improving quality of life, and the symptoms and health outcomes that matter most to patients.
US PIRG
U.S. PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. We speak out for a healthier, safer world in which we’re freer to pursue our own individual well-being and the common good.
Washington Advocates for Patient Safety
Washington Advocates for Patient Safety (WAPS) is a non-profit, grass-root organization. Our goals are to be the voice of patients, to work to eliminate medical errors and harm, and to save more lives. Our mission is to promote accountability, quality, safety, and responsibility in patient care. Our goals are to advocate for patient-centered care; quality healthcare and medication safety; prevention of Hospital-associated infections; medical device safety; patient’s rights to be informed of all treatment risks and choices; better communications between patients and medical professionals; health care transparency and accountability.
Women Heart
The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the only national organization dedicated to promoting women’s heart health through advocacy, education and patient support. The coalition promotes prevention and early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment for all women with heart disease, advocating for equal access to quality care.
Woody matters
A nonprofit patient advocacy organization focused on saving patients from adverse effects of unsafe medical products.
