No Longer Silent: Patient Access Stories

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 explore...

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 a...

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 l...

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...

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...

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 r...

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-emer...

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 a...

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 unsupp...

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...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Rosemary Blashill, her daughter Lisa Peacock, and her husband Jim. Rosemary, a retired nurse with over 50 years of service, shares the challenges she faces after losing her insurance and transitioning to a Medicare Advantage plan, which has resulted in exorbitant out-of-pocket costs for essential medications. Lisa, also a nurse, provides insight into the...

In this vulnerable episode, Dr. Le Ondra Clark Harvey shares her deeply personal journey with breast cancer, from the initial shock and sadness to finding strength and purpose in spreading awareness. She recounts how she used humor and social media to cope, wearing funny t-shirts post-surgery to spark conversations. Dr. Clark Harvey also delves into the emotional challenges, including her struggle...

In this inspiring episode, Jess Isomoto, a stage 3 breast cancer survivor, shares her journey from diagnosis to advocacy. Diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in February 2020, Jess discusses the challenges she faced accessing care, especially as an Asian American woman during the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlights the importance of patient advocacy, the need for better representation and suppo...

In this illuminating episode, Reverend Tammie Denyse, a breast cancer survivor, ordained minister, tireless advocate for Black women's health, and co-founder of Carrie's TOUCH, shares her story of dedicating nearly two decades to addressing the alarming 41% higher mortality rate for Black women with breast cancer compared to white women. We explore Reverend Tammie's inspiring journey from diagnosi...

In this eye-opening episode, Tonya Benefield shares her challenging journey to diagnosis and treatment. Tonya faced numerous obstacles, including being initially told she was too young for a mammogram, experiencing multiple appointment cancellations and referral issues, and dealing with insensitive medical staff. She highlights the critical support she received from Carrie's TOUCH, which helped he...

In this insightful episode, Dr. Kasandra White, an obstetrician-gynecologist, discusses the critical issues surrounding healthcare access and the patient experience, particularly for Black women. She shares her personal and professional perspectives on the systemic challenges within the healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed care and the need for empathy and individualize...

Reverend Tawana Angela Davis, PhD shares her eight-year journey battling metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2016, she underwent extensive treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery, and a clinical trial for immunotherapy, which significantly reduced her cancer. Throughout her journey, she emphasized the importance of community support, self-advocacy, and maintaining faith. She a...

Rev. Dr. Tammie Denyse, a 19-year breast cancer "overcomer," shares her powerful story advocating for timely, equitable healthcare access. As a Black woman who defied her 5-year survival odds, she illuminates the harsh realities many patients face due to utilization management barriers imposed by health plans.  Protocols like step therapy prevent cancer patients from accessing medications recommen...