E133: Dr. Emma Westermann on Cracks in the System, PANDAS, and the Shift to Direct Care

Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast with Dr. Kerry Reller! This week, returning guest Dr. Emma Westermann shares how her training in health policy at Harvard revealed the deeper flaws in the American healthcare system—and how that inspired her shift to direct care.Dr. Westermann opens up about the deprofessionalization of medicine, the hidden costs of insurance, and how the system fails complex patients. She also shares her personal journey navigating her son’s PANDAS diagnosis and how that led her to create a new coaching model for families dealing with neuroimmune conditions and medical trauma.This episode offers a powerful, behind-the-scenes look at what’s really driving medical burnout—and what might restore connection, purpose, and better care.00:28 – Meet Dr. Emma Westermann and her journey through health policy training at Harvard02:17 – What is health policy and how it influences patient care in America04:00 – Who really profits in healthcare? A breakdown of where the money goes06:07 – The deprofessionalization of medicine and why physicians are burning out08:30 – How the insurance industry drives cost and confusion for both doctors and patients10:23 – What “cost-effectiveness” models taught Dr. Westermann about valuing human life15:41 – Why direct care can restore purpose and better care for complex patients17:02 – Understanding PANDAS and navigating it as a physician-mom19:50 – Launching a coaching business to support families dealing with chronic illness and trauma24:56 – Coaching across state lines and helping families in care deserts25:16 – Can direct care be the future of American healthcare?26:41 – A hopeful vision for fixing what’s brokenConnect with Dr. RellerPodcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou... My linktree: linktr.ee/kerryrellermdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryrellermd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFamilyMedicineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearwaterfamilymedicine/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kerryrellermdClearwater Family Medicine and Allergy website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwa...Podcast: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou...Subscribe to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon music, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Pandora.