Non-binding request for Erin Paterson
Erin Paterson
Inspires resilience through lived rare disease experience, Erin empowers teams to lead with empathy, purpose, and human-centered advocacy.
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5.00 of 5
Top rated!
Why book Erin Paterson for your next event
- As a best selling author and rare disease advocate, Erin brings a rare blend of personal experience and professional storytelling expertise to the stage. Her keynotes empower organizations to embrace vulnerability as a leadership strength, illustrating how storytelling can be used as a strategic tool to foster resilience, empathy, and employee engagement in even the most complex workplace environments.
- Erin is the founder of Lemonade Press, a mission-driven publishing company amplifying underrepresented voices from the rare disease and chronic illness communities. Through this work, she demonstrates how inclusive storytelling can help companies reshape internal narratives, improve diversity and equity strategies, and build stronger, more connected teams that feel seen, heard, and valued.
- With 50+ articles published across major platforms and over 30 podcast appearances, Erin Paterson has emerged as a recognized thought leader in the fields of mental health, genetic illness, and infertility. Her widely respected voice gives your organization direct access to fresh insights and real-world perspectives that inspire action and open up important conversations often missing in corporate settings.
Non-binding request for Erin Paterson
Turning Pain into Purpose: Leading with Lived Experience
Empower your audience with Erin Paterson’s deeply moving keynote, where lived experience meets professional insight. Erin transforms adversity into actionable tools for resilience, empathy, and inclusion, helping organizations lead with compassion, elevate unheard voices, and foster purpose-driven workplace cultures.
Keynote Speaker Erin Paterson is a powerful voice in rare disease advocacy, mental health awareness, and inclusive storytelling. As both a patient who tested gene positive for Huntington’s disease and a long-term caregiver to her father, Erin brings a uniquely personal and professional perspective to her work. Her deeply human keynotes are not only inspiring, they are strategically relevant for organizations aiming to foster resilient, empathetic, and psychologically safe workplace cultures.
Erin is a best selling author, rare disease advocate, and founder of Lemonade Press, a publishing company dedicated to amplifying voices from underrepresented medical communities. She has been featured on over 30 podcasts and has written more than 50 published articles. Her lived experiences with genetic illness, infertility, and depression are shared with remarkable vulnerability and clarity, giving her talks a level of authenticity that resonates across industries.
Erin helps organizations better understand the unseen challenges employees may face and offers actionable insights to support inclusion, leadership through adversity, and purpose-driven communication. Her ability to turn pain into purpose empowers teams and leaders to build cultures rooted in compassion and courage.
If you’re seeking a speaker who can bridge the gap between real-life struggle and meaningful organizational change, book Erin Paterson for your event. Her keynotes deliver more than inspiration, they leave audiences with the tools to lead with empathy and elevate every voice in the room.
Customer Reviews
5 of 5
Erin has spoken on multiple occasions to the women’s group I run. She consistently delivers engaging, powerful stories that leave us inspired and wanting more. She also provides useful strategies for getting through challenging times. If you’re looking for a speaker to motivate and inspire, connect with Erin!
Courtney McLeodFounder, Kick Ass Ladies
5 of 5
Erin Paterson’s presentations resonate with audiences because of her ability to clearly articulate her experiences with emotionally sensitive topics and provide insightful reflection. She has an approachable style that allows the audience to feel comfortable asking questions and promotes engaging discussions.
Clare GibbonsGenetic Counsellor, Research Manager
5 of 5
"When Erin Paterson speaks, we should listen. What Erin writes, we should read. She brings us two gifts: the ability to see beauty where others see darkness; and the ability to paint what she sees in words that we can understand and relate to. Her particular nemesis is the genetic, neurologic dragon called Huntington’s disease, but her vision and experience with this difficult disease are relevant to anyone who has faced the fear and uncertainty of serious illness, injury, or loss in ourselves or our loved ones.”
Martha A. Nance MDDirector, Huntington Disease Center of Excellence at Hennepin HealthCare
5 of 5
“Erin is a fabulous patient- and community-focused speaker. She is a natural storyteller who infuses her presentations with warmth and quiet confidence. Erin is also organized and great at communicating before a speaking engagement, making logistics and planning a breeze.”
Janice QuirtTeam Lead, Marketing and Communications, Huntington Society of Canada
5 of 5
"Erin Paterson doesn’t talk at you; she talks to you. She shares her personal stories in a way that’s heartfelt and relatable, with layers that speak to many people—not just one part of the community. We were fortunate to have her at our 2025 Education Day and as a regular speaker for our Book Club. People always leave her talks feeling inspired, validated, and empowered."
Erika BoulavskyLCSW, Community Outreach Specialist, HD Reach
Rated 5.00/5 based on 5 customer reviews
Keynotes
Keynote by Erin Paterson:
From Patient to Advocate: A Story of Resilience, Hope, and Purpose
In this powerful and deeply personal keynote, Erin shares her journey of living with a rare genetic diagnosis and caregiving for her father with the same condition. She explores how resilience and hope can coexist with uncertainty, and how embracing one’s life story, even in the face of adversity, can lead to empowerment and meaningful connection. This talk is ideal for healthcare, patient support, and leadership audiences seeking inspiration grounded in lived experience.
Keynote by Erin Paterson:
Your Story Matters: Transforming Pain into Purpose
Stories shape cultures, build connection, and move people to act. Erin explores how storytelling, especially in healthcare and advocacy, can reduce stigma, amplify marginalized voices, and create community. As the founder of Lemonade Press, a publisher focused on underrepresented medical narratives, she guides audiences on how to tell their stories with clarity, courage, and impact.
Keynote by Erin Paterson:
Fertility & the Silent Struggles Behind the Scenes
Infertility affects millions, yet remains one of the most stigmatized health issues. In this honest and compassionate keynote, Erin sheds light on her own journey through infertility, mental health challenges, and chronic illness. She offers insight into what support truly looks like, for individuals, families, and workplaces and how open dialogue around reproductive health can lead to more inclusive and empathetic environments.
Keynote by Erin Paterson:
The Patient Voice: Creating Truly Patient-Centered Systems
Patient engagement requires more than listening, it requires action. Erin challenges organizations to reimagine how they connect with patients by building trust, fostering empathy, and involving them as partners in research, care design, and innovation. Drawing from her advocacy she offers a roadmap to meaningful patient-centricity that leads to stronger outcomes and community trust.
Keynote by Erin Paterson:
Customized Keynotes to Meet Your Organization’s Needs
Whether addressing corporate leaders, healthcare professionals, patients, or advocacy groups, Erin works closely with event organizers to tailor each keynote to the unique goals, themes, and audiences of your event. Her sessions can be adapted to include panel discussions, workshops, or interactive Q&A segments for deeper engagement.
Advocating for a sick parent by confronting physician bias
Watch Erin Paterson in action!
Caring for a loved one with Huntington's disease: a powerful story of resilience and hope
Watch Erin Paterson in action!
All Good Things - Erin Paterson
Watch Erin Paterson in action!
Blog posts by Erin Paterson
Why the Words Doctors Use Matters More then They Think
I recently attended a medical conference for the Huntington’s disease (HD) community in the United States. Hundreds of people were gathered to collaborate, share knowledge, and learn how to better address the needs of their patients. During the first session, I found it challenging to listen to the
The Emotional Side of Genetic Testing
I had permanent black bags under my eyes from not sleeping properly. I never woke up feeling rested. I hit the snooze button three or four times every morning, prolonging the start of each day. One morning, four months after receiving my test results, I swung my legs out of bed and sat on the edge,
