Storytelling, Health Literacy and Tweetchats
Earlier this evening, I had the great pleasure of discussing my experiences with love, grief and storytelling on the The Health Communications, Health Literacy and Social Sciences Tweetchat (#hchlitss). It’s hosted by Kathleen Hoffman and RV Rikard with whom I share a similar mind in all things health literacy and health disparities. In the transcript below you can follow our discussion on the dispelling myths and misconceptions in organ donation and End of Life planning, overcoming health disparities, and transforming the culture of the health care system. A broad cross-section of the country was represented by the tweeps (people on twitter) who joined in on the chat.
Health2.0 Spring Fling: Matchpoint Boston, A Preview
Today and tomorrow businesses and innovators are converging in Boston for launches and demonstrations of cutting edge technologies in healthcare. One of the highlights of this conference is an event called Matchpoint. Healthcare industry hosts and technology innovators are brought together for successive rounds of brief meetings to discuss specifically how a technology can meet … Read more
#HAWMC: The Human Brain & TEDMED2012—A Creative Explosion
Today’s post continues the month-long series called the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge (#HAWMC) created by WEGO Health. Open a Book. Choose a book and open it to a random page and point to a phrase. Use that phrase to get you writing today. Free write for 15-20 without stopping. “The final step was the … Read more
TEDMED2012…Let’s Caucus
Perhaps it is apropos that at the same time TEDMED chooses to move its conference east to Washington, D.C. it also adopts delegates over attendees and will debut 50 Great Challenges in health & medicine each of which has its own Challenge Advocate to lobby the vote of delegate in hopes of being selected into the final 20 Great Challenges. This might all feel vaguely familiar. Reminding you perhaps of the political conventions of old when presidential front-runners didn’t have their delegates wrapped-up ahead of time. Forgive me, for I digress. The Great Challenges initiative is an innovative way to bring interdisciplinary contributions to some of the most important problems of our time. I feel honored, as a delegate to be voting to narrow the focus down to twenty and appreciate the opportunity to meet and speak with several Challenge Advocates who might better inform my decisions. For better or worse, D.C. and lobbying go hand-in-hand. Thank-you TEDMED for bringing us more lobbying for good.
#HAWMC: Donate Life Month in Haiku
This post continues the month-long series called the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge (#HAWMC) created by WEGO Health. Today’s writing prompt: Health haiku. Write a haiku about your health focus. 5 syllables/7 syllables/5 syllables. Write as many as you like. Untitled #1 sharing my story maybe throw open new minds will you donate life … Read more
#HAWMC: Blossom Expectation
Blossom expectation, originally uploaded by Vangelis Bagiatis. This post continues the month-long series called the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge (#HAWMC) created by WEGO Health. Today’s writing prompt: Ekphrasis Post. Go to flickr.com/explore and write a post inspired by the image. Can you link it to your health focus? I must admit, the fact that … Read more
#HAWMC: Armed with the (super)Power to Persuade & Motivate
There are so many myths and misconception regarding the organ donation process. It would be nice to just hold up my specialized neuralyzer and remove the fear and misinformation and replace it with empathy and enlightenment. Instead, I access a profoundly painful event and expose myself, revealing some of my vulnerabilities to complete strangers. Perhaps, the ability to do this is indeed a superpower. But, this is what it takes to be effective so I do my best to recount my family story with authenticity and emotion so that I might educate, persuade and ultimately motivate my audiences.
6 Salient Sleep Specifics
1. Sleep is essential to survival. It is the third arm in the triangle of health that also includes diet and exercise. During sleep, several neurons have the opportunity to shut down and repair themselves while the brain may also exercise other neuronal connections that would deteriorate without this periodic activity. Areas responsible for social … Read more
Exactly What is a Seizure?
A seizure (or convulsion) is the collection of physical findings or changes in one’s behavior that occur after the brain has experienced an episode of abnormal electrical activity. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes and do not result in permanent injury. In some cases, however a seizure may last longer than 5 … Read more
8 Misconceptions About the Brain Debunked
There are just some things our memory holds on to despite the fact that the information is not true. The following are 8 misconceptions held by many of us regarding characteristics of our brains. Read on and try, yet again to correct those misconceptions. 1. MYTH. You only use 10% of your brain. TRUTH. A … Read more
