The Blog

 
🔎 Navigating Functional and Integrative Medicine- The Pitfalls to Watch For evidence based medicine functional medicine functional medicine practitioner functional medicine risks health advocacy holistic care holistic care risks independent health advocate integrative medicine laboratory tests medical decision making nutritional supplements practice of medicine Jul 10, 2025

Functional and Integrative medicine have gained significant popularity in recent years. The promise of treating the "root cause" of disease, personalizing care, and seeing the whole person rather than just a diagnosis is powerful — and I agree that these are valuable principles. However, there's ano...

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🎇 Is Your Doctor Dismissing You? How to Recognize and Stop Medical Gaslighting black women's health health advocacy health disparities health equity health inequities independent health advocate informed care advocacy informed decisions medical gaslighting minority health minority women patient voices shared decision making the need to be heard women's voices Jul 03, 2025

In an earlier post, I wrote about the one question to ask your doctor that can change your healthcare experience. But what if you don't feel heard, or you're symptoms are constantly being dismissed? What if engaging with the healthcare system makes you feel like you're continually going to battle? W...

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Life After Cancer: A Personal Perspective of What Survivorship Should Look Like aesthetic flat closure cancer survivorship programs coaching doctor eno advocates flattie health advocacy health literacy independent health advocate mastectomy mental health awareness mental wellness midlife wellness navigating survivorship post cancer care survivorship gap thriving after cancer whole person care women over 50 Jun 19, 2025

As a marathon runner, I have learned to apply the lessons from running to life. By the time I get to mile 18 and 23 in a race, I usually catch myself filled with self-doubt, like, whose idea was it to run this race again? Why am I doing this? Every fiber of my body is saying quit NOW! 

And then I h...

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No News Isn’t Always Good News: Why You Should Check Your Patient Portal health advocacy health literacy independent health advocate patient advocacy patient centered care patient education patient empowerment patient portal women's health Jun 04, 2025

Have you ever had lab work or imaging done and then waited to hear back from your doctor?

And when no one called, you thought—“Well, no news is good news, right?”

Unfortunately, that assumption can be risky. In today's fast-paced medical system, not hearing back doesn’t always mean everything is f...

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Can Your Zip Code Predict Your Health? care coordination doctorenoadvocates health equity health literacy implicit bias in healthcare independent health advocate social determinants of health structural racism and health May 28, 2025

When we think about what makes us healthy, we usually focus on diet, exercise, medication, and regular checkups. While all of these are important, they're only part of the story. The bigger picture—the one we often overlook—is shaped by what's happening outside the exam room.


 These seemingly invis...

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Medication Mix-Ups: How to Protect Yourself—and How a Health Advocate Can Help avoid medication errors care coordination doctorenoadvocates health literacy independent health advocate know your meds medication matters medication reconciliation medication safety navigating healthcare patient advocacy polypharmacy safemeduse May 22, 2025

According to the FDA, medication errors lead to approximately 7,000 to 9,000 deaths every year in the United States alone. And those are just the ones we know about. Countless other individuals suffer from side effects, hospitalizations, or long-term complications caused by mix-ups, duplications, or...

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How Informed Decision Making Can Improve Health Outcomes care coordination doctorenoadvocates enpowered patients health literacy independent health advocate informed care advocacy informed decisions know your options navigating healthcare patient centered care shared decision making smart health choices May 21, 2025

Picture this: You've just left the doctor's office. You've received a new diagnosis. You're still trying to process the words when the doctor starts talking about next steps—you'll be scheduled for additional diagnostic testing, then a referral to a specialist, and you leave the office with instruct...

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Five Ways a Health Advocate Can Support Your Mental Health black mental health doctorenoadvocates health care advocate independent health advocate mental health awareness mental wellness navigating healthcare May 07, 2025

Mental health is an essential part of our overall well-being, yet finding the right support can be challenging, especially for people of color who may face cultural, social, and systemic barriers.

In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness month, here are five powerful ways an independent ...

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