Today’s guest is Ms. Leonore Okwara. Leonore has spent over a decade coordinating community based research projects and building trust between communities and researchers. Today in the cafe we discuss how she got started in research, how she builds trust in communities and some of the challenges of doing this type of work. Tune in for an interesting conversation.

About Leonore

Leonore Okwara, MPH is from San Diego, CA and the Founder of Public Health Research Consulting (PHRC). PHRC provides community engagement and trust building strategies through online courses, the Research in Community of Color Summit, Research Roundtables, speaking engagements, workshops, and webinars. Leonore has managed community-engaged research initiatives, nationally, within the nonprofit, academic, and government sectors over the past 15 years.

While working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Leonore co-directed the Project Managers’ Research Group (PMRG) that served as a professional resource for departmental program managers, research coordinators, and research assistants. Because of this experience, Leonore understands the importance of bringing researchers together to share best practices and strategies for conducting and managing successful research studies.

Leonore has a BA in Sociology and received her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She is a military wife and a mother of three.

Connect with Leonore

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonoreokwara/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/publichealthculture/

Sponsor Info:

The Good Health Candle Company

www.goodhealthcandle.com

@goodhealthcandle on Instagram and Facebook

The Good Health Cafe Feedback Form

https://www.thegoodhealthcafe.com/submit-your-question

@thegoodhealthcafe on Instagram and Facebook

Today’s guest is Ms. Pam Moore. Pam is a sickle cell disease advocate who lives in Maryland. Today in the cafe we discussed what it is like to live with Sickle Cell Disease, the transition from pediatric to adult care and how her pregnancy motivated her to start a YouTube channel. Tune in for an interesting conversation.

About Pam:

Pam is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has been an advocate for Sickle Cell Disease since her teenage years. She was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease as a 9 month old baby and was the only one of her parents children to inherit the disease. Sickle Cell has caused Pam some health complications but she considers herself fortunate to still be able to live a life in where she is accomplishing personal milestones. Pam earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Bowie State University and works as a Grants Administrator. She has an 8 year old daughter and loves to travel and dibble and dabble in photography. Some of her work as a Sickle Cell advocate includes tasks such as spreading awareness and education through her Youtube channel, participating in legislative efforts to advance Sickle Cell Disease, attending monthly supply groups and speaking as a panelist at a number of educational events.

Pam’s YouTube Channel: Advocate 4 Sickle Cell 

Sponsor Info:

The Good Health Candle Company

www.goodhealthcandle.com

@goodhealthcandle on Instagram and Facebook

The Good Health Cafe Feedback Form

https://www.thegoodhealthcafe.com/submit-your-question

@thegoodhealthcafe on Instagram and Facebook

Today’s guest is Ms. Karla Mans Giroux. Karla is a holistic cancer coach and cancer thriver based in Chicago, Illinois. Today in the cafe we discussed her cancer journey, the integrative medicine approach which stabilized her metastatic breast cancer, the radical remission methods she teaches her coaching clients and her plans to celebrate her 100th birthday! Tune in for an interesting conversation.

About Karla:

Karla Mans Giroux is a cancer thriver living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Karla was originally diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2003 and underwent a mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. Eleven years later, in late 2014, a metastatic cancer challenge arose. Karla embarked on a healing and learning journey to help herself regain optimal health and longevity. She is blessed to report stable scans / “no evidence of disease” since 2016! Karla became passionate about sharing what she learned so that everyone has a better chance of overcoming the odds. She received her training as a holistic health coach and is also a Certified Radical Remission Workshop Facilitator, and an inspirational speaker. Karla has every intention of making it to 100 and with the strength of resilience and a positive spirit she is loving every moment on that journey! Join her in December 2065 for the party of the century!

Contact Karla:

Phone: 847-306-9599 Email: [email protected] Websites: www.KMGCoach.com www.HealthNavs.com 

Sponsor Info:

The Good Health Candle Company

https://goodhealthcandle.com/

The Good Health Cafe Feedback Form

https://www.thegoodhealthcafe.com/submit-your-question

Register for my webinar on Key Elements of the Patient Provider Relationship

https://my.demio.com/ref/rceah9MzOsFTHqYq

Today in the cafe we speak with award-winning journalist Kimberly Seals Allers about Irth, the app she created to help Black and brown women and birthing people have a more safe and empowered pregnancy and parenting experience by allowing them to see how other parents of color experienced care at a doctor or hospital. She shares with us her motivation for creating Irth, a little about what the data they have collected in the app has revealed thus far and gives tips on how to advocate during the birthing process. Hint: it should begin long before you arrive at the hospital!

About Kimberly Seals Allers

Kimberly Seals Allers is an award-winning journalist, five-time author, international speaker and strategist for maternal and infant health. A former senior editor at ESSENCE and writer at FORTUNE magazine, Kimberly is a leading voice on birth, breastfeeding and motherhood at the intersection of race, class and policy. She is the founder of Irth, (as in Birth but without the B for bias), the first-of-its-kind “Yelp-like” review and rating app for Black and brown women and birthing people to leave and find reviews of Ob/GYNs, hospitals, and pediatricians as a digital tool to address bias and racism in care and bring transparency and accountability to the medical system.

Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers 

Learn more at www.KimberlySealsAllers.com , www.IrthApp.com and www.BirthrightPodcast.com. 

Follow @theIrthApp on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

From the announcements section:

Register for my webinar on Key Elements of the Patient Provider Relationship

https://my.demio.com/ref/rceah9MzOsFTHqYq

The Good Health Candle Company

www.goodhealthcandle.com

@goodhealthcandle on IG and FB

The Good Health Cafe Feedback Form

https://www.thegoodhealthcafe.com/submit-your-question

@thegoodhealthcafe on IG and FB

Our guest today is Ms. LaTonya Bynum! 

LaTonya is a public health consultant and CEO of U.R.A. Resource Center, LLC, a public health consulting firm based in Conway, Arkansas. Today in the cafe we discussed what she learned from having multiple visits to the ER, her experience “translating” for her grandmother at the hospital and why she believes in the term work-life integration instead of work-life balanceTune in for an interesting and fun conversation.

Bio

LaTonya holds a Bachelors of Science in Health Education with a concentration in Community Health and Spanish from the University of Central Arkansas. In addition, she earned her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) with an emphasis in Health Policy and Management from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She holds the mantle of being the first in her immediate family to earn a bachelor, master’s degree and start / grow a family business. In 2017, LaTonya founded U.R.A. Resource Center, LLC, a public health consulting firm specializing in creative/technical writing, public speaking, and research/data analysis. Her book writing journey is unique in that she uses social media to explore topics on academics, business, career and personal development to publish books. As a self-published author she has used social media to compile content for 3 books titled “Tools for Career Success: 101 FAQs about Public Health”, “Mind Ya Busi-ness: Are You Okay?” and e-book project “The Opportunity Paperwork: Learning the basics of documenting Awesome”. Her birthday book project titled “The First Touch” is scheduled for release July 2021.

Social media links:

Facebook: @URARESOURCE

IG and Twitter: @sisspeakslife

https://www.linkedin.com/in/latonyabynum/

www.latonyabynum.com

The Good Health Candle Company

www.goodhealthcandle.com

@goodhealthcandle on Instagram and Facebook

A new podcast episode is up! Our guest today is Ms. Kate Skinner! 

Kate is a wellness and movement specialist based in Nova Scotia, Canada. Today in the cafe we discuss the role of self awareness in our wellness, how she came to terms with her diagnosis of Celiac disease, how to be consistent and tips on how to heal the pain in our bodies. Tune in for an interesting and fun conversation.

Like what you hear? Send us a message or leave a review on Apple podcasts.

About Kate Skinner:

Kate Skinner is a Wellness & Movement Specialist. She started her career as a Massage Therapist and has expanded out into the online business world with her membership ‘Heal Your Body From Home’. 

Her passion to teach others how to move better in their body and improve their overall wellness. This started with her own journey when she was was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and needed to make a big shift in her own life. 

She works with individuals who are on a path of self improvement and she is ready to help you break through your pain and move better today. 

Social media links:

Instagram & Facebook: @kateskinnerwellness

Membership:

https://healyourbodyfromhome.vipmembervault.com/

The Good Health Candle Company: www.goodhealthcandle.com

The Good Health Cafe: www.thegoodhealthcafe.com

Instagram & Facebook: @thegoodhealthcafe

May 5 is International Day of the Midwife! To commemorate the occasion Ontario based midwife Shani Robertson came by the cafe to discuss midwifery, dispel some myths and explain what the practice of midwifery entails in the 21st century. Tune in for an exciting episode filled with lots of laughter.

About Shani Robertson

Shani Robertson is Black Barbadian-born Registered Midwife and public health consultant based in Ontario, focusing on research, program evaluation and health education that results in behavioural change. As a midwife she has been in practice since 2019, and prior to midwifery she has extensive involvement in HIV/AIDS research and sexual health education of youth and marginalized groups since 2006. As a public health consultant she has supported program evaluation and research that addresses adult reproductive health education, Hepatitis C, breast & cervical cancer, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, mental health advocacy, child welfare, and health care for the uninsured. She earned her Honours BSc in Human Biology from the University of Toronto and her Master in Public Health degree (Behavioural Science and Health Education) from Emory University,and Bachelor in Health Science (Midwifery) at Ryerson University. She holds staff privileges at Mount Sinai Hospital and is one of the first Midwives in Ontario to join the interdisciplinary Young Pregnancy Program and Young Families Program at SickKids hospital in Toronto, ON.

Resources

• Midwives Collective of Ontario: https://www.midwivescollective.ca/
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC): https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/healthy-pregnancy/healthy-pregnancy-guide.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/index.html
• WebMD: https://www.webmd.com

In this episode I speak with Kristy Dickinson about her journey from getting diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to creating the Chronically Simple health record. We discuss the importance of cultivating trust between patients and doctors and how to advocate for yourself while still asking for help from others. Kristy Dickinson is a mother, an entrepreneur, a rare disease patient, and Chronically Simple’s founder. The company helps track appointments, medical records, medications, and more, using their secure, user-friendly subscription software. Enjoy the episode!

Outline of the Episode:

●     [01:35] What “Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome” is and Kristy’s path to her diagnosis.

●     [05:11] The turning point in her journey, finally being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

●     [11:14] Finding a new passion and purpose amidst her healthcare struggles.

●     [16:12] How the idea of “Chronically Simple” started and the challenges she faced building upon it.

●     [22:22] “Healthcare is a partnership” and the value of trust between patients and specialists.

●     [26:36] The struggle of advocating for yourself while still needing to ask for help from others.

●     [36:41] How to deal with misalignment between you and your limited choices of healthcare specialists.

●     [39:40] The most significant challenge Kristy faced when navigating the healthcare system and how she overcame them.

●     [42:20] How Chronically Simple works, according to Kristy Dickinson.

●     [45:10] The response of both patients and healthcare specialists to Chronically Simple so far.

●     [52:03] Kristy Dickinson’s favorite patient resources when dealing with chronic and complex illnesses.

Resources:

Chronically Simple Website: www.chronicallysimple.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronically_simple

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chronicallysimplelife

Kristy Dickinson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-dickinson-b65a472

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimplyKristyD

Contact Nikita Boston-Fisher!

Website: https://www.thegoodhealthcafe.com

Instagram: @thegoodhealthcafe

Ruth Pelletier, founder of Seniors Action Quebec stopped by the cafe to talk about seniors, their needs, and their challenges. In this episode, Ruth shares some helpful resources for seniors and how we can help support them.

Outline of the Episode

• [4:40] some of the challenges
• [7:30] technology is a lifeline
• [11:10] CLSCs can help make life-quality assessments to determine the support the seniors actually need
• [17:45] how to help in appointments without taking them over
• [20:04] factors to consider when downsizing or moving
• [22:05] addictions come in different forms and shapes, and seniors can have them too
• [25:30] seniors want a sense of belonging
• [27:53] benefits of inter-generational exchanges
• [30:45] what seniors can do to make their golden years golden
• [38:44] tips for caregivers
• [40:04] tips for seniors
• [44:10] transportation troubles aren't solely an issue for seniors

For full show notes check out the blog at www.thegoodhealthcafe.com/blog

Caring for someone with dementia can be challenging. On today's episode Teepa Snow shares with us some tips for caregivers of people living with dementia. Teepa explains the difference between Alzheimer's and Dementia, gives some tips for negotiating with our loved one and also explains why caregivers need to remember to take care of themselves as well.

Teepa Snow is one of the world’s leading advocates and educators for anyone living with dementia or other forms of brain change. Teepa presents with extraordinary expertise and humor to audiences large and small throughout the world. Her mission is to improve the culture of dementia care, one mind at a time.

Outline of Episode

• [04:06] Dementia vs Alzheimer’s
• [08:22] Lewy Body Disease: Visual disturbances
• [10:39] How caregivers can avoid frustration while caring for individuals with Dementia
• [15:00] People are afraid to use the word dementia
• [19:00] How to broach the issue of seeking help
• [24:12] Let go of appearances
• [26:53] Remember mouth care
• [34:12] How to advocate
• [37:48] How to develop resilience

Resources: 

        Positive Approach to Care https://teepasnow.com/

Connect with Teepa: 

        Website: https://teepasnow.com/

        Email: [email protected]

The Good Health Cafe

The Good Health Cafe: www.thegoodhealthcafe.com

Instagram: @thegoodhealthcafe