Becoming Your Own Health Advocate in the Face of Overwhelming Opposition

In any society, physicians are rightfully respected as knowledgeable caretakers of our health. However, the paradigm of the physician-patient relationship is shifting to one of equal partnership, where patients take an active role in the decisions regarding their diagnosis and treatment, leading to better health outcomes. Join multiple sclerosis patient Sagirah Ahmed Norris and her doctor, Dr. Juan Carlos Olivares Gazca, to learn how you can find medical professionals who are open to this new approach, and how you can empower yourself to become your own best health advocate.

Sagirah Ahmed Norris

Bridget Finkeldey

Former model and creative director. Wife & Mother in Houston, TX. Diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis in rapid decline sought international medical intervention at clinica ruiz in the form of HSCT to halt progression of MS. After regaining the ability to run again is now running the worlds major marathons to inspire other patients to the lesser known treatment and enabling the knowledge to patients to become their own health advocates.

Dr. Juan Carlos Olivares Gazca, MD, MPH

Bridget Finkeldey

Dr Olivares-Gazca is a transplant physician with training in research and public health. His research line is quality of life in chronic diseases with a particular focus on autoimmune conditions and the impact of stem cell transplantation in the quality of life of the patients. He is part of the clinical research laboratory of Dr Guillermo Ruiz-Arguelles evaluating the outcomes of patients transplanted. Dr Olivares-Gazca currently works on a project to determine the impact of HSCT in the quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. He is transplant coordinator at HSCT Mexico Clinica Ruiz, Puebla.

Rockelle Grenee

Ayla Morwin

Enterprise Account Executive at PowerToFly - Working with enterprise companies to increase their number of underrepresented people and working with these companies to make the world a better place!

Talks about: health, chronic disease, disability, advocacy