Elizabeth Cohen

CNN Senior Medical Correspondent & Author, The Empowered Patient

Elizabeth Cohen

CNN Senior Medical Correspondent & Author, The Empowered Patient

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Biography

Elizabeth Cohen is senior medical correspondent for CNN's Health, Medical and Wellness unit, covering breaking medical news and health consumer reporting on CNN and CNN.com. Widely regarded as one of America’s top health reporters, Cohen is also a popular speaker, sharing her insights on the many pressing healthcare issues we face today. Cohen not only inspires and educates her audiences but also has the ability to break down complex issues into easy-to-understand information that helps people and organizations every day. When it comes to health and wellness, Cohen has you covered.

In addition to investigative pieces and breaking medical news, Cohen has covered everything from mental health, women’s health and health equity to abortion policies and gun violence. Among her many assignments over the years, she provided daily coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and was on the scene in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and later the BP oil spill, in New York City for September 11^th coverage, at Virginia Tech after the shooting, in California during wildfires and in Liberia during the Ebola outbreak.

Among her many honors, Cohen has received a National Headliner Award, a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, and awards from the Newswomen's Club of New York, the New York Association of Black Journalists and two Gracie awards from the Alliance for Women in Media.

In her book, The Empowered Patient: How to Get the Right Diagnosis, Buy the Cheapest Drugs, Beat Your Insurance Company, and Get the Best Medical Care Every Time, published by Random House, Cohen explains how patients can take control of their healthcare and become advocates for themselves and their families. Using her own personal stories as examples, Cohen points out the basic skills needed for achieving the best medical care.

Before joining CNN, Cohen was associate producer of Green Watch, an environmental television program on WLVI in Boston, a reporter for States News Service in Washington, D.C., and a reporter for the Times Union newspaper in Albany, N.Y., where she won a Hearst Award. She is the recipient of the outstanding alumna award from Columbia College in New York City, where she received a bachelor's degree in history, and the Distinguished Alumni Award at Boston University, where she earned a master's degree in public health.

As a speaker, Cohen shares frank and insightful information on an array of health topics and customizes her presentations to your event and audience members. Passionate about the human side of healthcare, Cohen will be the highlight of your event!

Speech Topics

The Future of Mental Healthcare

Study after study has shown that the pandemic has affected our emotional well-being and continues to do so post-COVID. Mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, have worsened. Add to that a shortage of mental health professionals—especially in underserved areas—and the situation is worse. In this talk, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen shares the latest research and solutions for people to get the help they need and the systems that are needed to fill the demand, along with some ideas on how to solve the shortage of mental health professionals.

Closing the Gap in Healthcare

There’s one thing that has become abundantly clear during the pandemic: There is a crisis in the American healthcare system. While your zip code shouldn’t dictate the quality of healthcare you receive, it does for many in marginalized communities. To make matters worse, climate change has had a particularly negative effect in these underserved areas, causing residents to suffer public health problems in much greater numbers. But there is hope. In this talk, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen shows the progress that’s being made to combat health disparities and the effects of climate change. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to solve problems so complex and big. But it is possible to make an impact, and Elizabeth will help you get started.

The Empowered Patient

CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is passionate about helping doctors and patients navigate our imperfect medical system. Today, doctors are more rushed than ever and nurses often have too many patients in their care, making medical errors more prevalent. Elizabeth Cohen, author of The Empowered Patient and host of the show “25 Shocking Medical Mistakes,” explains how patients can take control of their healthcare and become advocates for themselves and their families. Using her own personal stories as examples, Cohen points out the basic skills needed for achieving the best medical care.

You’ll discover how to:

Find a doctor who “gets” you and listens to you
Ask the right questions for the best treatment
Make the most out of a short office visit
Cut out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs
Harness the power of the Internet for medical issues
Fight back when claims are denied

Curbing Gun Violence

CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen knew the statistics. Gun violence in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 2014. It was devastating. And yet, it truly didn’t hit home until she lost a beloved young colleague. So, what’s the solution? Although there are no easy answers, Elizabeth shares ways we can help, from mobilizing responsible gun owners who can play a key role in saving lives to public health approaches.

Protecting Women’s Health

Whether reporting on the effects of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade to trying to navigate our imperfect health system to nutrition and exercise to anxiety to so much more, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has covered it all when it comes to women’s healthcare. In this presentation, she shares the latest research on issues that are affecting women today to the tips for your optimal health. Each keynote is tailored to the women’s health event a client is planning.