Soula Mantalvanos

About
Soula Mantalvanos is an artist and creative director who has turned her lived experience with chronic pain into a powerful advocacy journey. After a traumatic injury—when the fitball she was sitting on burst, causing her to fall onto a concrete floor—she spent 4.5 years searching for answers before finally being diagnosed. This experience fueled her passion for better communication in healthcare and empowering people to take an active role in their care.

Determined to create meaningful change, Soula founded pudendalnerve.com.au, where she shares her journey with chronic pain, and My Health Story, a platform designed to help people manage their health information and take control of their care.

Soula’s creativity is not just her profession but also her guiding light. Her advocacy work has led her to present at medical conferences, contribute to GP specialist training, and co-author research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. She has self-published Art & Chronic Pain and appeared in the award-winning documentary The Hurting Strings.

Through her art, storytelling, and advocacy, Soula is passionate about helping others navigate the challenges of chronic illness and improve their quality of life.

Education & Experience

• Certificate in Art & Design before completing a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
• Speaker at medical conferences and GP training sessions
• Featured in The Hurting Strings documentary
• Gallery Director, Queenscliff Gallery
• Director ooi creative communications

Areas of Interest

• Visual arts
• Health design and communication – specifically the intersection of creativity and chronic pain management
• Using technology to empower people in their healthcare journey
• Speaking and educating on the lived experience of chronic pain

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