I’m Audra Degesys, founder of Beyond the Lift. I am here to help people navigate elective surgery with greater clarity — and help surgeons and practices create better experiences for the people they serve.

For more than 20 years, I designed and led high-value, high-impact strategies in complex international environments, working across governments, organizations, and healthcare systems. As a U.S. Diplomat and strategist, I was responsible for safeguarding high-value U.S. investments overseas and advised senior leaders on issues where communication, competing priorities, culture, and incomplete information could significantly affect outcomes.

My work required me to look beyond the immediate problem — to understand how people, systems, information, and decisions interact, identify where things were getting lost, and develop practical strategies to improve outcomes.

That same strategic mindset shapes how I help people approach elective surgery: as a significant personal and financial investment worth planning for and protecting.

When I became an elective surgery patient myself, I recognized many of the same dynamics. I saw gaps between patients and providers, between information and understanding, and between what people are told and what they actually need to navigate the experience successfully.

That realization became the foundation for Beyond the Lift.