Founder's Letter

When I first began this journey, I never imagined I would be here — building a newspaper and media network from the ground up. I am a physician, a mother, and like so many others, a survivor of retaliation. I know what it feels like to be silenced, erased, and told that my story doesn’t matter.

That is why I created the Phoenix Advocacy Network (PAN).

I am Dr. Sharisse Stephenson, a triple board–certified neurologist and a national expert in traumatic brain injury, having reviewed cases for both veterans and civilians. Beyond my medical and legal work, I am an advocate for patient rights, disability rights, and survivor voices.

But my deepest education did not come from textbooks or courtrooms — it came from becoming a patient myself. After I reported serious patient safety issues, I was met with retaliation. I suffered a workplace traumatic event, was forced onto unwanted leave, and financially strangulated. For the first time, I experienced firsthand the toll of retaliation and the devastating impact of ignoring the rights of people with disabilities.

That is why I started PAN.

Phoenix Advocacy Network was born from one simple truth: when platforms silence us, we rise. PAN is here to amplify the stories of whistleblowers, survivors, and truth-tellers who are too often ignored.

My hope is that this becomes more than just a channel or a newspaper. I want PAN to be a home for truth — a place where survivors know their voices matter, where we refuse erasure, and where we transform pain into power.

If you are reading this, you are part of that mission. Thank you for standing with us, and welcome to the Phoenix Advocacy Network.

— Dr. Sharisse Stephenson

Founder, Phoenix Advocacy Network

Have you experienced something similar? Let us know in the comments.