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 Dr. Julia Hallisy obtained her BS in Biological Science from the University of San Francisco in 1984 and a second Bachelor’s degree from the University of California in Dental Sciences. In 1988, Dr. Hallisy also received her Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of California at San Francisco School of Dentistry. Since then, she has been in continuous private practice in San Francisco, California.
Her second child, Katherine Eileen, was diagnosed at five months of age with bilateral retinoblastoma. Dealing with her daughter’s life-threatening diagnosis, the many recurrences of cancer, and the subsequent treatments for the malignant and aggressive tumors marked the beginning an almost 20-year involvement in our healthcare system. The unique combination of her scientific training, her work as a healthcare provider, and guiding a child through a chronic illness has afforded her invaluable insight as an advocate for patients.
Dr. Hallisy began to research the topic of patient safety in 1998 and has worked with the California Nurses Association on the proposition 216 campaign for HMO reform. She has spoken at rallies with Ralph Nader and provided testimony at San Francisco City Hall at the request of Senator Barbara Boxer to promote the passage of legislation for a Patients’ Bill of Rights. In 2002, Dr. Hallisy spoke before the California State Senate on the issue of Futile Care policies. In 2006, Dr. Hallisy was a recipient of a scholarship from the National Patient Safety Foundation to attend their annual national congress as a consumer advocate. Dr. Hallisy most recently worked with AARP on a patient advocate journal and has lobbied for health care reform in Washington, DC with Consumer’s Union.
Dr. Hallisy is committed to and passionate about the subjects of patient safety, health care reform and medical error reduction. Her personal and professional goals include working diligently to help give patients a voice in healthcare solutions. She is the founder and president of The Empowered Patient Coalition.
Dr. Hallisy was born and raised in San Francisco, where she lives with her husband, John Hallisy, and their two sons, Daniel and Kevin. The Hallisy’s ten-year old daughter, Kate, lost her life-long battle with cancer in February 2000.
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 John Hallisy retired from the San Francisco Police Department in 2009 after 35 years of service. Decades of working in a district station and in the Narcotics Bureau challenged his skills in personal communication and conflict resolution. John was completely involved in caring for his late daughter, Katherine, during her ten year battle with cancer and yet again faced a formidable challenge-advocating for his daughter in the unfamiliar health care environment. While it seemed at first that the enemy to be defeated was malignant tumors in Kate’s eyes, John soon realized that there were other threats to his daughter’s health – including errors, infection, communication challenges, and misdiagnosis.
John’s specialized law enforcement training made him realize that patients and their advocates were being thrust into situations without facts, training, or support – and it was routinely putting them in harm’s way. John spent years in hospital hallways, doctor’s offices, and emergency rooms. He spoke to hundreds of patients, family members, nurses, and physicians and learned very quickly that there were better ways to protect patients – and they all started with getting good information into patient’s hands.
John volunteers at The Janet Pomeroy Center in San Francisco working with people with disabilities and furthers the mission of the Empowered Patient Coalition in his daughter’s memory. |
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