Debra Rafson is a writer, patient advocate, and disabled chronic illness warrior. She is best known for her Substack newsletter, “What’s Her Problem?,” in which she tackles Issues at the Heart of Chronic Illness and Disability through personal essays, interviews, opinion pieces, and more.

Debra is also writing a memoir about her diagnosis with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and long struggle to accept that she needed open-heart surgery.

She is the founder of The Open-Hearted Advocate LLC, where she offers her services as a writer, speaker, or podcast guest.

Debra began her professional career as a Stage Manager, later transitioning from theatre production to administration, and ultimately becoming a Managing Director. She has also worked extensively in higher education administration.

Debra is co-founder of Reasonable Accommodations LLC, through which she and a colleague provide online planning tools for HCM patients who need to travel to receive care at a Center of Excellence.

She is also a Discussion Group Leader for the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA), a patient advocacy non-profit.

Debra has completed Harvard Medical School’s Media and Medicine Certificate Program.