Foreword by Tia Newcomer, CEO of CaringBridge

When Cris Ross and Ed Marx were diagnosed with cancer, they thought they knew what to do next. They were, after all, executives at two of the premiere hospitals in the United States—Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. But even decades of obsessing about effective delivery of patient care could not have prepared them for the emotional and logistical complexity of navigating the healthcare system. If it was this hard for them, how hard was it for everyone else?

Diagnosed is the book Cris and Ed wish they’d had when they embarked on their medical journeys, offering guidance, strategies, and more than a few checklists on how to:


- Process the shock and grief of a diagnosis
- Advocate for yourself (or your loved one)
- Harness the power of shared decision-making
- Access the best resources and technologies to support your recovery
- Create a personalized care plan that reflects your values and goals
- Celebrate your milestones, honor your losses, and embrace your new normal