Tiffany Christensen, who has survived two double-lung transplants, will lead a workshop titled “Navigating the Healthcare Maze” at 2 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Scotland Place Senior Center, located at 1210 Turnpike Road in Laurinburg.

Sponsored by Hospice of Scotland County and Scotland County Parks and Recreation, in celebration of National Hospice/Palliative Care Month, the program is free and open to the public.

Christensen’s powerful personal story has given her an unparalleled perspective on the U.S. healthcare system. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 6 months of age and eventually underwent two life-saving double lung transplants. Today, she travels the country, speaking to patients, families and healthcare professionals about her experience as a patient in a system that offers numerous options but also has glaring flaws.

During her workshop, Christensen will discuss proven strategies for becoming your own advocate as a patient in the healthcare system, including her 3 Keys to Patient Advocacy. The goal of the workshop is to help people advocate effectively for their own wishes or the wishes of a loved one in an increasingly complicated healthcare system.

She will also discuss advance care planning and end-of-life choices, and the importance of communicating these decisions with family members and putting them in writing. Finally, Christensen will discuss organ and tissue donation, offering her own heartfelt look at the topic from the viewpoint of a transplant survivor.

Following her recovery, Christensen trained as a Hospice volunteer. She is the author of a book, “Sick Girl Speaks!” and a national voice in the call for patient advocacy. She has delivered her talk, “Life in the Deathbed,” at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Medical Center. She has been a speaker at The Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care conference, and the Pediatric Neonatal Update Conference at Greenville Children’s Hospital. Christensen volunteers with Carolina Donor Services, is a member of UNC Hospitals’ Bereavement Committee and the Duke Medical System Patient Advocacy Council, and serves on the board of Second Wind Lung Transplant Association.

For information, contact Hospice of Scotland County at 276-7176, or toll-free at (877) 276-7176.