Navigating Chronic illness and inflammation with Dr. Natasha Punia

In this episode, Roi Shternin and Dr. Margret Jaeger delve into the critical role of medical anthropology in addressing contemporary healthcare challenges. They explore the shortcomings of the modern healthcare system, including its lack of a holistic approach, overspecialization, and systemic failures. The discussion advocates for greater cultural sensitivity, long-term strategic planning, and improved patient journeys. Tune in as they propose solutions such as integrating nurse practitioners and medical anthropologists into primary care, enhancing professional training, and establishing community health centers to bolster prevention and patient advocacy.

taken from keynote at the Digital Health Ljubljana conference, we address the invisible crisis at the heart of the healthcare system.You are a reflective achiever, burdened by guilt for resting while navigating a health struggle or life transition. You are trapped between the person you were and the purposeful direction you can’t yet see. This keynote offers the ultimate permission you need to heal while pursuing your purpose: by shifting your perspective.Roi, The Human Advocate, challenges digital health leaders and listeners alike with one core question: Are we truly building patient-centric care, or are we simply using it as a slogan?.more at: roishternin.com

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Aileen Rice Jones, Head of Public Affairs within Mental Health at Boehringer Ingelheim.This will be Aileen’s first time attending the Global Mental Health Community Summit! With deep expertise in corporate and public affairs, Aileen shares fresh insights into mental health innovation, policy, and advocacy—and how we can drive real-world change from high-level discussions.In this episode, we explore key outcomes from the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health, how to move from global recommendations to local, actionable impact, and why collaboration, equity, and patient-centered approaches matter more than ever! Tune in to our third and final episode of the mini-series to hear all about action and change! This may be the last episode of the series, but it’s only the beginning of what we can achieve together 

We talk a big game about "patient-centricity," but are we truly understanding what patients 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵.More about me: roishtrernin.comMy book: https://tinyurl.com/54b999cw

This is a special series where I explore my journey as a co-host of Boehringer’s Global Mental Health Community SummitIn Episode 2, I sat down with the incredible Falk Schuster, a dedicated advocate who brings a vital lived experience perspective as someone living with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). He's also joining us as a speaker on Day 2 of Boehringer’s Global Mental Health Community Summit (GMCS25), where we are discussing #RedefiningMentalHealthcareTogether. And how do we redefine #mentalhealth care together? We start by listening to people’s lived experiences. So, join me in listening to Falk as he shares his personal journey and explains why centering people’s voices is non-negotiable for progress. Plus, Falk attended last year’s inaugural event, so we also catch up about the fun we had last year connecting with everyone! He's got some great stories to share about the experience. Tune in for an inspiring discussion!roishternin.com

New podcast series alert.As you all know I’m co-hosting the Global Mental Health Community Summit (GMCS25) this year again, and I’m so excited about it.This year’s event is focused on #RedefiningMentalHealthcareTogether. Boehringer Ingelheim has invited 60 of the most inspiring and motivated #mentalhealth advocates for three-days of connection, idea-sharing, and action towards meaningful change. It’s exciting!But wait, there’s more! This year I’m bringing you all with me behind the scenes as we plan the #GMCS25.Introducing…. the “Road to the Global Mental Health Community Summit” podcast mini-series!Where you’ll get to see the “magic”, the good, the bad, the ugly. The laughter, the smiles and even sometimes the mistakes. Each episode will feature incredible guests involved in building this event.In this first episode, I sit down with @Vanessa Pott, Head of Global #PatientEngagement at @Boehringer Ingelheim, to reminisce about last year’s event, talk a little about #PatientPoweredProgress and about what makes this year’s event so special.It’s really just a chat with an old friend – tune in!More about me: roishternin.com

We often feel like subjects in our own lives—navigated, tested, and surveyed. We all know that email that arrives after a medical appointment: "How did we do?" We fill out the survey, wondering if our patient feedback truly matters.Today, let's reframe that question. Your feedback isn't just feedback; it's evidence. It's a crucial part of a growing field known as patient experience data, and it's the key to real patient empowerment.Beyond the 1-10 Scale: What is Patient Data?When we think of data, we think of lab results and pain scales. But the most vital patient-reported outcomes (PROs) go far beyond numbers. Real data is the full story of your quality of life. It’s the data point of a waiting room chair being too hard for your back pain. It's the data point of feeling rushed during a consultation. It's the data point of the relief you feel when a doctor finally validates your experience.This qualitative data paints a picture that numbers alone cannot. It measures dignity, feasibility, and compassion within the healthcare system.From Anecdote to Evidence: Driving Systemic ChangeYour individual story is powerful, but when combined with hundreds of others, it becomes undeniable proof. This collective patient voice is what drives systemic change. It’s how patient advocacy groups can demonstrate the need for better communication protocols, more accessible clinic layouts, or a re-evaluation of a treatment's real-world side effects. Your experience helps build the business case for more compassionate and effective care.Your Self-Advocacy Toolkit: Better Healthcare CommunicationImproving the quality of patient experience data begins with us. True patient engagement means actively participating in our own care. Here are two simple strategies for effective self-advocacy:* The 30-Second Debrief: After every appointment, take a moment to note one thing that went well and one thing that could have been better. This simple form of symptom tracking and experience logging builds a powerful evidence file over time, making your healthcare communication more precise.* Translate Symptoms into Impact: This is key for shared decision-making. Instead of just saying, "My fatigue is bad," translate it into a functional data point. Say, "My fatigue is so severe that I must choose between taking a shower or making breakfast." This transforms a subjective feeling into a concrete piece of evidence about your quality of life.Your journey with a chronic illness has made you an expert. By consciously documenting and communicating your experience, you shift from being a passive patient to an active research partner in your own care. Your experience is not a byproduct of your illness; it is the evidence that will build a better future for all of us.Learn more about it in my book “What do Patients Want”.This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roishternin.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

In this high-impact episode, transcribed from a powerful address by Roi Shternin, we reveal a fundamental truth for the future of the MedTech industry. Speaking not as a CEO but as a patient who spent "almost a decade in bed, misdiagnosed," Roi argues that Vulnerability is a strategic asset for human-centered systems.This is a direct appeal to the Reflective Wounded Achiever audience who feels dismissed by the system, and a strategic guide for organizations seeking Undeniable Direction.We challenge the industry to move beyond regulatory boxes and recognize "lived experience" as the untapped goldmine of data. You will learn the business case, modeled by the pharmaceutical industry, that shows patient engagement leads to:Greater ROI and Better Market Access.Higher retention rates and reduced redesign needs.Roi provides Concrete Steps for MedTech companies to embed the patient voice, including establishing a Chief Patient Officer (CPO) and integrating Patient Experts in Residence directly into project teams.This episode balances Gentle Authority with Courageous Vulnerability, proving that developing solutions that are "humanistic at heart" is the only path for truly impactful innovation. The goal is clear: Let's change MedTech together.

In this profound reflection, I welcome Linda, a kindred spirit who transformed her own invisible battle with a debilitating chronic migraine. For years, Linda, like many Reflective Wounded Achievers, was defined by struggle, often left bedridden.This conversation maps the critical shift from Guilt-Ridden Stagnation to Purposeful Cultivation. Linda shares how she initiated the Inner Compass Model™: moving into a phase of Stillness (Rest and Reflection) to discover the raw material for her own healing.You will learn how to practice Restorative Learning—the gentle, digestible path to progress. Linda reveals the specific mindfulness techniques she used to dramatically reduce her migraines from three days a week to just the occasional bad day, proving that direction is cultivated internally through reflection, not found externally.This episode offers more than tips; it offers the clarity and validation needed to begin your own purposeful journey. We explore how true healing is achieved not through hustle, but through Cultivation—finding hope and Undeniable Direction even in chaos.More about her work: https://themindfulmigraine.blog/

In this one we dive deeper into the state of chronic illness, role of inflammation and the power of patient communities with the founder of InflamMed, A community dedicated to raise awarded and support for chronic conditions caused by inflammation.learn more about their work: https://www.inflammed.org/My work: roishternin.com