Summary

In this episode of the Hey Hannah podcast, Dr. Mya interviews Melissa Winger, a passionate advocate for patient rights and healthcare reform. Melissa shares her personal journey as a mother of a son with severe disabilities and the challenges she faced navigating the medical system. She discusses her motivation to write her book, 'Who Cares?', which aims to empower patients and families in their healthcare journeys. The conversation covers practical tips for advocating in healthcare, the importance of self-care for caregivers, and the emotional complexities of processing grief and expectations. Melissa emphasizes the need for systemic change in healthcare and her ongoing advocacy efforts.

Takeaways

• Melissa Winger's journey began as a young mother facing healthcare challenges.

• The medical system often overlooks young parents and their concerns.

• Documentation is crucial when navigating healthcare.

• Caregivers must prioritize self-care to avoid burnout.

• Grief over lost expectations is a common experience for parents of children with disabilities.

• Advocacy can stem from personal experiences and frustrations with the system.

• Melissa's book aims to provide insights and support for families in similar situations.

• Community support is vital for caregivers.

• Perspective can shift the way we view our loved ones' challenges.

• Healthcare providers also face frustrations within the system.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Patient Advocacy

02:57 Melissa's Personal Journey with Healthcare

05:42 The Challenges of Navigating the Medical System

08:27 Writing the Book: Who Cares?

11:08 Practical Tips for Advocating in Healthcare

14:09 Balancing Caregiving and Self-Care

16:56 Processing Grief and Expectations

20:01 Finding Purpose in Advocacy

22:55 Current Advocacy Efforts and Future Goals

25:38 Final Thoughts and Advice

Guest: Melissa Winger

Title: Certified Healthcare Quality and Patient Experience Professional
Mission: Advocating for healthcare reform by centering the patient experience, informed by nearly 30 years of caregiving for her son with severe disabilities.

Overview:
A deeply personal and eye-opening look at the U.S. healthcare system from the perspective of a caregiver. Melissa shares her journey navigating emergency medicine, long-term care, and everything in between—offering both powerful storytelling and practical insight on how the system can and must improve.

www.whocaresbooks.com
Includes:

• Book purchase links

• Tip sheets for patient advocacy

• Social media links

• Additional resources to help patients and caregivers navigate the healthcare system

Book: Who Cares: The Real Patient Experience

Summary

In this episode of the Hey Hannah podcast, Dr. Mya speaks with Cori Myka, founder of Calm Within Adult Swim, about the unique challenges adults face when learning to swim. They discuss the mental blocks and fears that often prevent adults from gaining confidence in the water, the importance of understanding one's limits, and the transformative breakthroughs that can occur when individuals embrace vulnerability. Cori emphasizes that confidence is not merely a byproduct of skill acquisition but can be cultivated from within. The conversation highlights the significance of taking small steps towards learning and the empowering nature of overcoming fears, both in swimming and in life.

Takeaways

• Cori Myka has over 25 years of experience in adult swim education.
• Many adults struggle with swimming due to fear and mental blocks.
• It's important to address both mental and physical aspects of learning to swim.
• Confidence can be cultivated from within, not just through skill acquisition.
• Adults can learn to swim at any age, and it's never too late to start.
• Vulnerability is a strength that can lead to personal growth.
• Understanding one's limits is crucial in overcoming fear.
• Small wins should be celebrated as they contribute to overall confidence.
• Online swimming lessons can provide a unique approach to learning.
• The journey of learning to swim can empower individuals in other areas of life.

Summary

In this episode of the Hey Hannah podcast, Dr. Mya discusses the importance of addressing grief in the workplace and educational settings. She emphasizes the need for compassion and understanding, providing practical tools and policies to support individuals experiencing loss. The conversation covers how to communicate effectively, advocate for bereavement policies, and avoid common missteps when supporting grieving colleagues and students. Dr. Mya encourages listeners to take actionable steps towards creating a more empathetic environment.

Takeaways

• Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
• Grief doesn't pause for office hours or class schedules.
• Employees who feel supported are two times more likely to stay with their organization.
• One in eight college students reports the death of a loved one each semester.
• Avoid the at least language; it shrinks pain.
• Good policy is an institutional way of refreshing weary people.
• Grief lingers long past condolence cards.
• Compassion and confidence are not mutually exclusive.
• Supporting grief isn't a detour from our mission; it's part of sustaining it.
• People over projects, hearts before homework.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Grief in Work and Education

04:09 Creating Compassionate Policies

06:30 Practical Tools for Supporting Grief

10:22 Common Missteps and Best Practices

Keywords

grief support, workplace compassion, student bereavement, empathy in education, bereavement policy, emotional intelligence, workplace culture, mental health awareness, grief resources, compassionate communication