The Resilience Factor

The emergency department functions as a raw, unfiltered safety net for the underinsured, acting as a crucial entry point where systemic healthcare failures and social determinants of health are put on full display. In this episode, Dr. Heather Prendergast, a professor of emergency medicine and vice dean for clinical affairs at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, joins host Dr. Pamela M...

In this episode of The Resilience Factor, host Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Nicole (Camardo) Banwell, a certified nurse midwife and Doctor of Nursing Practice, to pull back the curtain on the hidden realities of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Chatting at 37 weeks pregnant with her second child, Nicole shares her dual perspective as a medical expert and an expectant mother navigati...

In this episode, host Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with triple board-certified oncologist and advocate Dr. Shikha Jain to pull back the curtain on the raw, human side of fighting life-altering illnesses. Moving far beyond clinical statistics, they confront the emotional weight of medical misinformation, the systemic barriers pushing women out of healthcare, and what it truly takes to maintain perspe...

Are you noticing that more women are facing major health shifts earlier than expected? This week, we bridge the gap between physical symptoms, cultural silence, and the systemic gaps in women's midlife healthcare. Host Dr. Pamela Mehta and prominent guest Dr. Sameena Rahman connect over the deep personal and professional experiences that drive a modern approach to intimate wellness, proving why a...

In this episode, host Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with board-certified urologist and pelvic floor surgeon Dr. Fenwa Milhouse to strip away the awkwardness around pelvic and sexual wellness. They dive deep into how hormonal shifts rewrite the rules of our daily comfort, skeletal strength, and intimate lives as we age. By looking past traditional boundaries, this conversation uncovers how advocating...

How do you build cognitive resilience? As we age, life presents an ongoing series of challenges, from physical setbacks to cognitive shifts. In this episode of The Resilience Factor, we sit down with Dr. Christie Chen - a geriatrician, internist, and assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic - to reframe how we look at longevity. Instead of focusing solely on extending the number of years we...

Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Betsy Grunch to talk about what it’s really like to deal with back pain. Dr. Grunch shares her own story of herniating three discs and navigating her personal wellness journey, bringing a uniquely empathetic perspective to a notoriously complex medical topic. Together, they break down the physical and mental resilience it takes to re...

On this episode of The Resilience Factor, host Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Dr. Jessica Gray, a board-certified family medicine physician, clinical assistant professor, and team physician for Texas Tech women's basketball. Dr. Gray pulls back the curtain on transitioning from a self-proclaimed "band nerd" to managing the high-stakes world of D1 collegiate sports medicine. The conversation dives...

Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Dr. Shannon Richey, a doctor of physical therapy and founder of Evlo Fitness, to dismantle the exhausting "more is more" philosophy that dominates the fitness world. After a career-stalling back injury forced her to rethink everything, Shannon discovered that many women are inadvertently under-stimulating their muscles while over-stressing their joints. This convers...

In this episode of The Resilience Factor, the host sits down with Dr. Anita Patel, a pediatric critical care physician who navigates the razor-thin line between life and death every single day. While her resume spans from the front lines of a high-stakes ICU at Children’s National to the cutting edge of AI and big data research, this conversation dives deep into the quiet, heavy moments that happe...

Whether you are a seasoned athlete, a sports parent, or someone navigating a high-pressure career, the pursuit of excellence is a universal journey. In this episode, host and fellow Bay Area local connects with five-time Olympian and three-time gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings to discuss the human side of professional dominance. They move past the highlight reels to explore the grit of injury re...

On the Resilience Factor, host and colleague Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Ariel, a Physical Therapist and founder of Pilates Sante, to bridge the gap between traditional rehabilitation and long-term athletic performance. After a childhood ballet injury led her to the Pilates reformer at just 12 years old, Ariel discovered that movement isn't just a byproduct of health - it is the catalyst for i...

In this episode, Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with celebrity nutritionist and wellness educator Mona Sharma to discuss how she transitioned from high-stakes corporate burnout to root-cause healing. After facing two heart surgeries in her 20s and realizing that a "quick fix" wasn't the answer, Mona returned to the ancient Ayurvedic practices of her childhood to rebuild her health. This conversation d...

In this episode of The Resilience Factor, Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Dr. Jen Fraboni (widely known as Doc Jen Fit), a Doctor of Physical Therapy who is dismantling the "passive fix" mentality in modern healthcare. As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mehta explores the vital bridge between surgery and physical therapy, highlighting why even the most perfect procedure fails without the right movement...

Dr. Pamela Mehta hosts her very first round table discussion, bringing together guests Kikau, Dana, and Jess to bridge the gap between the high-stakes world of theater and the gritty reality of mental resilience. Drawing from fifteen years as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mehta explores why physical healing often takes a backseat to the psychological battles of belonging and isolation. This conversat...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mari Mitrani, a physician-scientist who pivoted from a traditional medical path to pioneer a field that didn't even exist twenty years ago. From her early days witnessing "miracles" in a small clinic in Ecuador to navigating high-stakes FDA approvals for COVID-19 therapeutics, Dr. Mitrani discusses why she chose to bypass the "big boys" of pharma to build her...

What mindfulness looks like in the middle of a high-stress clinic day is often very different from the calm, polished images we see on social media. In this episode, host Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with mindfulness coach and educator Kate Ferguson to strip away the "clichés" and look at the actual mechanics of resilience. They explore how simple, sensory shifts can help healthcare professionals an...

Imagine standing in a locker room knowing you might be called into an NHL game at any second or perhaps never at all. Max Duganne joins Dr. Pamela Mehta to discuss the mental gymnastics of being the emergency backup goalie for the San Jose Sharks and the founder of Amble Clothing. They walk through the grit required to maintain an athlete’s edge while navigating sobriety, the loss of a father, and...

When the surgical anesthesia wears off, the real work begins, but it isn’t a journey you have to take alone. In this episode, Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Shelby Howard O’Hara, the visionary founder of Post Op Therapy, to discuss the often-ignored "middle ground" of healing. With over 25 years of experience, Shelby shares her journey from a massage therapist to a clinical expert who bridges the...

What happens when your lifelong passion is suddenly taken away? In this episode of The Resilience Factor, Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Danielle Slaton, a US Women's National Team defender and Olympic silver medalist. Danielle opens up about the "identity crisis" of a career ending earlier than expected and how she navigated the shift from the world stage to the broadcasting booth and the front...

Ever been told that high-end fashion is "supposed to hurt"? In this episode, Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with Dr. Joan Oloff, podiatric surgeon and founder of Joan Oloff Shoes, to debunk the myth that luxury footwear must be harmful. After decades of treating foot and ankle injuries, Dr. Oloff decided to fix the problem at its source by merging biomechanics with beauty. From her early days as a mus...

Perfect for sports parents, young athletes, and anyone navigating a major comeback, this episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to build a resilient life. Dr. Pamela Mehta, orthopedic surgeon and mom of three, sits down with Afsoon Johnston - a physical therapist and the first American woman to medal in World Championship wrestling - to discuss the high-performance mindset. Learn how to...

Perfect for healthcare leaders and patients, this episode reveals the systemic "Administrative Harm" currently undermining medical care. Emergency physician Dr. Mary Meyer and Infectious Disease specialist Dr. Charulata Ramaprasad  join Dr. Pamela Mehta to pull back the curtain on pandemic response and why corporate metrics are replacing clinical expertise. Learn how we can reclaim the doctor-pati...

In this episode, Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with optometrist and entrepreneur Dr. Jennifer Tsai to explore how modern eye care goes far beyond glasses. They discuss kids’ vision, athletes’ performance, dry eye and screen time, and how beauty, skincare, and eye health all connect—plus Jen’s journey building a thriving, regenerative, and preventative-focused eye practice and product line. Key Topics...

In this episode, Dr. Pamela Mehta sits down with neurosurgeon Dr. Rupa Juthani to talk about how our everyday choices shape our brain as we age. From hormones and sleep to diet, vaccines, hearing, and social connection, they explore how to protect your mind long before any diagnosis shows up. It’s a hopeful, practical conversation about staying sharp, independent, and vibrant for as long as possib...