MediHelpz Live w/Sandra L Washington

We talk with Olga Torres about what it really takes to survive the U.S. healthcare system when trust is fragile and the stakes are high. We share practical tools to document your story, ask better questions, and build the skills to speak up even when the system is rushed or biased.  • Olga’s path from public defender to narrative medicine professor and patient advocate  • A near-fatal medical erro...

A chart note can change your life in seconds, even when it’s wrong. I’m joined by registered nurse, DNP candidate, and founder Rachelle Dumas, who knows patient safety from both sides of the bed. After nine pregnancy losses, she finally welcomes her son, then later wakes up with sudden vision loss and stroke symptoms and gets dismissed in the ER. What follows is a painful look at how misdiagnosis,...

Nobody warns you that a diagnosis can change your body, your confidence, your relationship, and your sense of self all at once. Sandra L opens with a clear challenge: patients are tired of being dismissed, talked down to, or treated like a template, and real patient-centered care only happens when we communicate and build solutions together. We’re joined by Ebony Mushell, founder of Proud The Lab,...

What does it truly mean to fight for your life while helping others find their path forward? Coach Patricia Pearson, known affectionately as "Coach Pat," brings us into her world as a business success coach, publishing mentor, and most remarkably, a stage four lung cancer warrior who has been battling for nearly five years. This conversation unveils the often misunderstood world of clini...

What does it truly mean to be present as a father? How can male role models shape a child's future when biological fathers aren't consistently available? These questions form the heart of our powerful conversation with Sir Royce Briales from Welcome to Fatherhood. Founded to support fathers across all stages of life, Welcome to Fatherhood has expanded from its Chicago roots to connect wi...

The intersection of health challenges and entrepreneurship creates a unique battleground for women business owners. While we excel at multitasking and presenting a polished exterior, many of us suffer silently under the weight of competing demands on our time, energy, and resources. This candid conversation explores how health issues—from chronic conditions to mental health struggles—directly impa...

What happens when the caregiver becomes the patient? In this powerful conversation with Carolyn, a nurse with over 40 years of experience, we pull back the curtain on what it's like when healthcare professionals find themselves on the other side of the stethoscope. Carolyn shares her raw, unfiltered experience dealing with debilitating hand pain that woke her up at 2 AM with what she describe...

Dr. Samika Cosey joins Sandra L to unpack the often-overlooked healthcare experiences of neurodivergent patients – those whose brains process information differently due to conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Drawing from both personal and professional expertise, Dr. Cosey explains how healthcare systems frequently fail to accommodate these differences, leading to misdiagnosis, delayed car...

What happens when domestic violence shatters a family? The trauma ripples outward, creating countless secondary "patients" who must navigate their own healing journeys alongside the primary victim. Elena Maria takes us through the devastating moment she received news that her sister Yolanda had been murdered by her husband—a shocking act witnessed by her 14-year-old nephew. With raw hone...

The journey of patient advocacy begins with a single, powerful truth: your health story matters. In this debut episode of the CHLMS  MEDI HELPZ Foundation podcast, we meet Jacquiline Cox - lupus warrior, author, and living testimony that medical predictions don't define your destiny. Three years ago, a doctor told Jacquiline she had just three months to live. Today, she stands as an ambassado...

Patricia "Mamu" Rangel brings 40+ years of wisdom from the frontlines of maternal healthcare to this powerful conversation about the past, present, and future of Black maternal health. A nurse who has worked across multiple hospital units including labor and delivery, postpartum, and now an OBGYN clinic, Mamu also serves as a doula, childbirth educator, and lactation consultant—bringing...