Nicole Rakowski - Compassionate Strangers in a Moment of Crisis

Marcus welcomes Nicole Rakowski and how a hike nearly turned deadly and what Nicole saw while thinking she was dying. Find out how collaboration between strangers saved her life and what her experience teaches about patient experience. The two trauma survivors discuss pain and when to throw Maslow’s pyramid out the window. Before the two-talk patient experience in hospitals, they touch on Nicole’s other work, that of being a professional athlete and her passion for all things physiology and kinesiology to help people live their best lives. Don’t miss this special episode with two survivors and thrivers.Key topics:00:00 – Introductions01:15 – Marcus asks Nicole to share her story of trauma and compassion.08:20 – Nicole answers some follow up questions and asks if there were any standout acts of compassion that she experienced. 13:11 – Nicole shares her working experience, both before and after her accident.16:44 – Marcus and Nicole talk about the emotional and psychological support systems that are so important around trauma. 20:20 – Nicole talks about the interaction between her personal experience and professional goals in healthcare and life in general.28:00 – Marcus and Nicole circle back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how it may not always be the best care plan. Sometimes there are real needs psychological needs getting in the way of healthcare. 32:52 – Marcus asks his rapid-fire questions, but with a twist! Nicole would like people to remember to “be kind to one another.”36:30 – Thank you and conclusions! Resources for you: More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/Connect with Nicole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rakowskinicole/Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/Subscribe to the podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcastSubscribe to the podcast through Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcastMore About Nicole Rakowski:Nicole is currently completing her PhD in Health Management through the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and is also part of the sessional faculty teaching various courses. Her research interests include healthcare governance structures, digital health technologies and genomics, fitness and physiology, complex chronic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and management techniques used to improve the patient experience.Nicole’s particular dissertation focuses on obesity, specifically examining health services and policy frameworks related to risk factors with a focus on disease prevention, control and management at the local, national and international level. The question of whether digital health-based policies, strategies and approaches designed to prevent, control, or reverse obesity can be used to effectively enhance population health and improve health systems is an important one from a health systems and management point of view. Understanding how and why individuals engage with digital health technologies in an effort to prevent and control obesity is crucial to disease prevention at a population level.Date: 2/20/2023Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in HealthcareEpisode title and number: Episode 90 - Nicole Rakowski - Compassionate Strangers in a Moment of Crisis