Determinants of Her Health

Content Warning: This episode briefly discusses suicide and child abuse.In this episode, Dr. David Clarke shares how an unexpected patient case led him to specialize in neuroplastic symptoms. These are real physical pain and illness caused by the brain's response to stress and trauma rather than an underlying physical condition.We discuss how trauma, anxiety, and depression can manifest as chronic pain, why these symptoms are often misunderstood, and how patients can begin addressing the root causes of their suffering. Dr. Clarke also explores the gender and racial disparities in pain treatment, particularly for women and women of color.Finally, we examine how greater awareness of neuroplastic conditions can improve patient outcomes while helping physicians better support patients with unexplained symptoms and reduce professional burnout.David D. Clarke, MD, is President of the Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (Symptomatic.me). He is also Clinical Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology Emeritus at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, USA. He is board-certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and has diagnosed and treated over 7000 patients whose symptoms were not explained by organ disease or injury. His book for patients, They Can’t Find Anything Wrong!, was praised by the president of the Society for Biobehavioral Science and Medicine as “truly remarkable.” His podcast is called The Story Behind the Symptoms, where he interviews patients to find the cause of their pain or illness, much as he did in his practice for decades.You can find Dr. Clarke on social media @daveclarkemdTo learn more about neuroplastic symptoms and perform the self-assessment, visit www.Symptomatic.me

Michelle learned she was intersex, having XY chromosomes, when she was 15 years old. This led to a lot of confusion about her identity and sexual expression in a time with limited resources and cultural understanding about intersex variations.Michelle went on to have surgery to reduce the perceived risk of cancer. She later learned that the risk was negligible, and these surgeries are often performed to “fix” genitalia and make intersex individuals more “normal”. Michelle reveals that these interventions are often not medically necessary; however, they indicate what our culture values.Interestingly (and frighteningly), legislation that limits gender affirming care for Trans individuals leaves an exception for people who are intersex. These surgeries may be performed on children as young as infants.People are afraid of the unknown, and it’s easy to approach these topics with a feeling of hesitation. Above all, people with intersex variations need to be recognized as people, completely normal and free from scrutiny or invasive procedures.Intersex is not something that is scary or rare. About %1.7 of people are born intersex. Compare this to %2 of people who are redheads and %.3 of people who are identical twins.I hope you enjoy this episode and my conversation with Michelle!Michelle Vande Hey is a Conscious Leadership & Trauma-Sensitive Coach, Author, Speaker & Advocate. She helps changemakers and caregivers rediscover who they are, reclaim their joy and own their power. As a Holistic Life Coach, Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator, and host of the Love Your Life On Purpose podcast, Michelle guides leaders to break free from self-sacrifice and burnout to reconnect with who they are outside of what they do.Connect with Michelle Vande Hey:https://www.instagram.com/michellevandehey/https://www.facebook.com/lightoflovemichelle/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-vandeheyhttps://www.youtube.com/@michellevandeheyPodcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434859Resources:InterACT - Advocates for Intersex Youthhttps://interactadvocates.org/Michelle’s When Story:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZlTc2xFRf0

In this episode, I’m joined by Jaye Wilson of Melinated Moms to discuss the Black maternal mortality crisis and the urgent need for accountability, advocacy, and systemic change.We explore how implicit bias shapes maternal healthcare experiences and outcomes, and why listening to and believing Black mothers is essential. With 80% of maternal deaths considered preventable, these conversations are not only necessary they are lifesaving.Jaye shares how advocacy, legislation, and community engagement intersect with reproductive justice and maternal health. We also discuss the broader impact of voting rights, environmental justice, and social determinants of health on Black and marginalized communities.This conversation is a powerful reminder that Black maternal health is a collective issue. “When we make birth safer for Black women, it becomes safer for all women.”Learn more about Melinated Moms at www.melinatedmoms.com  and connect with Jaye on social media @melinatedmomsBlack Mamas Matter Alliance:http://blackmamasmatter.org/

I am so excited to begin this journey with you!Each week, we will examine a different aspect of women’s health with topics ranging from black maternal health to PMDD, chronic pain, purity culture, and more. We’ll chat about specific examples, then zoom out to see the systemic issues driving them. This gives both a bottom-up and top-down look into the structures that determine our health and well-being. Each episode will give you tools and resources to advocate for yourself and the broader community of women working to shape healthcare in America. In this introductory episode, I explain two frameworks that will be utilized throughout this podcast. Reproductive Justice is defined by SisterSong as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.”This framework will guide our conversations as we uncover the systems that promote and impede the upholding of justice. Second, the social determinants of health (where our name comes from!) are the framework that examines how non-medical conditions affect our health and wellbeing. These include: Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Healthcare Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context. I also examine my own story, one of loss and hope. Henry Justice Felker (Hank) is my first child. He was stillborn on July 1st, 2020, after his umbilical cord compressed multiple times. Zooming out, there are systemic factors that led to his death, and issues that perpetuate stillbirth in the U.S. Follow on Instagram @determinants.pod and email me [email protected]