Miguel Villarreal’s Post

This #WorldCancerDay, we want to draw attention to the care gap that prevents cancer patients worldwide from accessing the healthcare they need. Currently, roughly half the world's population lacks access to the full range of essential health services, leading to critical delays in receiving basic cancer care. Among other factors, this mostly occurs due to differences in income and education levels, geographical location, discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle. This year, let's raise our voices to #CloseTheCareGap. Get involved today and learn how you can contribute to the cause: https://lnkd.in/e6u5CiE

𝗔 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗛𝗜𝗩 🕒👨👩👦🦠 Last week, my 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 as a healthcare worker was truly tested. A young patient, already battling the challenges of 𝗛𝗜𝗩, began showing signs of a rapid decline. To effectively treat this child, we needed a complete picture of their health. However, a significant obstacle emerged – the child and the surviving father were not tested due to deeply ingrained 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 and the persistent 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗺𝗮 surrounding 𝗛𝗜𝗩. Determined to bridge this gap, we explored 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.  Through a 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 with the child's caregiver and trusted members of the community, we were able to establish a connection with the father. The focus was on 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, addressing his concerns with 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 and 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆. The journey wasn't easy, but it ultimately led to both the father and child undergoing testing. This 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 allowed us to not only confirm the father's status but, more importantly, offer him access to life-saving 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 (𝗔𝗥𝗧) ) 💊. Today, thanks to 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀  and 𝗮𝗱𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗥𝗧, this young patient has a renewed chance at a healthy life. The entire family, now receiving the support they need, stands as a testament to the power of 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 and the importance of breaking down stigmas. #Healthcare #HIV #Adherence #BreakingStigma #CulturalSensitivity 🌍❤️

🌟 Addressing Racial Disparities in Healthcare: A Call to Action 🌟 Jessica Pettway, a beloved beauty influencer, lost her battle with cervical cancer following a misdiagnosis. Her story is not just a personal tragedy but also a stark reminder of the urgent need to address racial disparities in healthcare. Jessica’s experience sheds light on the disparities that persist in our healthcare system, particularly for Black women. Studies have shown that Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer at later stages and have lower survival rates compared to their white counterparts. These disparities are rooted in systemic inequalities, including limited access to quality healthcare, implicit bias, and socioeconomic factors. As influencers, we are responsible for using our platforms to advocate for change. Let Jessica’s story ignite a fire within us to push for equitable access to healthcare for all. We must amplify the voices calling for increased funding for healthcare initiatives targeting underserved communities, culturally competent care, and more excellent representation of minorities in healthcare leadership roles. In honoring Jessica’s memory, let us commit to being allies in the fight against racial disparities in healthcare. Together, we can work towards a future without barriers to receiving timely and accurate medical care. Rest in peace, Jessica. Your legacy will inspire us to continue this vital work. 🕊️ #SocialEpidemiologyLab #HealthEquity #RacialDisparities #RIPJessicaPettway

Today – #worldcancerday – we join with the many global organizations working to build compassionate and inclusive care calling for change. Cancer impacts millions globally. And there are many inequities and gaps affecting the ability to get diagnosis and treatment.   Everyone deserves access to cancer care. People who seek care hit barriers at every turn – Where you live, your income, and education. And then there’s discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle that impacts care. The barriers and gaps can affect everyone. Yet these barriers can be overcome. Help #CloseTheCareGap

52% of women believe that gender discrimination negatively impacts their medical care. This is a very real issue in the #scleroderma community, as 80% of those receiving a diagnosis are women. Consider the following: Compared to men, women are typically diagnosed with cancer 2.5 years later, and this trend replicates in more than 700 diseases. Historically, women are excluded from clinical trials. The "medical standard" for symptoms is typically male-based. If you've heard "it's all in your head" or "learn to live with it" from a medical provider in response to your valid concerns... you are experiencing gaslighting. Being your own advocate is the most important thing you could do. If you have to get a second, or third opinion... do it. Don't allow your concerns to be swept under the rug. You can also reach out to us at SABC to find a reputable list of medical professionals. #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday22 #scleroderma #hardwordharderdisease #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease

Have you ever wondered how some individuals manage to lead such vibrant lives while dealing with chronic pain? 🤔 Mark your calendars for August 19 at 6:45 am PST, because I'm thrilled to bring you an insightful Live interview with Dr. Tolulope Olabintan! 🎉 Dr. Tolulope Olabintan, MD, AAHIVS, FAAFP, DipABLM is a Board-Certified Family Physician, Board certified with American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She also completed a Women’s Health Fellowship and is a certified HIV specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. She is fondly called by her patients as "Dr. O." Dr. O is also the owner and CEO of Livingspring Family Medical Center, a primary care center located in Mansfield, Texas. She has over 13 years of medical experience. She helps patients live long and well as she believes the quantity of life is just as important as the quality of life. She places emphasis on lifestyle changes that help patients thrive throughout life. Furthermore, Dr. O is a life-enthusiast, a Christian, wife, and mom who enjoys good cuisine and can’t get enough of the colors teal and orange. Trust me, you won't want to miss this enriching conversation that promises to uplift, educate, and spark a positive change in our lives. 🗓️ #living #empowerment #wellnessjourney #chronicpain #positivity #mindsetmatters #inspiration #wellness #selfcare #liveyourbestlife #mindbodysoul #healingjourney #empoweryourself #BelieveInYourself #lifestylechanges #holistichealth #mindsetshift #staypositive #healthtips #healthylivingtips

The holiday season is finally here! And with it, there are some great opportunities to have meaningful conversations with your family about health and your family's health history. In today's edition of the SDS Snapshots, we cover the importance of knowing your family health history and how to have these delicate and powerful conversations. We share a cool tool to map and visualize these powerful insights to maximize the impact for your family. #CureSDS #SDSScienceSnapshots #ShwachmanDiamond Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance

Discover how UCB is championing a better future for women with epilepsy. From tackling info gaps to strategic collaborations, Andrea Wilkinson - Global Head of Epilepsy & Rare Syndromes Patient Engagement - takes us through how we are making a difference. https://lnkd.in/eMa8jD2f #Epilepsy #ExploringEpilepsies