Patient Activation Network

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare disease that affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord. SMA may affect a person’s ability to eat, walk, or even, breathe. SMA is also the number one cause of death in infants. In this episode, Dr. Susan Begelman discusses what causes SMA, newborn screening and hope […]

On this episode of the Patient Activation Network Podcast, we talk to Phyllis S. Quinlan, author and nurse entrepreneur, about bullying in healthcare. Phyllis has practiced in a variety of emergency services, acute care, subacute care and long term care settings. She holds national certifications in Critical Care, Emergency Nursing and Nursing Professional Development; and […]

Sheila Warnock had several profound experiences change her life. First, she became sole caregiver of her ill mother and an emotional crutch for her best friend, Susan, who was diagnosed with cancer. By undertaking this dual role, Sheila truly experienced the tremendous burden caregivers have to endure. In 1988, she became part of a group […]

“This program helps military vets get the credits they deserve,” said Mary Beth Prendergast about the Vets to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at National University in San Diego. During this episode, Mary Beth discusses this program and how the flexibility of the program allowed a student to spend time with his mom […]

“As I got on the elevator that final time, I realized that this was the end of my clinical career.” Karen Daley, RN reflected on what it felt to walk out of the Emergency Room for the last time after an accidental needle stick led to a diagnosis of HIV and Hep C. “I just […]

Dr. Shawna Pandya dreamed of being a super hero as a little girl. As she grew, her dreams shifted to becoming an astronaut and medical doctor. While she may not done a cape to work, she is an every day hero who helps patients everyday and helps further our mission to explore this galaxy and […]

Did you know that January is Cervical Health Awareness Month? Sports reporter and television host, Erin Andrews, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016. Today, Erin is cancer-free and urging all women to see their doctors and get regular testing for this preventable and treatable disease. On this episode of the Patient Activation Network Podcast, Erin will […]

Jack Osbourne grew up in the public eye. In 2012, a problem with Jack Osbourne’s eye went public. After The Osbournes ended, Jack went on to star in a number of television shows. The first was Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie, a reality TV show that followed Jack’s journey to get into peak mental and physical shape in […]

“It felt really odd to me to walk into the transfusion center for chemo and see a room full of men my grandfather’s age and then go to a doctor’s appointment in a different room covered in balloon stickers and children’s handprints on the walls. Even finding other patients with a similar age and diagnosis […]

When we last spoke to Laura Blackwell, she shared her journey of being a young mom diagnosed with breast cancer. She is now a 10 year survivor of stage 1 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. You can hear her inspirational cancer journey here or by clicking the link below. Today, she is taking on a new kind of […]

Dr. Charles (Chuck) Wakefield has been living with multiple myeloma in 2003. Today, he is 73 years old and takes part in cycling events to raise awareness to this devastating disease. “I always tell people that if you are going to get cancer, this is the one to get,” states Dr. Wakefield about living with […]

“It is important to continue to be present. I remember years ago sitting with a friend eating ice cream and watching the sunset. I remember her saying that it is really cool having a friend that I can sit with and not say anything,” recalled author Patricia W. Fischer on how to talk to a […] The post PAN46: Being Present as a Cancer Care Partner with Patricia Fischer appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

“The recurrence did some positive things for me,” artist and filmmaker, Lucia Mauro, reflects on her second bout of ovarian cancer. “It made me live my life with a great sense of urgency because I didn’t know when it would come back. It made me do all of the things that I wanted to do […] The post PAN45: Filmmaker Lucia Mauro’s Cancer Journey appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

“I want to live everyday as if it is my last, because I don’t want to leave here with any regrets,” shared Rozzie Brilliant, stage four ovarian cancer survivor. On this episode, Rozzie discusses her diagnosis, her survivorship and how genetic testing caught cancer at an early stage for her daughter. About Rozzie Brilliant Rozzie […] The post PAN44: Rozzie Brilliant’s Ovarian Cancer Journey appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

“It is important for everyone, but especially young women with big dreams to hear this,” reflected Alex Coren about her decision to become a woman millennial entrepreneur in healthcare IT. “It definitely was not easy, but it was extremely worth it. It’s really important for younger women, especially in technology to know, that just because […] The post PAN43: Empowering Compassionate Care with Alex Coren appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

“When I started, if I walked to my mailbox and back, I was exhausted. I’m down about 90 pounds and 10 waist sizes,” reflected Michael Leppo on his weight loss. “That’s all great, but what is really amazing is the amount of energy I have. I feel like I have found the fountain of youth.” […] The post PAN42: Breaking the Chains of Food Addiction with Michael Leppo appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

“The last words he said to me were mom, I love you, I’m going home,” recounted author Michele Bell on the final moments with her son, Nicky, who she lost at only 18 years old to a rare form of cancer. “At that moment, I felt like a basketball went through my stomach. I fell […] The post PAN41: A Journey of Unconditional Love with Michele Bell appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

Nathan Jones was on vacation visiting his dad in Planeview, Texas at his physician office when a woman drove up. She had heard about the nasal spray my father was giving his patients for children with ear infections and drove eight hours from Arkansas for her two sick grand kids. It was at that moment […] The post PAN40: Clean Noses, Healthy Mouths, and Sugar Alternatives with Nathan Jones appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

“I was told by my primary care physician that I needed to see a urologist because of my elevated PSA level. I was concerned because we have a family history”, recalled Robert Grant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Concierge Key Health about a health scare that inspired the creation of the company. “I went to make […] The post PAN39: Upgrade your Healthcare Experience with Robert Grant appeared first on Patient Activation Network.

“One of the things that saved my life was a commitment to a daily practice,” reflected Katie Owens, the co-founder and president of the Healthcare Experience Foundation, on a significant health scare that shook her and her young family. “I had to find a way to reset myself and reset my health. We had to […] The post Healthcare Experience Foundation with Katie Owens appeared first on Patient Activation Network.