Advocating for your health is important, but it’s not easy. In Speak Up For Your Health, Dr. Archelle Georgiou talks with patients about how they overcame feeling intimidated by today’s complex medical system and used their voice to finally get the care they needed. These personal stories along with Archelle’s practical tips will empower you to have a balanced (non-paternalistic) relationship with your healthcare provider.
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Care Coordination Isn’t Anyone’s Job—But Should Be Everyone’s Priority
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34:11Coordinating care in our healthcare system can feel like running an obstacle course—with no one clearly in charge. In this episode of Speak Up For Your Health, Dr. Archelle Georgiou sits down with Walter Jin, CEO of Pager Health, to talk about how his personal experience navigating his parents’ cancer diagnoses revealed just how fragmented care del…
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Too Little Time, Too Many Questions: When 5 Minutes With Your Doctor Isn't Enough
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30:39Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment unsure of what was just said—or what to do next? You’re not alone. Even highly educated patients can walk away feeling confused about their diagnosis, medications, treatment plan, or how to prepare for a procedure. And the consequences can be serious: missed steps, wrong assumptions, and delays in care. In …
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When Faith and Medicine Intersect: Dawn's Story
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36:08Science and faith don't have to be mutually exclusive. And, when health is on the line, we want as many helpful interventions as possible. In today's episode, Dawn Carpenter - an expert in finance and investment banking – talks about how adopting two little girls from Russia shifted her outlook on faith. Each of her daughters, Emily and Abby, faced…
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Navigating Miscarriage, IUI, and the Uncertain Road to Motherhood
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34:07In this episode, Brittany Runck shares her deeply personal and ongoing journey through infertility. She has experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage, the emotional and physical toll of multiple intrauterine insemination treatments and is considering in vitro fertilization. Brittany speaks openly about the grief, shame, and isolation that often acc…
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Behind the Headlines: How Health News Gets Chosen on GMA3 (Part 2)
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26:45In Part 2 of our conversation, Catherine McKenzie discusses the unique format of GMA3 and how health topics are a foundational element of the show. She explains how the team selects health topics, the real-world impact of their health stories, and the media’s role in public health. She shares her views on the influence of social media, the challeng…
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How an Executive Producer’s Medical Crisis Shaped the Direction of Good Morning America’s Health Coverage (Part 1)
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26:05When Good Morning America's executive producer saw her doctor for joint pain, she never expected to be diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis—or that the medication prescribed to help her would trigger a life-threatening drug reaction. In Part 1 of this two-part episode, she shares her harrowing medical journey, from missed warning signs and delayed di…
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Is It a Phase or a Concern? A Teacher’s Guide to Recognizing Developmental and Behavioral Red Flags
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31:29How can you tell if your child's behavior and development are on track? What early signs might indicate the need for an evaluation? In this episode, Ruby Manoles, an early childhood special education teacher, shares how she is often the first to recognize when a child may need extra support. She explains how teachers serve as a crucial bridge betwe…
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Sepsis – When the Infectious Disease Doctor Becomes the Patient
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30:06Infectious disease specialist Dr. Peter Bornstein has treated countless patients with sepsis. Despite his expertise, Peter found himself battling this condition as a patient, sharing how he ignored the early symptoms until they escalated rapidly. Peter talks openly about the lessons he learned about navigating healthcare as both a doctor and patien…
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Love, Compliance, and Kidney Disease: A Nurse-Mom’s Journey to Save Her Son
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28:59How do you advocate for someone you love when they struggle to follow their treatment plan? In this episode, Cherri Furness, a nurse specializing in chronic kidney disease, shares her deeply personal story. Cherri’s son, Jeff, is not just one of her patients—he’s also navigating his own journey with kidney failure. Tune in to hear how Cherri balanc…
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A Insider’s Recipe To Navigating Your Prior Authorization
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43:51The death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has reignited backlash against health insurance practices, particularly prior authorization rules. This episode explores the parallels between today’s outrage and the late 1990s backlash. Archelle sits down with Dr. Lee Newcomer, a fellow former Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare during that era, to share …
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The Menopause Maze: Finding Relief from Misery
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26:08Perimenopause and menopause involve much more than just hot flashes. Symptoms like brain fog, insomnia, and mood changes can profoundly impact women’s personal and professional lives, especially when they go undiagnosed and untreated. For Joanna Strober, it took a frustrating year to find the help she needed. Fueled by her experience, she channeled…
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Stress Isn’t Causing Your Medical Condition, But Could Be Making It Worse
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31:23Stress can worsen or exacerbate almost any medical condition. This doesn’t mean that your symptoms are all in your head but it does mean that having a healthy outlet for your stress is an important part of your treatment plan. Paul Folger is a journalist/news anchor who has ulcerative colitis – and lots of stress. He's talks about how he's navigate…
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Virtual Second Opinions from Cleveland Clinic—Because Time and Quality Matter
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26:04Second opinions decrease the risk of a wrong diagnosis by half. But too often, getting in to see an expert can be so challenging that patients forego this step and rely on the initial diagnosis. In this conversation, Frank McGillin, CEO of The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic talks about how they’ve simplified the process so that patients can quickly get…
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The Role of Guardianship in Complex Healthcare Situations: Juston's Story
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30:57Caregiving isn’t just about caring for older parents. In this conversation, Juston White talks about the steps he took to advocate for his sister’s care when she developed rapidly progressive multiple sclerosis – including becoming her legal guardian. He reflects on the challenges of guardianship and the importance of giving his sister a voice in h…
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Prior Authorization Denied? Get This Key Document
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27:34Insurance barriers can delay access to necessary medications. In this conversation, David shares his personal journey with osteoporosis, a condition often perceived as a women's disease, and the challenges he is encountering to get the medication he needs. Key Takeaways Men are risk for osteoporosis. It is not just a women's disease. Be proactive: …
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Marielle’s Medical Mystery: 11 Years To A Diagnosis
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29:03Patients with rare conditions can often wait months or years for a diagnosis. In the meantime, they suffer – wondering if their symptoms are real or in their head. Marielle Lejcher had severe abdominal pain for 11 years before she found one very good doctor who took the time to put all the puzzle pieces together and ordered the right test. Key Take…
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Avoiding Regret: The Power of Informed Consent
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33:48Reading and understanding a medical consent form before you sign it can make the difference between acceptance and regret if you experience a complication. Cris Ross, the CIO of Mayo Clinic, shares his cancer journey and reflects on the complexities of surgery, recovery, and the lessons learned that inspired him to write a book on navigating health…
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Love Meets the Reality of Aging in Place: Archelle’s Caregiving Story (Guest Host, Cathy Wurzer)
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39:08Archelle shares her personal story about the journey as a caregiver for her mother, Tina, who recently passed away. Guest host Cathy Wurzer leads the conversation, where they discuss the tough decisions and emotional challenges that come with caring for aging loved ones. Archelle talks about navigating the balance between honoring a loved one’s wis…
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A Toast To Life After Trying To Take Mine: Nora's Story
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35:00Nora Super has struggled with depression for over 30 years. In 2023, she attempted to take her life by suicide – and survived – but with a serious disability. Nora talks openly about her mental health journey, her state of mind during a deep depression, and the treatment that works for her. She also talks about the challenges of living with a disab…
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Menopause Unfiltered: The Good, The Bad, and The Personal
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37:30Menopause symptoms are more than just hot flashes. Women can experience depression, brain fog, intimacy issues, arthritis and so much more. But too often, women suffer in silence. Tracy Kornet is an Emmy-award winning news anchor on WSMV in Nashville who experienced symptoms for eight years before getting help. She is committed to educating and sup…
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Medical Gaslighting in the ER: Sarah's Story
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35:16At 29, Sarah Carthen Watson was only days away from her wedding when she experienced chest pain. Her visit to the ER became a stark example of medical gaslighting, where health care professionals appeared to dismiss or overlook her concerns. Medical gaslighting not only erodes trust but also risks missing diagnoses and delaying treatment. Key Takea…
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Information Blocking By Your Provider Is Illegal (Republished/Updated Episode)
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32:55Over 60% of patients say that having fast electronic access to their complete medical record is important. It is a safety issue, a quality issue and your legal right. The 21st Century Cures Act went into effect in 2021, but the Federal Government just decided on the penalties incurred by providers if they create any unnecessary hassle in making you…
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Experiencing Unconscious Bias From Your Provider? Storytelling Can Help
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30:05In this episode, the guest, Eyenga Bokamba, shares how she advocated for her mother who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. When Eyenga sensed that negative stereotyping was limiting her mom’s treatment options, she used storytelling to help the care team “see” her mom beyond just the diagnosis. Key takeaways: · You are ALWAYS more than your diagn…
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“I felt unheard by my provider”: Advice For Patients’ Most Common Complaint
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35:31In this conversation, Archelle speaks with Kelly and Michelle – two women who share their stories about feeling dismissed by their providers. Then Dr. Karen Lawson offers advice on how they to navigate these interactions. Key Takeaways: Use Non-Violent Communication Techniques 4 Steps of Non-Violent Communication Describe objective observations. Ex…
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Don’t Hesitate Getting A 2nd (3rd, 4th or 8th!) Medical Opinion
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32:43Getting a second opinion can give you peace of mind that a diagnosis is right and that you know all the possible treatment options. In this episode, John talks about his journey with prostate cancer and the steps he took to get multiple second opinions before selecting the treatment that felt right for him. Was it hard? Yes. Was it worth the effort…
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Embracing Career Plan B When A Chronic Condition Interferes with Plan A
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31:36Many medical condition aren't life-threatening – but they can be life-altering. An injury, infertility, or sometimes, something as simple as a medication can be a barrier to to the life you imagined for yourself. How do you re-imagine a different future and not only survive, but thrive? Dr. Herman Williams survived a cardiac arrest when he was 31. …
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Living Fully: Roxane's Inspirational Goodbye
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27:08Roxane has been on a nine month journey with pancreatic cancer and now has only days or weeks to live. She explains why she chose to get aggressive treatment early on and later decided to stop treatment and transition to hospice. Roxane's story and optimistic outlook are uplifting because she is living every moment...while she's dying. Key Takeaway…
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Overcoming Weight Bias: A Clinical Psychologist’s Perspective
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33:00Is obesity a mental health issue? Is it “right” for people to take the new obesity drugs if they aren’t obese but simply want to lose weight? This episode is not a patient story, but the perspective and experience of a clinical health psychologist who specializes in eating and weight-related issues. Dr. Robyn Pashby talks about the vicious shame-bl…
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Ozempic: Miracle Drug or Lifestyle Crutch? Joe’s Story
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31:28Doctors often talk about the medical complications associated with obesity, but it's rare to hear from patients about their experience with this condition and how hard it is to navigate through the healthcare system. In this episode, Joe shares his story about finding the right medical care (including the use of weight loss drugs) and losing over 1…
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SUFYH: First 10 Episodes Recap (and what I learned)
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18:28Listening to guest's stories taught Archelle even more about how to advocate. Key takeaways from the first 10 episodes of Speak Up For Your Health. Links Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakupforyourhealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakupforyourhealth…
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Challenging Standard Birth Practices: Georgia’s Story
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35:25Is childbirth a natural event for moms to direct...or a medical situation for doctors to control? Georgia, a labor and delivery nurse, had the experience to know how she wanted to deliver her own children, but it took a few rounds of advocating before she got it. Links: https://www.who.int/news/item/15-02-2018-individualized-supportive-care-key-to-…
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The Twists, Turns & Complexities of Cancer Treatment
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30:46A new cancer diagnosis often comes with shock, fear, and then dozens of micro-decisions. They range from “Do I need a second opinion?“ to “Is there something less aggressive we can try first?” And, for some, "This isn't the treatment response we expected, now what?" Some patients weigh in on every decision; others defer to their doctors. At age 42,…
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Not Afraid to Ruffle Feathers: Kris' Story (Part 2)
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27:39Each year, 400,000 hospitalized patients experience some type of preventable harm – and this does not include the near misses that don't result in a negative event. In Part 2, Kris kept a close eye on Dave's care even though he was stable, and she didn't hesitate to ruffle some feathers when preventable harm made her lose trust. Key Takeaway: Keep …
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The Choices I Made Determined My Husbands Survival: Kris’ Story (Part 1)
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28:32Do health care "miracles" actually exist? Or, are they the result of quick action and persistent advocacy? Kris and Dave, both 53, were enjoying their favorite TV show when Dave had a sudden cardiac arrest. Kris' choices - in that moment and during the next 2 months – determined Dave's fate. Key Takeaway: Plan, Do, Act Get CPR certified. Studies co…
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The complexity of the healthcare system often results in miscommunication, difficulty obtaining medical records, and delays in care. Kelsey shares her frustrating experience when she had a bout of abdominal pain but finally broke through the bureaucracy to get the surgery she needed. Key Takeaway: Escalate You have a right to all your medical recor…
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Jumping Through Passion & Pain: Amanda’s Choice
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32:23What would you do if an activity that gives you an incredible amount of joy is also the root cause of your serious injury? How do you explain to your surgeon that you really, REALLY want to get back in the ring and you want him to support you through it? This is the challenge that today's guest was able to navigate. Amanda's story begins with debil…
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When It Comes To Medical Care, Sometimes Less Is More
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26:08Advocating for the medical care you want doesn't always translate into getting the medical care you need. This is what Lynn learned (the hard way) when she developed a rash and kept asking her doctor to prescribe medications that would "fix it". Key Takeaway: Sometimes Less Medical Care Is More Adverse drug events cause approximately 1.3 million em…
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1 Patient. 2 Doctors. 2 Different Opinions
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30:21Medicine is a science and an art, and this means that doctors can have vastly different recommendations about how to treat a condition. This is the situation Brigid faced when she was admitted with a wildly abnormal heart rhythm. Whose advice did she follow? How did she decide? Key Takeaway: Know the WHY Record conversations with your doctors, PAs,…
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Vicki was really, really sick after her cancer surgery. Her doctor – arrogant and dismissive – wasn't listening to her symptoms. Fear, combined with anger, gave Vicki the courage to stand up to him. Key Takeaway: Confront arrogance. If anger is the trigger for finding your voice, try to quickly turn that anger into preparing for your medical visits…
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Doctors Make Mistakes. If You Think Something’s Not Right... .Say Something
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34:28A young college student needed contraception. She'd done her research, was sure about her preferences and adamant about what she wanted. Her doctor agreed but almost made a mistake that would have resulted in long-term side effects. A few years later, she was just as adamant about her pregnancy delivery preferences. Key Takeaway: See Something…Say …
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