@MyHealthReimagined #health, #healthequity, #thrive, #unheardvoices, #resilience, #scienceliteracy, #underrepresentedcommunities, #medicalbias

This highlight compilation of episodes 1-5 of the THRIVE podcast series (presented by MY HEALTH REIMAGINED), is shared as a celebration of the show's first 90 days in helping to uplift unheard voices and reshape how health is understood.MY HEALTH REIMAGINED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting voices that historically are unheard, underrepresented, or undervalued in health narratives. Through storytelling, conversation, and community engagement, we are building a living archive of perspectives that challenge narrow, mono-perspective health narratives.We understand that persistent health inequities are reinforced not only by access gaps and structural barriers, but by dominant narratives that frame marginalized communities primarily through risk and deficit rather than an acknowledgement of resilience, dignity, and full humanity. The risk-based narratives influence: Clinical research design and participant selection Healthcare interactions and treatment strategiesPolicy priorities and funding allocationBlack and Brown communities are most impacted by inequitable outcomes and are most often excluded from shaping the stories that guide these systems. My Health Reimagined addresses this imbalance by positioning community storytelling as a lever for accountability, trust‑building, and systems change.This work is about reshaping how health is understood, how outcomes are discussed, and how studies are designed. And, we are doing the work one conversation at a time.Conversations are guided by our pillar THRIVE components: Transforming mis-calibrated health standards to better represent our communities; Honoring the sovereignty of our health data and shifting decision-making power; Reclaiming our resiliences, strengthening our strengths, and realizing the origins of our risks; Innovating strategies to enhance our whole-person health; Valuing our ancestral and cultural roots; Exchanging knowledge through storytelling and the arts.LaVerne L. Brown, Ph.D. is the host and founding executive director at My Health Reimagined. LaVerne experienced firsthand how our stories were missing from narratives that determined the significance of some health outcomes over others and the appropriateness of established health standards. Motivated by a disconnect between her personal story and her professional career as a biomedical scientist, LaVerne launched My Health Reimagined to offer a space for storytelling and bi-directional learning. She recognizes the crucial role of our stories in shaping health policies, and she believes that, by sharing our stories, we can help rebuild a health system that better serves all.LaVerne has an earned Ph.D. in natural products chemistry (1998) and post-doctoral training in medicinal chemistry (2001). She’s also gained experience as a policy fellow (2016-2018) via the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) policy program. For the past 25+ years, LaVerne has used her training and experiences for educating, community outreach, health advocacy, and policy/program reform. For fun, LaVerne loves dancing to her favorite tunes, trying new dishes at outdoor cafes, and knitting while sitting in a cozy spot in front of the fireplace.

In this episode of the THRIVE podcast series (presented by MY HEALTH REIMAGINED), LaVerne tells her story of becoming a first time mom and experiencing one of her greatest frustrations with inequities in our health systems. She recalls how she couldn’t shake the angst of feeling powerless and voiceless in a hospital where she later learned that her daughter had suffered from a sensitivity to dairy products.Listen to LaVerne's story and understand why nearly 14 years later she's still emotional when remembering how she was made to feel during that time in her life.MY HEALTH REIMAGINED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting voices that historically are unheard, underrepresented, or undervalued in health narratives. Through storytelling, conversation, and community engagement, we are building a living archive of perspectives that challenge narrow, mono-perspective health narratives.We understand that persistent health inequities are reinforced not only by access gaps and structural barriers, but by dominant narratives that frame marginalized communities primarily through risk and deficit rather than an acknowledgement of resilience, dignity, and full humanity. The risk-based narratives influence: Clinical research design and participant selection Healthcare interactions and treatment strategiesPolicy priorities and funding allocationsBlack and Brown communities are most impacted by inequitable outcomes and are most often excluded from shaping the stories that guide these systems. My Health Reimagined addresses this imbalance by positioning community storytelling as a lever for accountability, trust‑building, and systems change.This work is about reshaping how health is understood, how outcomes are discussed, and how studies are designed. And, we are doing the work one conversation at a time.Conversations are guided by our pillar THRIVE components: Transforming mis-calibrated health standards to better represent our communities; Honoring the sovereignty of our health data and shifting decision-making power; Reclaiming our resiliences, strengthening our strengths, and realizing the origins of our risks; Innovating strategies to enhance our whole-person health; Valuing our ancestral and cultural roots; Exchanging knowledge through storytelling and the arts.LaVerne L. Brown, Ph.D. is the host and founding executive director at My Health Reimagined. LaVerne experienced firsthand how our stories were missing from narratives that determined the significance of some health outcomes over others and the appropriateness of established health standards. Motivated by a disconnect between her personal story and her professional career as a biomedical scientist, LaVerne launched My Health Reimagined to offer a space for storytelling and bi-directional learning. She recognizes the crucial role of our stories in shaping health policies, and she believes that, by sharing our stories, we can help rebuild a health system that better serves all.LaVerne has an earned Ph.D. in natural products chemistry (1998) and post-doctoral training in medicinal chemistry (2001). She’s also gained experience as a policy fellow (2016-2018) via the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) policy program. For the past 25+ years, LaVerne has used her training and experiences for educating, community outreach, health advocacy, and policy/program reform. For fun, LaVerne loves dancing to her favorite tunes, trying new dishes at outdoor cafes, and knitting while sitting in a cozy spot in front of the fireplace.

Health systems, policies, environmental injustices, etc. that perpetuate risks and disease burdens inequitably in our communities need to be fixed. And, while we work to fix these systems (and reduce risks), it is also important that we seek to innovate solutions to strengthen our strengths. To do this, we must expect researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to acknowledge our whole story (the systems that perpetuate our risks and the strengths that lead to our resiliences). Only then can we better understand the resources needed to sustain our resiliences.Join the membership at www.myhealthreimagined.org for members-only content on resilience.In this members-only content, LaVerne provides a detailed overview of the role of resilience and our health. She also addresses many questions that are relevant to resilience and long term health outcomes. Join the membership and view the full episode at www.myhealthreimagined.orgMY HEALTH REIMAGINED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting voices that historically are unheard, underrepresented, or undervalued in health narratives. Through storytelling, conversation, and community engagement, we are building a living archive of perspectives that challenge narrow, mono-perspective health narratives.We understand that persistent health inequities are reinforced not only by access gaps and structural barriers, but by dominant narratives that frame marginalized communities primarily through risk, deficit, and pathology rather than an acknowledgement of resilience, dignity, and full humanity. These narratives influence: Clinical research design and participant selection Healthcare interactions and treatment strategiesPolicy priorities and funding allocationsBlack and Brown communities are most impacted by inequitable outcomes and are most often excluded from shaping the stories that guide these systems. My Health Reimagined addresses this imbalance by positioning community storytelling as a lever for accountability, trust‑building, and systems change.This work is about reshaping how health is understood, how outcomes are discussed, and how studies are designed. And, we are doing the work one conversation at a time.Conversations are guided by our pillar THRIVE components: Transforming mis-calibrated health standards to better represent our communities; Honoring the sovereignty of our health data and shifting decision-making power; Reclaiming our resiliences, strengthening our strengths, and realizing the origins of our risks; Innovating strategies to enhance our whole-person health; Valuing our ancestral and cultural roots; Exchanging knowledge through storytelling and the arts.LaVerne L. Brown, Ph.D. is the host and founding executive director at My Health Reimagined. LaVerne experienced firsthand how our stories were missing from narratives that determined the significance of some health outcomes over others and the appropriateness of established health standards. Motivated by a disconnect between her personal story and her professional career as a biomedical scientist, LaVerne launched My Health Reimagined to offer a space for storytelling and bi-directional learning. She recognizes the crucial role of our stories in shaping health policies, and she believes that, by sharing our stories, we can help rebuild a health system that better serves all.LaVerne has an earned Ph.D. in natural products chemistry (1998) and post-doctoral training in medicinal chemistry (2001). She’s also gained experience as a policy fellow (2016-2018) via the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) policy program. For the past 25+ years, LaVerne has used her training and experiences for educating, community outreach, health advocacy, and policy/program reform. For fun, LaVerne loves dancing to her favorite tunes, trying new dishes at outdoor cafes, and knitting while sitting in a cozy spot in front of the fireplace.

In this episode of the THRIVE podcast series (presented by My Health Reimagined), LaVerne and guest co-host, Dr. Lee Bynum, welcome Christian Ortiz, developer of Justice AI GPT. Christian talks to LaVerne and Lee about the Justice AI GPT framework that was designed to prioritize marginalized perspectives and address the biases that plague other AI models. Hear Christian's story in realizing the need for Justice AI GPT and learn about Christian's aspirations for next steps.MY HEALTH REIMAGINED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting voices that historically are unheard, underrepresented, or undervalued in health narratives. Through storytelling, conversation, and community engagement, we are building a living archive of perspectives that challenge narrow, mono-perspective health narratives.We understand that persistent health inequities are reinforced not only by access gaps and structural barriers, but by dominant narratives that frame marginalized communities primarily through risk and deficit rather than an acknowledgement of resilience, dignity, and full humanity. These risk-based narratives influence: Clinical research design and participant selection; Healthcare interactions and treatment strategies; Policy priorities and funding allocations. Black and Brown communities are most impacted by inequitable outcomes and are most often excluded from shaping the stories that guide these systems. My Health Reimagined addresses this imbalance by positioning community storytelling as a lever for accountability, trust‑building, and systems change.This work is about reshaping how health is understood, how outcomes are discussed, and how studies are designed. And, we are doing the work one conversation at a time. Conversations are guided by our pillar THRIVE components: Transforming mis-calibrated health standards to better represent our communities; Honoring the sovereignty of our health data and shifting decision-making power; Reclaiming our resiliences, strengthening our strengths, and realizing the origins of our risks; Innovating strategies to enhance our whole-person health; Valuing our ancestral and cultural roots; Exchanging knowledge through storytelling and the arts. LaVerne L. Brown, Ph.D. is the host and founding executive director at My Health Reimagined. LaVerne experienced firsthand how our stories were missing from narratives that determined the significance of some health outcomes over others and the appropriateness of established health standards. Motivated by a disconnect between her personal story and her professional career as a biomedical scientist, LaVerne launched My Health Reimagined to offer a space for storytelling and bi-directional learning. She recognizes the crucial role of our stories in shaping health policies, and she believes that, by sharing our stories, we can help rebuild a health system that better serves all.LaVerne has an earned Ph.D. in natural products chemistry (1998) and post-doctoral training in medicinal chemistry (2001). She’s also gained experience as a policy fellow (2016-2018) via the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) policy program. For the past 25+ years, LaVerne has used her training and experiences for educating, community outreach, health advocacy, and policy/program reform. For fun, LaVerne loves dancing to her favorite tunes, trying new dishes at outdoor cafes, and knitting while sitting in a cozy spot in front of the fireplace.

In this episode of the THRIVE podcast, presented by My Health Reimagined, LaVerne welcomes guest, Denise Sweet. Denise shares a story about missing the warning signs and then recovering from life-threatening complications with diabetes. She attributes her recovery to being fortunate to have excellent health insurance coverage and patient-doctor trust. Denise’s story also highlights the role of science in achieving health equity, as she tended to challenge the one-size-fits-all approach to treatment strategies.Some helpful references and resources:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK618744/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279012/https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications/ketoacidosis-dka/dka-ketoacidosis-ketoneshttps://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications/ketoacidosis-dka/dka-ketoacidosis-ketoneshttps://tcf.org/content/report/advancing-health-equity-for-black-communities-through-insurance-reform/#:~:text=Black%20communities%20in%20the%20United,3%20percent%20of%20white%20adults.https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/Publicly%20Insured%20and%20Uninsured%20Patients%20Are%20More%20Likely%20to%20Be%20Treated%20Unfairly%20in%20Health%20Care%20Settings%20Because%20of%20Their%20Coverage%20Type.pdfhttps://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/diabetes-and-blackafrican-americans#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20Black/African%20American,get%20a%20yearly%20eye%20exam.https://promedeast.com/limb-loss-statistics/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11892-025-01598-yhttps://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2023/08/01/01/42/Health-Equity-in-Action-Improving-Outcomes-For-Black-Americans-Living-With-PAD#:~:text=Racism%2C%20Risk%20and%20PAD,education%2C%20cyclical%20poverty%20and%20incarceration.https://diabetes.org/advocacy/amputation-prevention-alliance#:~:text=Every%203%20minutes%20and%2030,breast%20cancer%2C%20and%20colorectal%20cancer.My Health Reimagined is a nonprofit organization that uses a podcast series as a platform to uplift stories that historically are unheard, underrepresented, or underappreciated in health narratives. Our stories aim to reshape how health is understood, how outcomes are discussed, and how studies are designed.

In this episode of the THRIVE podcast, presented by My Health Reimagined, twin sisters discuss feeling unheard when physicians make assumptions about (or become distracted by) their health vs. their twin sister’s health.The identical twin health journeys move beyond shared genetics and expose the subtle, often overlooked epigenetic shifts (that can result from environmental exposures). Their stories highlight the importance of advocating for a deeper understanding of our own personal health narratives.My Health Reimagined is a nonprofit organization that uses a podcast series as a platform to uplift stories that historically are unheard, underrepresented, or underappreciated in health narratives.

In this episode of the THRIVE podcast, presented by My Health. Reimagined, LaVerne is joined by Dr. Lee Bynum (host of the Score podcast). In their conversation, LaVerne and Lee wove together personal history, family roots, and the big ideas that inspired LaVerne to launch My Health Reimagined, a space where stories that have too often gone unheard are brought into the light. LaVerne and Lee took a deep dive into upbringing and curiosity, the intersections of identity and health, and why reimagining health matters so deeply right now. If you care about human-centered health, narratives that shift our view of health and science, or why our stories matter in shaping the systems that shape us, this chat will feel like an invitation to reimagine with us. May this conversation ripple outward, nudging us all to listen more deeply, speak more honestly, and build systems that honor the full richness of human experience.

Resourceshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5954269/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnm4Pu5Qtiwhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3964612/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3964612/Khan FA. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. J IMA. 2011 Jul;43(2):93–4. doi: 10.5915/43-2-8609. Epub 2011 Aug 10. PMCID: PMC3516052.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283305987_Competition_Selectivity_and_Efficacy_of_Analogs_of_A-84543_for_Nicotinic_Acetylcholine_Receptors_with_Repositioning_of_Pyridine_Nitrogen