In our fifth episode of the season, titled Racial Disparities In Healthcare Aren't Accidental, patient advocate for disability justice Vanessa Lathan shares her personal journey with multiple invisible disabilities and chronic illness, and discusses the unique challenges faced as a Black woman navigating healthcare, workplace discrimination, and the stigma of “silent” diseases. The episode explores why authentic storytelling is crucial alongside data in advocacy, the urgent need for multigenerational collaboration, and the daily fight for equity in a system not built for everyone.

In our fourth episode of the season, titled Behind the Curtain: Barriers that Block Lifesaving Care, Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, Executive Director of Ai Arthritis, spotlights the real-life barriers blocking access to life-saving care, as federal funding cuts squeeze health services nationwide. She shares her personal journey from misdiagnosis to patient advocacy, highlights the gaps in research and representation for marginalized communities, and exposes how insurance practices like step therapy and non-medical switching undermine patient health. Listeners will hear why affordability reviews often leave out critical patient voices and how her organization is fighting to make systemic change by collecting and centering diverse patient experiences.

In our third episode of the season, titled Power Where It Belongs: Community-Led Blueprints for an Accountable Healthcare System,  Dr. Alan J. Balch, CEO of the Patient Advocate Foundation, discusses the escalating challenges faced by safety net organizations as funding tightens and resource needs grow. He unpacks how fragmented systems impact low- and middle-income patients, why building strong local and national partnerships is key to resilience, and the critical need for effective, community-driven safety nets. This conversation dives into the realities of healthcare policy, the struggle for equitable access, and the importance of integrating compassion into advocacy.

In our second episode of the season, titled The System Listens When We Organize, Jovan Agee shares his journey from a college internship to becoming a force in policy change. He reflects on his landmark win securing direct deposit for California’s domestic workers, his transition into health and breast cancer advocacy, and the importance of community power, political strategy, and holding leaders accountable.

A NOTE ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

An executive order from the current US administration has impacted federal employee unions. We weren't aware of this development until after Jovan's episode was recorded and edited. We've given him the opportunity update his statements regarding unions and he has the following to say:

Thank you for bringing to my attention the recent executive order impacting federal employee unions. This development does not, however, alter my stance on the importance of organizing. My discussion of unions in the interview serves as an example of a sophisticated organized political group, demonstrating a blueprint for influencing politics and policy that I believe warrants consideration.

It is important to clarify that my argument is not a defense or condemnation of unions themselves, but rather an emphasis on the strategic power of organized groups.

Thank you,

Jovan Agee

In this episode, “Silence Won’t Save Us: Health Advocacy is Literally a Matter of Life and Death,” host Rev. Dr. Tammie Denyse sits down with Sandra O. Poole, MPA, a renowned health policy advocate and champion for equity. Join us as we dig into real stories and practical strategies for breaking barriers to healthcare access, centering Black women’s experiences, and moving from just having a seat at the table to actually redistributing power in the policy process. Sandra shares candid lessons on self-advocacy, overcoming medical bias, the realities of advocacy under challenging political climates, and the necessity of self-care and community-building for activists. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about health equity, patient empowerment, and turning advocacy into action.

In the last episode of No Longer Silent: Patient Access Stories, Reverend Carolyn Habersham, affectionately known as Mother Carolyn, shares her harrowing journey through multiple cancer diagnoses and her fight for equitable healthcare. Diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1988, breast cancer in 1998, and upper palate cancer in 2002, Mother Carolyn recounts the systemic barriers she faced, including racism and discrimination, as a Black woman without health insurance. Despite these challenges, she persevered, advocating fiercely for herself and others in similar situations.

Mother Carolyn's story is not just one of survival but of resilience and advocacy. She discusses the emotional and physical toll of her experiences, the critical role of allies within the healthcare system, and the ongoing fight for dignity and respect in medical treatment. Her journey also led her to a deeper understanding of her faith, transforming her theological perspective and inspiring her to become a healthcare advocate.

In this enlightening episode of the No Longer Silent podcast, Leo Hickman, a veteran and advocate for holistic health, discusses the complexities of healthcare access in America. Leo shares his personal experiences navigating the healthcare system as a veteran and the challenges faced with accessing timely care. He delves into the concept of "step therapy" and how it impacts treatment for non-emergency conditions.

Leo also introduces us to his innovative approach to healthcare through the creation of a co-op network of practitioners that focuses on holistic and preventative medicine. He emphasizes the importance of community support and mental health services, which have become integral parts of his practice since the COVID-19 pandemic. Leo's work is deeply rooted in his expertise in biomedical engineering technology and his passion for plant medicine.

***HEALTHCARE FOR VETERANS IS MULTIFACETED. WHILE VETERANS FACE SIMILAR CHALLENGES AS OTHER AMERICANS, THEIR WAIT TIMES TO SCHEDULE A DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT OR TO SEE A SPECIALIST AT TIMES CAN TAKE TWICE AS LONG. FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE PRIVATE INSURANCE, THEIR CHALLENGES ARE EVEN GREATER.

In this emotionally charged episode of "No Longer Silent," Sharon Washington Barnes shares a deeply personal and tragic story about her brother, Shawn, who lost his life due to what she believes was systemic racism and medical negligence. Sharon recounts Shawn's harrowing experience with multiple healthcare facilities that failed to provide adequate care, ultimately leading to his untimely death at the age of 29. Despite the profound loss, Sharon has become a fierce advocate for healthcare reform, using her brother's story to push for legislative changes and to support other families facing similar injustices.

The episode delves into the systemic issues within the healthcare system, particularly how they affect Black and Brown communities. Sharon discusses her involvement with the Fairness for Patients Act, which seeks to dismantle predatory laws that limit compensation for medical negligence cases. She also highlights the importance of advocacy and education, sharing resources like the Change for Shawn toolkit, which empowers individuals to navigate healthcare systems and advocate for themselves and their loved ones.

In this powerful episode, Marielle Vaughn-Hickman, a senior mental health counselor for Sacramento County, shares her personal experiences navigating healthcare access issues, particularly in relation to menopause and chronic migraines. Marielle discusses the challenges she faced with step therapy and the often dismissive attitudes of healthcare providers, which left her feeling unheard and unsupported. Despite dealing with debilitating symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and severe migraines, she found that many doctors failed to explore alternative treatments or adequately address her concerns. Marielle emphasizes the importance of being bold and advocating for oneself in medical settings, highlighting her journey from feeling neglected to finding a physician who truly listened and took her symptoms seriously.

In this episode, Regina Smith shares her journey of overcoming systemic barriers and personal trauma to become a beacon of hope and resilience. The conversation delves into Regina's early life, marked by the loss of her mother and the challenges of growing up in a tumultuous environment. Regina discusses the profound impact of her faith and the pivotal moments that shaped her relationship with God, including a life-changing promise made during a traumatic event in her childhood.

Regina also reflects on her professional journey, highlighting her work as a social worker and her passion for crisis management. She candidly discusses the systemic failures she has encountered, both in her own education and in the healthcare system, particularly in the care of her mother, who struggled with addiction and mental health issues. Regina's story is one of perseverance, as she navigates these challenges while pursuing a PhD in social work, driven by a desire to effect change from within the system.