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Episode SummaryÂ
After facing heart disease, thyroid cancer, and kidney inflammation, Allan Smofsky shares what it is like to navigate several serious conditions, multiple specialists, and the lasting effects of treatment while continuing to work. His story highlights the need for coordinated care, practical support for patients and caregivers, and systems that connect people with the resources they need.
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Episode Highlights
- 02:25 — Allan recalls the symptoms that led to a heart disease diagnosis, angioplasty, and bypass surgery, and reflects on denial and resilience.
- 06:17 — How family history and other risk factors shaped his experience—and why patients need help finding support programs.
- 10:38 — A series of serious diagnoses in 2020: a blood pressure crisis, kidney inflammation, and thyroid cancer.
- 14:19 — The challenge of coordinating care across specialists, and how his wife helped track information and take notes.
- 19:57 — The effects of recovery on energy, concentration, work, and social life—even after being told he was ready to return to normal.
- 25:28 — Gaps in health and workplace systems, including fragmented data and the burden on patients to find resources.
- 30:08 — How better connections to support could help patients and caregivers manage the care journey.
- 32:05 — Allan’s lifelong love of rock concerts and the comfort music continues to bring.
Links & Resources
Allan Smofsky
Benefits and Health Strategist/Patient Impact Speaker/Faculty, Centennial College/HealthPartners Board of Directors
Allan Smofsky is the Principal Strategist of Smofsky Strategic Planning (SSP), a strategic planning health consultancy.  He has extensive experience in workplace benefits as well as in prevention and chronic disease management. He conducts research and strategic planning on health & benefits policy and practices, mainly in the area of workplace health.  Much of Allan’s work of late has been focused on chronic disease addressing systemic issues in workplace health and benefits that impact patients and caregivers.
A fluently bilingual (English and French) native of Montreal, Allan founded SSP in 2004 following several years in senior leadership positions with global health and benefits consulting firms, and workplace health service providers.  He is currently based in the Toronto, Canada area. Â
Allan sits on HealthPartners Canada’s Board of Directors, which conducts workplace giving campaigns in support of 20 of Canada’s health charities. He has a lengthy and varied patient history, and serves as an impact speaker with the Speakers Bureau. He candidly shares his patient experiences and key learnings, together with learnings from his professional work, as a means of helping patients and workplace stakeholders improve practices and enhance outcomes. Â
Allan serves on several health & benefits industry advisory groups and committees. He is a faculty member at Centennial College’s Workplace Wellness & Health Promotion post-graduate program and is also a volunteer mentor for the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre. Allan a past winner of Benefits Canada’s Workplace Benefits Award, and is a frequently invited speaker and writer on workplace health and benefits issues.Â
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed by guests on Amplify are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, Patient Voice Partners, or its affiliates.
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The content shared on Amplify is for informational and educational purposes only.
Nothing discussed on this podcast—including stories, experiences, perspectives, or commentary from hosts, guests, or contributors—should be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
Always seek the guidance of your physician or other licensed provider with any questions regarding your health, medical conditions, or treatment options.