Conversations About Health Equity

Brandi Underwood

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In this episode, Angela & Devra speak with Brandi Underwood about the importance of including & reaching rural communities in health equity work.


Brandi lives with both facial pain and migraine herself, which has fueled her career in advocacy. She is the Manager of Development, Research, and Advocacy for the Facial Pain Association (FPA). She also serves as a member of the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy's Board of Directors representing the FPA as a member organization as well as serving as the Board Secretary.


Links & Resources from Brandi

  • American Academy of Neurology: "Overall, 24% of people with a neurologic condition were seen by a neurologist. In more rural areas, this number was 21%, compared to 27% in the areas with the most neurologists. Most of that difference was made up of people with dementia, back pain and stroke. For dementia, 38% of people in more rural areas saw a neurologist, compared to 47% in more urban areas. For stroke, 21% of people in more rural areas saw a neurologist, compared to 31% in more urban areas."
    • Appalachian Regional Commission
      • Association of Migraine Disorders: "Although they differ in how they affect the trigeminal nerve, a study found that those who had migraine with aura were at greater risk of developing trigeminal neuralgia.5 The link between these conditions is unknown, but it is known that women have a higher prevalence of migraine and trigeminal neuralgia." (journal article)
        • American Headache Society: "Individuals with episodic migraine (migraine with headache on 14 or fewer days per month) may progress to chronic migraine (migraine with 15 or more headache days per month) at higher rates without optimal treatment."
          • WVU Clinical Trial Resource Center - NIH funded
            • The Appalachian Children's Health Initiative is a $64 million grant to support school or community-based health care services that will significantly improve access to care in Southeast Ohio. The proposal, prepared by Nationwide Children’s Hospital's School Health Services on behalf of Appalachian Children Coalition, and supported by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, the State of Ohio General Assembly and many community partners, will provide new or expanded services, including primary care, behavioral health and preventive care, reaching nearly 375,000 youth, families and community members.
              • West Virginia Children's Health Project
                • ...more
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                Conversations About Health EquityBy Elevate Advocacy