Start with a simple truth from Juana Lopez: you choose your path, even with limits. This conversation moves fast and goes deep as we follow Juana’s journey from post‑polio paraplegia to leading a VA histopathology team that turns tissue into answers. She walks us through the unseen work of processing biopsies, the precision behind cancer diagnostics, and the human stakes that drive her purpose every day.

Juana talks plainly about why she moved for promotion and team fit, how leadership shows up in a lab, and what it takes to build trust between technicians and clinicians. Accessibility threads through every story: strong laws, better technology, and the stubborn gaps that still make daily life harder than it should be. Her empathy test—try the same shoes—becomes a design principle for hospitals, software, and cities alike.

The heart of this episode is agency. Juana doesn’t deny barriers; she refuses to let them define the horizon. From adaptive workspaces and universal design to culture that welcomes disabled professionals as experts, not exceptions, we map a path where dignity and productivity rise together. If you care about disability inclusion, VA healthcare, cancer diagnostics, or simply living on purpose, you’ll find both practical insight and a mindset shift worth keeping.

Listen now, share with a friend who needs this perspective, and tell us the choice you’re making this week. Subscribe for more conversations that turn grit, access, and design into everyday action, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.