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Black women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are 71% more likely to die. This week.s guest, Jamil Rivers, has made it her life's work to explore this disparity and find solutions. Jamil talks with Cal about her organization, The Chrysalis Initiative, their programs, and what is really driving those outcome disparities. Jamil also talks about what happens when you address the biases that drive disparities.

Find out more and support The Chrysalis Initiative

About Our Guest:
Jamil Rivers was diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer at age 39. Determined to do everything to be here for her children, husband, and family, she researched vigorously how to best prepare for breast cancer and treatment. Jamil started treatment with chemotherapy and supported her health by improving her nutrition with food and supplements and integrative therapies. She is now doing well and on hormonal therapy. 

Jamil continues to work full-time and live an active life. She believes the research she did to prepare herself for her cancer has been critical in her recovery and overall wellness. She became an advocate to use her voice and experiences to help advance legislative policy, medical research, and to promote care that better meets the needs of individuals impacted by breast cancer, particularly Black and metastatic patients. Jamil is the board president of METAvivor, and on the Board of Directors of Healwell and Living Beyond Breast Cancer. She is a policy and science advocate and metastatic and African-American health equity advisory committee member with Susan G. Komen. She is a member and patient advisor of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance. She is a proposal reviewer for the Breast Cancer Research Program with the Department of Defense and a Project LEAD graduate. She is a Steering Committee member of the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative.

Jamil also launched The Chrysalis Initiative which provides one-on-coaching and patient navigation support to women with breast cancer, engages in outreach and education for Black women to assess their breast cancer risk and provides training and solutions for providers to ensure equitable care. Through Jamil’s work, she has participated in countless community health events, facilitated the design and funding of two metastatic clinical trials, met with leadership within the Pennsylvania governor’s office and congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., testified to the Food and Drug Administration, and connected numerous women to resources for screenings, treatment, and support. Jamil and her husband, Rick, have three children and reside in Drexel Hill,Pennsylvania. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

Everyone is talking about vaccine distribution. An important part of the story is equity. Today, Cal and Cathy welcome Eileen Milian and Christian Malachy Porter of the We Got Us Project, a Boston-based organization seeking "to empower our communities with accurate science information and public health resources by connecting Black community members and organizations with trusted Black healthcare professionals and students."

Check out the We Got Us Project

About Our Guests:
Eileen Milien was born in Haiti and raised in Boston. She is currently a junior attending Emmanuel College and studying biology. She is committed to solving the challenges facing marginalized communities from a public health perspective. She serves as the Representative of Diversity and Inclusion on the Emmanuel College Student Government Association. She works as a research assistant in a neuroscience lab at Harvard University. She also volunteers at a reading program with Boston Public Schools. In her free time, she enjoys reading, long walks and watching mystery documentaries. She is very excited to be working on the We Got Us team and working to create actionable change to benefit our community. 

Christian Malachy Porter is a sophomore at Harvard College in Dunster House jointly concentrating in the History of Science and African-American Studies and also pursuing a secondary field in Global Health & Health Policy. His experience as a native of Atlanta, Georgia has made him deeply passionate about the healthcare concerns of marginalized communities, and he has become committed to solving these problems from both biomedical and public health perspectives as a future physician. 

Aside from his role on the education team at the We Got Us project, Christian currently serves as Vice President of the Harvard Black Premedical Society, the executive programming chair of the Harvard Black Students’ Association as well as on the board of the Harvard Black Health Advocates, where he helped with the implementation of the 2021 Black Health Matters Conference. Additionally, he conducts hematology research at Beth Israel and plans to work in federal healthcare policy this summer! Ultimately, Christian aspires to work with his community to uplift them and create space for them in medicine, allowing more people to live healthy and happy lives. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

This week, Cal talks with Briane Pinkson, a true interdisciplinary pioneer. Briane shares her experiences forming and growing interdisciplinary care within her hospital. This is a must listen for any professional who wants to champion truly interdisciplinary care in their workplace. 

Medicine Hands, by Gayle MacDonald

About Our Guest:
Briane started working as an LPN in 1973! In 1977 she began working on the hematology/oncology in-patient unit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. In 1983, after attending massage school, she started offering massage to both patients and staff. In 1989, funding was obtained to allow her to stop her nursing duties, and only offer massage. Since that time, the in-patient Healing Arts Program became part of the Palliative Care Team, and Briane now supervises 6 part-time massage therapists. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

How do the words we use affect the people we serve? What could be problematic about some of the common things we say as care providers? What happens when we listen to our words from a different perspective? Cal and Cathy welcome Anne Kelemen to the podcast to consider the question of language.

Check out Anne Keleman's CE courses:
To Chart or Not to Chart
The Power of Our Words

Anne Kelemen's articles:

• Ambiguity in End-of-Life Care Terminology—What Do We Mean by “Comfort Care?”
• Poor prognostication: hidden meanings in word choices
• Assessing the Impact of Serious Illness on Patient Intimacy and Sexuality in Palliative Care
•  Sexuality and Intimacy Needs Within a Hospitalized Palliative Care Population: Results From a Qualitative Study

About Our Guest:
Anne Kelemen is the Director of Psychosocial/Spiritual Care for the Section of Palliative Care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, where she conducts patient care, teaches and participates in a variety of research activities. She also serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University and as Associate Program Director for the MedStar Georgetown Interprofessional Palliative Care Fellowship Program. Prior to joining the Hospital Center staff, Ms. Kelemen instituted the first palliative care service at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She is board certified in hospice and palliative social work and is a board member for the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Network (SWHPN) where she currently chairs the membership committee. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

Elder Angela Overton experienced the value of interdisciplinary care as a teenager dealing with cancer. She joins the podcast today to dive deep into a discussion of equity, systemic change, and taking loving care of one another. Expect open hearts and honest talk about the barriers that prevent us from embracing each other in our full humanity.

About Our Guest:
Elder Angela Overton, MDiv., an effective communicator of what it means to receive and share Divine Holy Love. Angela is widely known for her practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of sacred text to their everyday lives. She has been preaching, teaching and providing pastoral care for 25 years. Angela resides in Louisville, Kentucky where she has served as an associate minister at Green Castle Baptist Church for 9 years and at Burnett Avenue Baptist Church for 3 years. She is a former Contract Chaplain for Norton Healthcare filling in for Staff Chaplains; where she provided spiritual guidance, emotional support and direct care to patients, family members and staff.

Angela is the founder and director of her own 501c3 Care Well Ministry; where she works with Faith Leaders as they work in partnership to care well for those in their places of worship who are sick and shut-in. She is the Senior Advisor at the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) in Washington, DC of the Interfaith Workgroup. Angela oversees faith and diversity leaders across the United States where they are functioning to improve advanced illness care in our health systems, the quality of care and determinants of goals of care for the person with advanced illness, and their caregivers by creating, providing and implementing best practices and tangible resources for distribution to faith leaders to be shared with their community.

Angela is a cancer survivor, which she believes has been one of her greatest accomplishments and best experiences outside of being a mother that she has had. It is her belief that this experience provided the lens of the patient and fueled her desire, drive and devotion to intersect spiritual and clinical care for those facing illness. She has volunteered for, and worked with numerous faith-based and not for profit organizations since her cancer experience in 1996. She currently sits on the board of Hosparus Health Care Guide Partners.

Angela earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a concentration in Social Sciences from the University of Louisville. Angela earned a Master degree in Divinity and a Black Church Studies Certificate from the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She is married to Minister David Overton, Sr. and they are the proud parents of David Jr., Brandon, Kristen and Byron. Her favorite reference of scripture is found in Hebrews 10:23; “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

Cal and Cathy welcome Chanda Hinton, love-driven interdisciplinary powerhouse. Chanda talks about how integrative care saved her life, and what she is doing to ensure everyone has access to services. If you've ever wondered what one person can do, this episode is for you.

Chanda Center for Health: Delivering and advocating for integrative therapy, primary care, and other complementary services to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs for persons with physical disabilities.  

About Our Guest:
When you look into the face of Chanda Hinton, you see vitality and radiant health; you see a young woman with passion and determination; you see a person of strength and purpose. If you glance down from her face, you will see her wheelchair, and you realize that the goals of the nonprofit organization she founded 15 year ago. You will see that her role is rooted in her own personal story. Chanda is the Executive Director of the Chanda Center for Health and Chanda Plan Foundation, which provides access to holistic, collaborative, access and disability competent healthcare programs to individuals with physical disabilities. In 2009, she led the movement to pass Colorado House Bill 1047, which created the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Waiver, offering acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care through Medicaid to evaluate cost-effectiveness and improve quality of life for persons with spinal cord injuries in the Denver metro area. She will be expanding these services legislatively in 2021 to other diagnosis.In addition to her work (passion), Chanda presents extensively to diverse audiences about wellness and disability. Chanda has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Denver and recently earned a Masters in Non-Profit Management from Regis University. In her spare time (wait, what spare time?), she enjoys cheesy ‘80s chick flicks, intense conversations with people in community and spending time with loved ones. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

This episode features stories from people who have received the COVID vaccine, their experience, how and where they got the vaccine, and what it means to them. First, though, you will hear from one individual whose life may depend on other people getting vaccinated.

Guests: Cynthia Wold, Cathy Ward, Lee Harper-Chen, Sarah McLaughlin, Nancy Cohen, and Sakinah Irizarry 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

Cathy and guest host, Rebecca Sturgeon, have an interdisciplinary talk fest with Sam Cotton, of the Trager Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. Hear how one institution is training the next generation of professionals to work as a team to provide the best care to older adults.

Check out the great work of the Trager Institute

About Our Guest: Samantha (Sam) Cotton, PhD, is a program manager at the UofL Trager Institute and the 2019 Geriatrics Academic Career Award recipient. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

Cal and Cathy welcome Beth Rosenthal and Dale Healey to talk about collaboration and true integrative care. It's about connecting practitioners and sharing resources. It's about knowing each other as people so we can advocate for other professions and have them advocate for ours.

Check out Beth's books
Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health Council
Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine
Hospital Based Massage Therapy (HBMT) Competencies for Optimal Practice in Integrated Environments

For more information about the development of these competencies:
Hospital Based Massage Therapy (HBMT) Competencies Discussion (September 2016) Hospital Based Massage Therapy (HBMT) Task Force Presentation (September 2016)

About Our Guests:
Dale Healey is the dean of the College of Health and Wellness at Northwestern Health Sciences University. He received his BS in Human Anatomy and his DC degree from Parker College of Chiropractic, and his PhD in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development from the University of Minnesota. He is a Commissioner for the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation. He serves as vice-chair of the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH). He co-chairs the ACIH Education Working Group and serves on the task force for development of competencies for hospital-based massage therapy competencies.

Beth Rosenthal holds MBA and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business, and a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. Rosenthal is author of Replenish: A life enhancing activity book and It’s That Easy: The High Vibe Guide to Attracting what You Really Want. As Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH) Director at the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM), Rosenthal coordinates efforts of educators in the Integrative Health and Medicine fields to advance team-based integrative care. She lives in Chicago, San Diego, and Charlevoix (Michigan) throughout the year, and enjoys dancing wherever she is! 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"

Send us Fan Mail

Cal and Cathy welcome Davonna Willis, entrepreneur and massage therapy educator. Davonna moderates a social media group for Black massage therapists and is here is talk about racism in the massage industry (and in life), the benefits of a safe space to share, and what white folks can do to support our Black colleagues. (There's a hint in the title.) 

About Our Guest: A respected health and wellness practitioner and an acclaimed entrepreneur and educator, Davonna Willis is a passionate advocate for her clients and students. As CEO of Blue Skyes Massage & Wellness Center, Davonna is committed to establishing and sustaining high quality standards of care in the industry. As the leader of an award winning practice, Davonna is widely known as someone who cares deeply about client relationships and practitioner integrity. Davonna also owns 4 Nineteen Education & Training (http://www.4nineteeneducation.com) where she teaches a variety of massage curricula and also offers consulting on marketing and strategy to new business enterprises. With a MA from Columbia University and a BA from Xavier University, Davonna has over 20 years of experience in the field of health and wellness. Starting in the Bronx and moving her way west, Davonna is a well rounded business professional especially accomplished in the area of holistic physical rehabilitation therapy. Davonna is committed to the health and recovery of her clients and to the development of her colleagues and students. She is an advocate in elevating the way massage is perceived in society so that people fully recognize the power of healing in an expert’s human touch. 

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Check out our new podcast! The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Giving Tuesday is over, but you can still support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here!

Other ways to help and join in:

• Leave us a review on  Apple Podcasts
• Let us know what you think! Send us an email: [email protected]
• Find bonus content from Interdisciplinary and early release episodes for our current show: "The Rub" on Patreon!
• Check Healwell’s live and online classes
• Continue the conversation with a two-week free trial of the Healwell Community
• Merch! Find your Healwell fashion here
• Find a copy of Rebecca Sturgeon's book: "Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care"