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Cara Coleman

Founder, 501(c)(3) The Bluebird Way Foundation and Principal, Bluebird Consulting, LLC

Photo of Cara Coleman

Cara Coleman is a nationally recognized family partner, speaker, medical educator, narrative medicine practitioner, attorney and advocate.

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The work of the foundation is inspired and informed by the life and ways of a little bluebird, Cara's daughter Justice Hope, who died at age 11. The light in Justice's eyes and her smile were as brilliant and flashy as the wings of the bluebird- catching your eye, drawing you in, and helping us all soar. She was many things to many people- most notably, she was a teacher, using the book I am Justice, Hear me Roar to teach medical students and residents about patient and family-centered care and humanism. Cara shares about Justice's bluebird and many other stories and experiences of her family (“The Coleman Chaos”) navigating life, multiple systems of care (and teams), end of life, grief and joy to guide and anchor her work.​

I am Justice, Hear Me Roar book cover
Writer & Educator

Cara is Associate Editor for Family Partnerships for the Executive Editorial Board of Pediatrics. She is currently an Instructor of Medical Education at the University of Virginia School of Medicine INOVA Campus. Previously she was an Instructor of Pediatrics, at the Virginia Commonwealth Medical School INOVA Campus for 8 years. She is a Lecturer in the Master of Science in Narrative Medicine program at Columbia University. Cara is co-founder and co-investigator of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health Project entitled Family-Led Academic Grand "FLAG" Rounds. Cara is author of the children’s book I am Justice, Hear Me Roar. She has published in numerous academic journals, and her narrative and creative writing have appeared in Health Affairs, Modern Loss, HEAL Journal, Blood and Thunder, The Mighty, Talking Matters by the Conversation Project, and the Gold Foundation blog.

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Advocate, Partner & Advisor 

Cara has worked for a number of family-led organizations, most recently as Director of Policy and Advocacy at Family Voices (a national family-led organization advocating for children and youth with special healthcare needs and their families) and as a Family Engagement Specialist at the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care. Cara has also served in a variety of advisory roles, such as Liaison to the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children with Disabilities and a Gubernatorial appointment to the Virginia Board of Medical Assistance Services.

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Research 

She has partnered in a number of research projects, such as the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health funded Advancing a Family-Centered Evidence-Based Home Health Agenda in which she was co-principal investigator. Current research efforts focus on narrative medicine practices, medical education, and home health.

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Other Work History 

In the past, Cara worked as an adult health specialist, a case manager for homeless pregnant women, a counselor in a shelter for battered women, a law clerk for a Judge, immigration subject matter consultant, and an attorney serving low-income immigrants. 

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Education

Cara is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, has a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University and her Law Degree from Temple University. Cara also has a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University.

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Awards

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