Bev Schechtman is a dedicated chronic pain patient advocate and educator who has navigated life with Crohn’s Disease and Psoriatic Arthritis for over two decades. Raised in northern New Jersey, she has called the Raleigh, North Carolina area home since 2009. Bev is married to Randy and is the proud mother of two daughters, Emma and Livvy.

Her advocacy journey began in 2017 when, during a hospitalization for kidney stones, she was denied opioid medication—a decision influenced by her history as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. This experience prompted her to connect with Claudia Merandi. Together they started Don't Punish Pain Rally, marking the start of her lifelong commitment to supporting individuals with chronic pain and illness, as well as survivors of sexual assault and abuse.

Bev’s work to empower patients and reduce mistreatment has garnered attention from prominent media outlets including The Guardian, Wired, National Public Radio, and Truthout, and she has been featured on influential podcasts and blogs such as Pallimed, a leading forum on hospice and palliative care. In addition, her insights have been published in a respected medical journal, underscoring her expertise and commitment to advancing patient advocacy.

In her free time, Bev enjoys reading, watching soccer, and spending time with her Aussiedoodle, Griffin.