Dr. Gary Sprouse is a retired primary care physician who practiced in Maryland for 38 years. He graduated from George Washington University Medical School in the top 10% of his class and is a member of Mensa. He is committed to helping people improve their mental health. He has taken everything he has learned about stress reduction and crafted his award-winning book, Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress. Reading just one chapter can change your life!

Best-selling author and motivational speaker Jack Canfield reviewed the book and said: “In the span of getting to know Dr. Gary Sprouse and reading his book, I have been introduced to many new concepts and ideas. His ideas and models for stress reduction are life-changing. You will absolutely love this. A must-read.”

Dr. Sprouse is extremely passionate about bringing happiness into people’s lives through humor, compassion, and understanding. He has a unique perspective on stress that no one else is talking about. He has uncovered a groundbreaking new way to define where the majority of human stress originates. This new insight and the tools he developed to deal with stress are changing lives.

Dr. Sprouse also collaborated on a book with Jack Canfield. The new book, Mindset Matters, is a best-seller on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Website: https://www.thelessstressdoc.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lessstressdoc

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-less-stress-doc

Happiness Highway Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@HappinessHighway-vk3xu

Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native (Exit 163), earned an Industrial Design degree from The Ohio State University. After years of agency work, his love of acting led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in dozens of television, film, and stage productions. Mark also spent his twenty-eight years in Tinseltown, entrepreneuring. He started five non-profit companies. But hold the applause, none were intended to be. He now lives in the South of France. But hold your pity. He of sound mind and body chose to suffer in the heart of wine country where the locals insist his French isn’t so bad—at least that’s what he thinks they’re saying.

Mark is an award-winning designer, writer, director, and now a best-selling, award-winning author. He has written lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. A Cup of Tea on the Commode—a sad, sweet, and funny debut memoir—chronicles his multitasking adventures of filling his mother’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. Though not always successful, he came pretty damn close.

2024 Best Indie Book Award Winner

2024 NYC Big Book Award Winner

2024 Paris Book Festival Winner

2024 Living Now Book Awards Winner

2024 International Book Awards Winner

2024 IndieReader Discovery Award Winner

2024 Book Excellence Award Winner

2024 Firebird Book Award Winner

2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist

2024 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards Finalist

2024 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist

2024 American BookFest Awards Finalist

“This author weaves his stories together, employing a wickedly humorous skill not unlike that of David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs” — Five-Star Amazon review

An unexpected breast cancer diagnosis at 33 years old empowered Jessica Baladad to channel her experience into a mission that’s changing the way women advocate for their medical care.

The six-year cancer survivor created Feel For Your Life, a free mobile app that shows women how to perform self exams, track their progress and set monthly reminders. It’s the first of its kind created by a breast cancer patient and has been downloaded tens of thousands of times all over the world. In 2024, Jessica implemented an AI feature into the app to help patients interpret and better understand pathology reports from their breast cancer screenings.

Jessica’s history with breast cancer catalyzed her dedication to build Feel For Your Life. She’s the fourth generation on her paternal side of the family to be diagnosed with the disease, and yet, no known gene mutation has been found in her lineage. She first learned how to do a self breast exam after having a benign tumor removed at 18, and nearly 15 years later, Jessica was diagnosed with Stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma after performing a routine self exam in the shower. She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, 24 rounds of radiation, a hysterectomy and 10-hour flap reconstruction.

Since launching the app, Jessica has expanded her advocacy into healthcare reform. She’s helped write legislation in the State of Tennessee to promote risk reducing measures against cancer and disease. Billed as the Feel For Your Life Act, it requires high school students to learn about self breast exams, testicular exams and skin exams.

Jessica has been featured on Good Morning America, Tank’s Good News, USA Today, Yahoo News, UpWorthy and several national and international media outlets. She’s worked with the NFL on their Crucial Catch Campaign to promote cancer screenings, received the Hometown Hero Award from Ponce Law on Nashville’s Fox 17, has been recognized by the National Breast Cancer Foundation for her leadership initiatives and was the recipient of the Mona Lisa Foundation Grant in 2023.

When Jessica isn’t working on patient advocacy, she enjoys traveling and exploring new places, attending sporting events with her husband and photographing animals.

Mary Beth has been sober from her methamphetamine use disorder since 1994. She also is in recovery from abuse, trauma, and anxiety. She wrote about her story in her award-winning memoir From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction.

Mary Beth is a Director for She Recovers Foundation and for LifeRing Secular Recovery. She also is on the Advisory Council for The Hyer Calling Foundation. She regularly speaks on behalf of these organizations and about multiple paths to recovery. This includes television, radio, conferences, podcasts, and recovery houses. She develops relationships with other organizations, such as Women for Sobriety and trains attorneys, judges, and medical professionals.

Mary Beth regularly writes opinion pieces which have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Recovery Today, and other publications. Her memoir writings have been published in Memoir Magazine, Awakenings, and Ravens Perch, among others.

Professionally, 6 years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended Berkeley Law. She worked at a large firm, then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014 she was appointed a federal Administrative Law Judge from which position she retired early in 2020.

Links:

From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction: https://a.co/d/dzGvkX7

Website (with messaging feature): junkietojudge.com

X/Twitter: @MaryBethO_

Bluesky: @marybethoconnor

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-o-connor-8aaa4b121/

Rhonda Nelson, renowned patient advocate, author, speaker and philanthropist is a beacon of resilience and strength. Her charitable work spans championing equitable access to affordable healthcare, supporting those diagnosed with AERD (Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease), serving as a voice in the foster care system and encouraging women to reinvent themselves in their different stages of life.

Rhonda serves on the Executive Board of Directors with the Asthma & Allergy Network, impacts legislation and speaks nationally, raising awareness for AERD. Having dealt with AERD (Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease) herself for more than twenty years, she has experienced many misdiagnoses, a near fatal struggle to find relief, a desperate search for answers and a constant journey to access proper support. Rhonda and her husband Wayne, of the Little River Band tirelessly devote their time and resources to helping others to navigate this challenging medical journey frequently associated with severe respiratory disease.

Rhonda is a firm believer in empowering women to pursue the dreams they have for their lives, regardless of age, while finding strength in overcoming challenges. In her book, "A Different Life,” Rhonda not only pulls back the curtain on celebrity life, but also offers readers the chance to hear never-before-told stories, enjoy treasured family recipes and photos all while getting a taste of all things pertaining to life on the road.

Peter is of Greek descent and shows resilience and strength in facing the challenges of living with Beta Thalassaemia. Peter is passionate about supporting and advocating for others who share his condition.

As an Early Childhood teacher, Peter uses his knowledge and personal experiences to assist families navigating the complexities of the health system and accessing vital services. He is a dedicated advocate for patients and the community, providing guidance and support to those in need.

Peter enjoys participating in awareness days to educate the community around what it’s like living with thalassaemia and to increase awareness of genetic blood conditions.

Peter serves as a consumer advisor for the Monash Health Blood Committee, helping to shape policies and initiatives that benefit individuals with blood conditions.

Despite some health challenges he faces just like many others living with the condition, Peter remains positive and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those around him.

Sally is an enthusiastic Health Promotions Officer at Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Australia.

She takes great pride in her work as she educates the community about genetic blood

conditions, carrier testing and blood donations. She also loves connecting with people,

supporting those affected by these conditions. Sally is dedicated to creating a positive

impact in the lives of people across Australia.

When she's not working, Sally enjoys camping, hiking and being surrounded by nature. She

also loves time with family and reading a good book at home

Peter Verveniotis, who has been living with thalassemia major for nearly 50 years, and Sally Barton, a health promotions officer at Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Australia. The discussion covers various aspects of thalassemia, including diagnosis, treatment, community attitudes, and future perspectives.

Key points include:

Peter's experience with regular blood transfusions and the physiological challenges of thalassemia major

The impact of diagnosis on family dynamics and community stigma

Sally's role in educating high school and university students about thalassemia

Advancements in treatment options, including chelation therapy and potential gene therapy

The importance of coordinated, multidisciplinary care for thalassemia patients

The role of community support in helping patients feel less isolated

Proposals for future initiatives, including an international conference and journal editorials

The episode provides valuable insights into living with thalassemia and the ongoing efforts to improve care and awareness for this rare genetic condition.

Sarah Michelle Boes, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is the Founder of Sarah Michelle NP Reviews and also served as the Chief Nursing Officer at Blueprint Test Prep. With a robust educational background including a BSN from the University of Kentucky and an MSN in Nursing Education from Western Governors University, Sarah has extensive experience in oncology, intensive care, and nursing education. After obtaining her family nurse practitioner degree in 2020 she launched SMNP Reviews, an innovative platform that rapidly grew to a seven-figure business within seven months. Following SMNP Reviews’ acquisition by Blueprint in 2022, Sarah transitioned to a role where she continued to oversee the nursing vertical while integrating cutting-edge educational technologies.

Sarah's entrepreneurial journey is deeply intertwined with her personal life. Her daughter Meadow, born with severe heart defects, has required extensive medical care, inspiring Sarah's commitment to pediatric cardiac research and care. In recognition of Meadow’s journey, Sarah has become a congenital heart disease activist and philanthropist. She serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations that support and advocate for this cause.

Beyond her business success, Sarah is a passionate advocate for mental health and female entrepreneurship. Her own experiences with anxiety and OCD have fueled her mission to help others manage mental health challenges, particularly within high-stakes environments like healthcare. She leverages her platform to support female entrepreneurs and promote awareness about the importance of mental well-being in professional settings.

With a significant social media following and notable media features, Sarah continues to influence the healthcare and entrepreneurial communities. She aims to further her impact through philanthropy, focusing on congenital heart disease and mental health advocacy, while supporting ongoing advancements in pediatric healthcare.

Mr. Kedziora is the co-founder of Estenda Solutions, a leading company specializing in custom software development, data analysis, and AI for healthcare and medical companies. With a remarkable journey spanning over 30 years, he possesses a deep understanding of designing, developing, and deploying successful projects. His extensive experience enables him to provide valuable guidance and innovative insights, resulting in cost-effective solutions that improve patient outcomes.

Mr. Kedziora received his M.B.A. from West Chester University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Duquesne University where he received the Excellence in Computer Science Award. He has spoken at numerous technical and healthcare conferences on a variety of topics and written or co-authored multiple articles focused on healthcare information technology, several published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. His work with clients has won multiple awards including a HIMSS Davies Award in 2017 and he recently received the Health 2.0 Outstanding Leadership Award.

Emily is the Founder and CEO of Attane Health, a digital health company in the “food is medicine” space. Rooted in lived experience, Emily leads a passionate team dedicated to changing health outcomes through harnessing the healing power of food.

After experiencing first-hand the challenges of managing chronic health conditions with limited resources, Emily founded Food Equality Initiative (FEI). Under her leadership the nonprofit grew to a 7-figure annual budget, supporting patients' access to healthy food.

Emily is a national patient advocate who has provided both oral and written testimony to the FDA and USDA. Active in her community, Emily serves on several hospital committees and food policy coalitions. A member of the 2025 Child and Adult Core Set Annual Review Workgroup, Emily works to advance health equity in all pursuits.

Her research interests include food systems, health disparities, and patient-centered approaches to care. Emily is a published co-author of several peer-reviewed articles with top research institutions in allergic disease. Emily believes in the power of patients and data to achieve greater health outcomes.

Thomas Wong, AIA

Thomas Wong is a Design Partner in Ennead Architects. Thomas has provided insightful design leadership on a broad range of building and program typologies, from museums to academic buildings and inpatient hospitals. The projects he has designed span multiple geographic regions, from Asia and the Middle East to cities across the United States. The diversity of typologies and contexts in which he designs speak to the range of his design approach: Thomas treats each design problem as a unique set of opportunities and issues that lead to a distinct, specific, and authentic solution. His projects have received global recognition and multiple design awards. Thomas received both a Master of Architecture degree and a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

Louis A. Meilink Jr., FAIA, FACHA, ACHE

Louis Meilink’s great passion is architecture for health. As long-time leader of Ballinger’s healthcare practice, trusted partner to renowned healthcare institutions, and recognized pioneer in evidence-based design, he specializes in the intersection of design excellence and clinical expertise. Since joining Ballinger in 1987, he has honed a design approach founded on curiosity and guided by inquiry. With those vital sparks as fuel, Lou ensures Ballinger’s teams ask the right questions, address the right problems, and, in that way, reach the right answers. Lou’s work demonstrates that when you meld passion with persistence, you can overcome obstacles, uncover solutions, and unlock the power of design to lead cultural change.