ECHOes of Change: How Dee Armstrong Is Reshaping the Future of Medical Research, One Patient Story at a Time

In a healthcare landscape often driven by data, deadlines, and disconnected decision-makers, it’s easy to forget the human heartbeat behind the numbers. But Dee Armstrong never has. As the founder and senior project manager of ECHO Project Management Group, Inc.™, she has turned a deeply personal pain into a revolutionary mission: to ensure that patients especially those living with rare diseases, chronic conditions, and mental illness are not only seen but truly heard.

ECHO doesn’t run clinical trials or develop treatments. Instead, it plays a pivotal role in advancing medical research by elevating patient voices and experiences creating a bridge between everyday people and the institutions that shape their care.

This isn’t just business. It’s legacy work.

A Mission Born from LossDee’s journey into medical research wasn’t mapped out in a boardroom it was carved from lived experience.

“My Memaw was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s,” she says. “Watching her disappear from us, little by little, changed our entire family. Later, I saw my uncle Don struggle with severe schizophrenia, and again, we were powerless. The system failed them. And it left me asking: what if someone had really listened?”

That single question sparked the fire that would eventually become ECHO

Founded with determination, compassion, and a reputation for excellence, ECHO quickly distinguished itself as more than a consultancy it became a movement. At its core, ECHO helps medical institutions, sponsors, and research organizations engage authentically with patients particularly those in historically overlooked communities. And it does so with a rare mix of professionalism and soul.

What ECHO Really Does

So what does ECHO actually do?

“We specialize in patient recruitment, community engagement, data collection, and managing large-scale qualitative & quantative research programs,” Dee explains.

This includes recruiting underrepresented populations, designing outreach campaigns, facilitating listening sessions, and providing strategic study support. But it all revolves around one central goal: making sure patient experiences shape the future of care.

Breaking Away from Traditional Models

Most medical recruiting firms focus on logistics how fast they can fill a quota. ECHO focuses on trust.

“We don’t just place people into studies,” she says. “We build trust ecosystems. We work with community partners, nonprofits, and advocacy leaders who know their people. Then we equip them with the tools to connect their members with meaningful research opportunities.”

That approach has earned ECHO not just respect, but staying power in a notoriously transactional industry.

The Power of Storytelling in Medicine

Dee believes storytelling isn’t a soft skill it’s a scientific imperative.

“Patient stories are data with a soul,” she says. “When someone shares how a condition affects their daily life their parenting, their job, their sleep that’s information that can drive real innovation. But it’s also a form of healing.”

When people are heard, they begin to see their experience as valuable. That’s transformational.

A Wide Reach, A Deep Focus

ECHO’s reach spans a wide range of medical research rare diseases like geographic atrophy, chronic conditions like diabetes and COPD, and mental health conditions that often carry stigma. But no matter the diagnosis, ECHO’s approach remains the same: human-first, detail-driven, and community-rooted.

“We don’t believe in cookie-cutter outreach,” Dee explains. “Every project is customized because every population is unique and every participant matters.”

Trust as a Business Strategy

How does a relatively lean team earn the trust of patients, caregivers, nonprofit leaders, and global sponsors alike?

“We start with relationships, not requirements,” Dee says. “We take the time to understand the people we serve before we ask them to share something so personal. That’s why they keep coming back.”

In a time when medical mistrust is at an all-time high especially among marginalized communities ECHO’s compassionate approach is more than refreshing. It’s necessary.

Overcoming the Hard Parts

Building ECHO hasn’t been easy. At one point, 90% of the company’s income came from a single client. When federal funding cuts rippled through the research sector in late 2024, ECHO felt the effects immediately.

“We were stretched thin,” Dee recalls. “But we didn’t fold we adapted. We innovated.”

That meant diversifying services, refining internal systems, and leaning into ECHO’s core differentiator: its ability to connect deeply with the communities others couldn’t reach.

Looking Ahead

The future for ECHO is bright and busy. The company is expanding its partner network, building new caregiver inclusion programs, and rolling out digital tools that make it easier for support group leaders to refer members to ECHO-supported research opportunities.

Dee is also developing The SMILE Initiative through her investment company, Pink Unicorn Ventures, LLC amplifying artists and communities who foster healing through creative expression.

“Everything is connected,” she says. “Whether it’s through storytelling, art, or advocacy—it’s all about impact.”

The Woman Behind the Brand

Dee Armstrong isn’t your average executive. She’s equal parts strategist and soul blending spreadsheets with empathy and project plans with purpose. Her leadership style is unapologetically human.

“I don’t pretend to have all the answers,” she says. “But I do know how to listen, how to lead with integrity, and how to show up for people. That’s what ECHO is all about.”

Her advice to future founders?

“Stay mission-obsessed, not ego-obsessed. Respect the unglamorous parts of the work. And above all honor the people who trust you with their stories. That’s the real currency.”

Want to Learn More? To explore partnerships or participate in research through ECHO, visit echopmg.com or email us at info@echopmg.com.