Montana was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 7. After three years of chemotherapy, she was declared cured, but began experiencing mental health challenges that grew until, at age 17, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. This week Montana chats with the fellas all about journey as a woman managing a sick body and how she uses her past experience in order to help others feel connected and whole, no matter what physical or mental challenges they may face, through coaching, yoga + meditation, wellness group facilitation and advocacy work.
Read moreNot Normal, but It's Okay ~ The Blood Cancer Experience Podcast with Samantha & Montana
In this special episode of the Blood Cancer Experience Podcast for adolescents and young adults, Samantha Redsky and I discuss the all things relationships!
We explore how a cancer experience can change the relationship you have with yourself, with your loved ones, and even with your own body.
Transformation on the COVID Ward: Compassion as Medicine with Ariel Lefkowitz
This Life Support podcast episode features a conversation with Dr. Ariel Lefkowitz, an internal medicine doctor who is currently caring for patients on the COVID ward outside of ICU who require hospitalization at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
Ariel speaks about how the experience of being at the centre of the world's focus through supporting patients without treatment options has transformed his life and practice.
A theme that comes up throughout our discussion is how this pandemic has exacerbated existing tensions in society. It provides an opportunity for us as individuals and a collective to redefine ourselves and choose a new path that is more supportive of humanity.
Ariel’s account of his momentous experience as a physician on the COVID ward was also recently featured in Toronto Life magazine. Photograph courtesy of Christopher Wahl.
Episode 5: Putting the Humanity Back into Addiction Treatment with Ashok Krishnamurthy
This episode features a fascinating conversation with Addiction Medicine Specialist, Dr. Ashok Krishnamurthy, where we discuss the corrosive impacts of stigma on individuals struggling with an addiction. We speak about how our health care system could better care for those attempting to overcome a substance abuse disorder, and the importance of treating people holistically. This conversation is a deep dive into some of the issues that we are facing in the field of addictions - systemically, socially, politically and psychologically. We also talk about how we can work together to build a more integrative system that puts the humanity back into addiction treatment!
Episode 3: Recovering Resilience in the Face of Mental Illness with Augustina Ampofo
Today's episode is with Augustina Ampofo, a mental health advocate who has been diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder and speaks openly about her experiences with psychosis.
During this conversation, we discuss why she became a mental health advocate and our complicated relationship with health-related labels. We also talk about the importance of creativity in her recovery process; specifically, how journaling, art therapy and dancing have been an integral part of her healing journey. Throughout the conversation, we break some misconceived notions about mental illness.
Episode 2: The Patient's Perspective from the Doctor's Perspective with Ariel Lefkowitz
Today’s guest is my friend Ariel Lefkowitz, someone who I met a few months ago and has been instrumental in the creation of this podcast.
Ariel is an internal medicine physician and medical educator at the University of Toronto. He has a background in theatre, improv, and creative writing, and his research focuses on ethics, improving physician communication, person-centred care, and the doctor-patient relationship.
We often go to doctors when we are at our most vulnerable - from the joy of giving birth to the devastation of our death. When there is something wrong with our bodies or minds, that can be incredibly scary and traumatic. Within this context, the relationships between doctors and their patients can be quite significant; particularly if we are being diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness.
So how do we build healthier and more equitable relationships between healthcare providers and their patients that promote healing while mitigating the effects of burnout? That is what we discuss in the conversation you are about to hear, along with topics such as improving communication between patients and doctors, the importance of advocacy for changes in the system, and how to create a more integrated healthcare system.