What if the most important care doesn’t happen in a hospital, hospice, or clinic—but in the moments in between?

In Part Two of The Missing Middle in Healthcare—And Why It Matters, Chris Comeaux continues his conversation with Bridget Sumser and Sonya Dolan of Mettle Health to explore the often-overlooked gap between medical treatment and the lived human experience of illness. Together, they unpack the role of grief, community, language, and connection in supporting people facing serious illness, caregiving responsibilities, and end-of-life challenges.

This episode challenges traditional healthcare thinking by asking a powerful question: Are we treating diseases while missing the deeper needs of the people experiencing them? Bridget and Sonya share their vision for a future where grief literacy, community support, and compassionate accompaniment become essential parts of care—not afterthoughts.

Highlights from this Episode:

✔ Why the word “hospice” can create unintended barriers to care
✔ The difference between treating illness and caring for the whole person
✔ How grief begins long before death and affects all of us
✔ Why community—not healthcare alone—is the missing middle
✔ The future of serious illness support and human-centered care
✔ How anyone can learn the skills of accompaniment and compassionate presence
✔ Mettle Health’s vision for transforming the way we navigate illness, loss, and mortality

Whether you’re leading a healthcare organization, caring for a loved one, or simply interested in improving the human experience of healthcare, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

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Guest:
Sonya Dolan Co-Founder, Mettle Health
Bridget Sumser, LCSW; Director of Counseling and Programs, Mettle Health

Host:
Chris Comeaux, President | CEO of TELEIOS and author of The Anatomy of Leadership

Teleios Collaborative Network   /   https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast