Nancy Ruffner is a Board Certified Patient Advocate, consultant, educator and coach. Ruffner founded Navigate NC, a patient advocacy consulting firm whose services help people with medical, legal, insurance and housing challenges. The agency has emerged as a market leader in patient advocacy services in the Southeastern United States. Ruffner serves as the voice of patients and their loved ones. She was among the first in her industry to earn the credential of BCPA, Board Certified Patient Advocate.

She presents online and in person at events and conferences on topics such as navigating a complex health care system, aging, communication techniques, planning, and living with chronic conditions. She has designed and taught coursework within a gerontology curriculum that ushered talented people into the senior care industry.

Ruffner has been an adjunct instructor at Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes programs at both Duke University and North Carolina State University, teaching a course she designed called “A Consumer’s Guide to Healthcare Advocacy.”

She has answered a call within her industry to help both new and young-in-business owners to connect with clients and grow their practices. Ruffner is a sought-after consultant in patient advocacy, healthcare navigation and successful aging. She enjoys provoking thought and helping folks to create and implement a plan. Her antennae will always be up with respect to advocacy for clients, ways to educate and create awareness, and the chance to provide real solutions.

Ruffner earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Carolina University and a graduate certificate in counselor education from NC State University. She is a member of The Alliance of Professional Healthcare Advocates, the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants, HealthAdvocateX and Greater National Advocates.