Why listening may be the most undervalued diagnostic tool in medicine

Nicole Bell is an engineer, entrepreneur, medical advocate, and author of What Lurks in the Woods, whose life was transformed when her high-performing husband developed rapid cognitive decline that was repeatedly misdiagnosed. Drawing on her background in engineering and diagnostics, Nicole brings a clear, systems-level lens to the failures of conventional testing, the complexity of Lyme and co-infections, and what it really takes to demand better care inside a dismissive medical system.Expect to learn:How Nicole’s training as an engineer and experience in diagnostics shaped the way she investigated her husband’s symptoms.Why standard Lyme testing often fails and how co-infections and other pathogens can masquerade as dementia and psychiatric issues.Practical ways to advocate for yourself or a loved one when doctors say “everything looks normal” but you know something is wrong.The emotional and logistical reality of being a caregiver, and how to think about asking for help without feeling like a burden.Why “demanding better” from the medical system is not being difficult—it’s necessary for finding true root causes and real healing.Nicole Bell