Every once in a while I come across a physician who is so inspirational and does the most meaningful work in medicine.  So, I always jump at the chance to interview them.   Dr. Elda Fisher is one of those doctors.  

Now, this episode is not going to resonate with everyone in my usual audience.  But this is FAMILY HEALTH.   For those people looking to pursue gender affirmation surgery, it can be hard to find information and resources.   So if you know someone who might benefit from this information, PLEASE share.    Dr. FIsher and I talked about the logistics of her work in gender affirming surgery and answered the following questions:

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- What is gender affirmation surgery?
- How did Dr. Fisher get into this unique field?
- What types of procedures does Dr. Fisher do?
- What options does the patient have in determining how they want to look?
- How long does a typical operation take to complete?
- What is the difference between a Plastic Surgeon and an Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon?
- What type of evaluation and preparation does a patient go through prior to  surgery?
- Is there a multidisciplinary team approach to preparing for the procedure?
- How many people are pursuing this procedure?
- Are all parts of the surgeries done at the same time or separately?
- Do some people do just face or just lower body?
- What is gender dysphoria?
- What resources are available for the uninsured who desire gender affirmation surgery?

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Dr. Elda Fisher completed medical school and residency at the University of North Carolina.  She then completed a fellowship in aesthetic surgery in Columbus, Ohio. Dr Fisher is an expert in Facial Gender Affirmation Surgery and has spoken nationally and internationally on this topic. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons and is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Dr Fisher is currently an Associate Professor of Surgery at UNC - Chapel Hill and is the Director of Facial Gender Affirmation Surgery in the Division of Craniofacial and Surgical Care. She is also the residency program director for the Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program and enjoys training residents in gender affirming care.

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You can find more from Dr. Fisher at:

Web: https://findadoc.unchealthcare.org/nc/chapel-hill/elda-l-fisher-md-120-dental-circle

https://www.eldafisheraesthetics.com/

IG: @facialfemsurgeon

Email:  [email protected]

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Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Elda Fisher,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.

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#genderaffirming #genderaffirmingcare #genderaffirmationsurgery #transgender #transgenderpride #transgendered #transgenderboy #transgenderwoman #transgenderrights #transgendermale #transgendermodel #transgenderteen #transgenderfemale #transgenderequality #transgenderawareness # #transgenderdayofvisibility; #transgenderpeopleofcolour #transgenderlife #transgenderproud #transgenderyouth #unctransgendercareprogram 

Like so many others, I used to cringe when my parents or others would talk about sex. And it wasn't really until I was in my professional life helping others find solutions to difficulties or dissatisfaction in their own sex lives that I developed the language and confidence to discuss it openly.  Today's guest Ob/Gyn Dr. Sadaf Lodhi and I share common goals of empowering our patients to explore their bodies, become confident expressing their needs and feel comfortable having conversations about their intimate lives. In the episode we tackled the taboo and answered the following questions:

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- Why is sex such a taboo topic?
- How does one identify the need to seek out sex therapy?
- How can couples adjust to changes in a relationship over time - like changes in stress levels, body image, hormones, physical changes or difficulties due to medical conditions?
- How does emotional intimacy affect a couple's physical connection?
- How can someone with a traumatic past heal and move toward a healthy intimate life?
- How are sex therapy and sex coaching different?
- How can someone become comfortable discussing intimacy when they were raised in a household where it wasn't talked about?
- How can we talk to our children about sex positivity and ensure that they have a healthy approach to their future intimate lives?
- How does your upbringing affect your attitudes and beliefs around sex and intimacy?
- What happens when you realize that you are dissatisfied with your sex / intimate life?
- How do you figure out what you like sexually?
- How do you develop the confidence to express what you want?

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Dr.  Lodhi is a Board Certified Ob/Gyn and Certified Life Coach from Rutgers University.  She is currently undergoing AASECT training at the University of Michigan.   She offers courses and one-on-one coaching services. 

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You can find more from Dr. Lodhi at:

Website: www.drsadaf.com

IG/TIKTOK: @drsadafobgyn
Youtube/Podcast: Muslim Sex Podcast

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Sadaf Lodhi,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.

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#sexpositive #sexpositiveeducation #sexpositiveart #sexpositiveculture #sexpositiveevents #sexpositiveworld #sexuality #sexualityeducation  #sexualityacceptance  #sexualitycoach #sextherapy #sexcoach #intimacy #intimacycoach

I was so pleasantly surprised by the conversation I had with Dr. Keira Barr.  I thought this would be a discussion about which products to use and how to wash and things to avoid and when to seek a dermatologist.  Ya know, the standard stuff.   But this is not your mama's skincare routine y'all.   Dr. Barr's philosophy and approach to helping women reveal their best image and live fully in their own skin is unlike anything you have heard before.  Listen in to this raw, honest, feel-good conversation that will have you glowing!   Spoiler alert:hang in there until the end for her thoughts on a simple regimen of products.   

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Dr. Keira Barr is a Board Certified Dermatologist who blends science with soul as an embodiment coach, mind-body medicine practitioner and dual board certified integrative dermatologist empowering women around the world with the tools to help them feel more comfortable and confident in their skin. Through no B.S. conversations, straight-up truths and tangible, actionable advice, Dr. Keira teaches you how to heal your relationship with yourself by reclaiming a sense of safety, trust, and pleasure through your body and create sustainable habits that align with the fullest expression of you. Her work has been featured in MindBodyGreen, Better Homes and Gardens’, Reader’s Digest, Glamour, SELF, Oprah Magazine, and more.

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You can find more from Dr. Barr at:

Website: www.drkeirabarr.com
IG: @drkeirabarr
FB: @drkeirabarr
Linkedin: @keirabarr

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Keira Barr,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.

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#skincare #beautyfromwithin #skincareroutine #skincareaddict  #skincarejunkie #skincaretips #skincareblogger #skincarecommunity #skincarelover  #skincarethread t #skincareregimen 

If you have chronic pain or know someone who has, chances are you have heard of Fibromyalgia.  But not many people know exactly what it is or where it comes from.  In fact, many patients and doctors alike have doubted whether or not Fibromyalgia is even a real disease!   Well, indeed it is.  In this episode, Board Certified Rheumatologist Dr. Martina Ziegenbein and I are demystifying the diagnosis by answering to the following questions:

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• What is fibromyalgia?
• How do we diagnose it?
• Why has FM been known as a “wastebasket” diagnosis?
• What causes FM?  Is it autoimmune? Inflammatory? Neurologic?
• Aside from pain, are sleep and mood disturbances part of the diagnosis?
• What are the types of pain? 
• Which category does FM pain fall into?
• Why was FM previously considered psychosomatic?
• How has the stigma associated with FM affected how patients are treated?
• Why are rheumatologists the specialists with FM expertise?
• Why does it take so long to come to a diagnosis of FM?
• How do personality, intrinsic characteristics and past trauma contribute to the development of FM?
• How does an overactive nervous system contribute to hypersensitivity?
• What are the treatment options for pain?
• How does nervous system training help in the overall management?
• What is somatic tracking and how can it help?

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Dr. Ziegenbein is a board certified rheumatologist practicing on Cape Cod.  She graduated from PJ Safarik University School of Medicine in Slovakia and completed Internal Medicine at the Marshfield Clinic Medical Center.  For her Rheumatology Fellowship she attended Boston Medical Center and subsequently completed a Lupus Fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

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You can find more from Dr. Ziegenbein at:

Website:
www.winningatfibromyalgia.com

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Martina Ziegenbein,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.

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#fibromyalgia #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibromyalgiawarrior #fibromyalgiasucks #fibromyalgiapaintreatment #fibromyalgiatherapy #fibromyalgiafighter #fibromyalgiasupport  #fibromyalgiaproblems  #fibromyalgiaarmy #fibromyalgiaisreal #fibromyalgiadiet #fibromyalgiacommunity #fibromyalgiapain

FOOD IS MEDICINE!   It's about as ancient a remedy as we have.  But since pharmacology became a mainstream treatment, it seems that using our diet to help ourselves has fallen by the wayside.  Luckily we have friends like Dr. Basma Faris, an Ob/Gyn who started her career as a Registered Dietician and now uses Culinary Medicine to teach patients how to regain control of their health with food as part of their treatment plan.   Lifestyle and Culinary Medicine are two fields that are making a grand comeback.  We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. 

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- How did Dr. Faris become a Culinary Medicine Specialist?
- WHAT IS Culinary Medicine? 
- How did Nutrition get excluded from medical education?
- What is the difference between a nutritionist, dietician and Culinary Medicine Specialist?
- How can Culinary Medicine help a patient determine which way of eating is best for them?
- How do accessibility, budget and preferences factor into choosing a way of eating?
- What does a Culinary Medicine visit look like?
- Is Culinary Medicine individualized?
- How can we overcome the barriers to achieving our food goals?
- Can Culinary Medicine help patients figure out which diet is best?
- Will a Culinary Medicine specialist help identify food sensitivities?
- How can Culinary Medicine help women as we go through various metabolic changes (puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and peri / post menopause)?
- Why is sleep such an important factor in regulating metabolism?
- Why are protein, Ca, Vit D and gut halth so important in menopause?

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Dr. Basma Faris is a Board Certified Ob/Gyn and Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist. Dr. Faris attended the University of California at Berkeley where she received a B.S. in Nutrition Sciences. She went on to complete a an Registered Dietetics Internship and M.S.  in Nutrition at Brooklyn College.  She received her medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University at Buffalo in 2009. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Faris began her career in healthcare as a Registered Dietitian. She worked with adults and children to manage chronic health conditions and obesity. She developed curricula for group nutrition interventions for children, pregnant women and adults. She is the founder of PollyPrep, a company aimed at educating and treating people with PCOS using an evidence-based mix of Culinary Medicine and Gynecology.

She recently joined The Mount Sinai Health System in New York where she holds the position of Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science. Previously she practiced at Weill Cornell Medicine, and NYU Langone Brooklyn where she served as the medical student Clerkship Director, as well as Associate Residency Program Director and she led the peer review committee for the department.

Dr. Faris practices General Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She became a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist in 2020. She was named a New York Superdoctor Rising Star in 2022. 

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You can find more from Dr. Faris at:

IG: @basmafaris
 Web: www.basmafaris.com

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

Have you ever felt stuck?  Like you should feel grateful for what you have in your life but there's something tugging at you saying "there's more?"    Have you felt like you want to improve, change, grow, feel better / happier / more?   Well, this episode is for you.... Dr. Rebecca Lauderdale is an expert in Flourishing, not just surviving, but Thriving.  And she has so much juicy goodness to share with us.    In this episode we talked about the many ways we can evaluate and change our lives for the better,  including the following:

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- What is the definition of flourishing?
- How did Dr. Lauderdale go become an expert in flourishing?
- Why is there so much shame around struggle and burnout?
- How do we become aware of the capacity to change?
- What can we do to make space for change?
- What are the factors that we can evaluate / what is PERMA (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Mastery, Achievement)?
- What are the three different types of lives?
- What is the VIA character strength survey?
- How does someone begin to feel unstuck?
- What are some resources to go from surviving to thriving?

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Dr. Rebecca Lauderdale is a board-certified internist practicing Primary Care Internal Medicine in the Deep South. She is passionate about helping people learn the science and practices of flourishing. She can be heard regularly on her podcast, Women Physicians Flourish, where she talks about subjects ranging from grief and vulnerability to gender bias and joy in the practice of medicine.

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You can find more from Dr. Lauderdale at:

Website:
www.rebeccalauderdalemd.com

Instagram: 
@dr.lauderdale

Podcast:
Women Physicians Flourish

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Rebecca Lauderdale,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.

Time Management is not usually considered a health topic.   But like so many episodes on this podcast, we are talking about making lifestyle changes in order to optimize our health, wellness and happiness.  Time freedom is an invaluable asset but can be hard to find.   Fortunately, Dr. Kirthi Lilley is an expert and has joined me to talk about all things Time Management!

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Dr. Kirthi Lilley is a Board Certified Gastroenterologist working in the VA Health System and is the Associate Program Director for the GI fellowship at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center.   After one of her own transitions, she became a Certified Life and Weight Loss Coach through the Life Coach School.   In her practice, she helps healthcare professionals with time management and burnout so they can create extraordinary and fulfilling lives. S he is also a supermom to three young daughters. 

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You can find more from Dr. Lilley at:

Website:
https://www.revealyou.coach

Instagram:
@revealyoulifecoaching

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirthi-lilley-md-36068b220

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Kirthi Lilley,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.

You know I love advocating for accessibility and equity in mental healthcare, so I was especially excited to speak with Dr. Alison Baum.  She is a Family Physician living with Bipolar Disorder and has been brave enough to share her story for the first time here on this podcast.  She is living proof that you can live a healthy, fulfilling life while managing mental illness.  I am honored to share her story and amplify her voice.  

In this episode we covered so much,  including the following:

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- How did Dr. Baum realize she had Bipolar Disorder?
- What is Bipolar Disorder and why is it confused with other diagnoses?
- What are some of the triggers for BPD?
- Are antidepressants used for BPD?
- Why should medications be carefully monitored?
- Why did Dr. Baum feel a sense of relief when she was finally diagnosed?
- Why do people with mental health symptoms not seek / get help?
- Did having a mental illness affect Dr. Baum's ability to work?
- How does someone with concerns about mental health ask for help?
- How did Dr. Baum's eating disorder coexist with her BPD?
- Did therapy play a role in Dr. Baum's treatment?
- How do lack of resources affect the ability to secure high quality care?
- How did Dr. Baum transition to becoming a full-time coach?

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Dr. Alison Baum is a fellowship trained Family Medicine Physician, and up until 2018 she was faculty at a Family Medicine residency in California. In 2017 she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.  She then devoted considerable time and energy towards remaining well, working part time and learning about how to manage her mental health.  She realized that, in retrospect, there were many times in her training that her mental illness was apparent and was giving clues. She is sharing her story in hopes that other women can get the help they need.  

Dr. Baum now lives overseas with her physician husband and children, and isn’t practicing medicine.  Instead, she is sharing her experience working from home as a professional mom and coaching women on improving their work-from-home lives.

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You can find more from Dr. Baum at:

Websites:
www.alisonterese.com

FB & IG: 
@alison.t.baum

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Alison Baum,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.


#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthday #mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthwarrior #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthawarness #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthawarenessweek #mentalhealthweek #bipolar #bipolardisorder #bipolarismo #bipolarawareness #bipolar2 #bipolardisorderawareness  #bipolardepression #Bipolaridade #bipolarlife #bipolarquotes #bipolar1 #eatingdisorder #eatingdisorderrecovery #eatingdisorders #eatingdisorderawareness #eatingdisordersrecovery #eatingdisorderwarrior #eatingdisorderecovery 

We don't often think of money as a health topic, but being savvy with our finances can not only impact our quality of life, but can be really important in case of a medical emergency.  In this episode Dr. Elisa Chiang and I had such a great conversation about Growing a Wealthy Mindset in which we answered the following questions:

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- As an ophthalmologist, how did Dr. Chiang become an expert in money management?
- What are the advantages of investing early in life even if you can't invest much?
- Why do women wait until later on in life to start thinking about money management / investing?
- How does mindset affect performance when it comes to money management?
- How can women like us start learning about money management?
- How does coaching help advance our understanding of and strategy for investing?
- What about credit cards?  How can they be used to improve your finances?
- Which type of investing is the easiest to get started?
- Is it wise to have a financial advisor? If so, what should we be looking for?
- What are Dr. Chiang's money mindset words of wisdom?

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Elisa Chiang is an board certified Ophthalmologist, fellowship trained Oculoplastic surgeon and certified Life Coach. Elisa earned her M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Case Western Reserve University. She trained at Northwestern for Ophthalmology and Medical College of Wisconsin for Oculoplastics. She started investing, first in individual stocks as well mutual funds, during medical school and then expanded to real estate during graduate school. Elisa is a certified Life Coach through the Life Coach School. As a Life Coach, Elisa primarily works with health care professionals to work through issues of burnout as well as master their money mindset so they can build wealth and practice medicine on their own terms. She works part time as a physician at Ice Ophthalmology in Painesville, Ohio.

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You can find more from Dr. Chiang at:

Websites:
 www.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com
www.DrEyelid.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/WealthyMindsetMD

FB & IG: 
@growyourwealthymindset
@eyeliddrchiang

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Elisa Chiang,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.

I am such a fangirl in this episode.  Seriously, Dr. Hala Sabry is one of the most prominent names in medicine, and for good reason!  Not only has she created a network of over 116K women physicians but she has used her leadership position to educate, empower and inspire patients and physicians worldwide.  Today she is telling her very personal story from a different perspective:  as a patient who underwent bilateral prophylactic mastectomy.   We had such a great conversation in which we answered the following questions:

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- Who is Noha and what kind of legacy has she left behind?
- Why did Dr. Sabry decide to share her story at this time?
- Why was a prophylactic mastectomy indicated for Dr. Sabry?
- Is it indicated for anyone with a breast cancer family history?
- Can anyone get genetic testing?
- What does it mean to have a positive breast cancer gene?
- How does lifestyle play a factor in breast cancer risk? 
- Who did Dr. Sabry discuss her results with?
- What kind of decisions did she have to make with the results?
- What role did anxiety play in this decision?
- How did Dr. Sabry prepare for this process and how her body would change?
- How does such a massive change affect your capacity for self-love?
What does it mean to Dr. Sabry to have made this decision?
- What advice does Dr. Sabry have for anyone facing a major medical decision?
- What other steps can someone take to get more information about genetic testing and options for treatment?
 

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Dr. Hala Sabry is a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician, a feminist leadership coach, the founder of Physician Moms Group (PMG), and a super mom of five- with two sets of twins!

Balancing her career in medicine with her roles as a mother and entrepreneur was initially challenging.  Dr. Sabry frequently fought through fear, negative self-talk, and a recurring desire to quit, and she knew other busy professional working mothers must have experienced the same struggles.

She created PMG seven years ago to offer emotional availability and support to women like her which now supported over 116,000 members.  Dr. Sabry expanded her outreach to coaching individuals and consulting businesses. She offers high performance coaching to professional women in male dominated professions who feel unseen and unheard in quest to develop their personal brand and become a confident thought leader.

Dr. Sabry is a tenacious advocate for ending sexism and promoting gender and racial equality in the medical field. She believes that as a community leader, she has a responsibility to forge a path for other women and to elevate her fellow physician mothers. She has collaborated with leading Fortune 500 companies and international organizations to further her work advocating for women physicians, patients, and children. 

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You can find more from Dr. Sabry at:
Website: halasabry.com
Tik tok and IG: @drhalasabry
Facebook: @halahsabry

***************

Thanks so much for listening!

There's lots more on my website:
www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, check out:
www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Hala Sabry and her loving mother Noha,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascots: Jules & P.S., 
my creative director: Emily,
my love, Michael.