The Device Girls

Jaw clenching, neck tension, headaches, poor sleep—what if the things you’ve been blaming on stress are actually connected to something else?In this episode of The Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with speech-language pathologist Tricia Poindexter to unpack the world of orofacial myofunctional therapy and the surprising ways our breathing, tongue position, jaw, sleep, eating habits, and even posture can work together.Tricia shares her own experience of dealing with severe jaw pain, clenching, headaches, and tension—even relying on Botox for relief—before discovering at 32 that she had a tongue tie. That discovery completely changed the way she approached her own health and eventually her career.They also dive into mouth breathing, tongue ties, TMJ and jaw clenching, why simply treating symptoms may not solve the underlying problem, and what parents should pay attention to when it comes to their kids’ sleep, speech, picky eating, chewing, and oral development.If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just stressed,” “I’ve always had headaches,” or “I’ve always clenched my jaw,” this conversation might make you start asking different questions.Because sometimes the symptoms that feel completely unrelated… aren’t.Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine. ***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit #WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

Madison Gibbs was born without a fully developed uterus and was told as a teenager that carrying her own children might never be possible. Years later, she became part of a groundbreaking uterus transplant study that would completely change her life.In this episode, Maddie shares what it was like undergoing a 12+ hour transplant surgery with a 50/50 chance of success, going through IVF, experiencing pregnancy with a transplanted uterus, and ultimately carrying two children. She also opens up about pregnancy loss and meeting the woman whose incredible donation made her pregnancies possible. But this story goes far beyond medicine. Maddie shares how her diagnosis challenged her faith, the moment she believed God promised she would one day carry a child, and how she now looks back at a journey she never could have imagined. From a devastating diagnosis to helping pioneer a medical breakthrough, this is a conversation about motherhood, loss, faith, medicine, and what can happen when the impossible suddenly becomes possible.🎧 Watch now and hear Maddie’s incredible story.Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine. ***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit #WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

In Part 2 of our conversation with Lindley and Ashley, we’re going even deeper into the realities of organ donation — including the questions most people don’t think to ask until they’re suddenly faced with an impossible decision.This episode isn’t about convincing you to become an organ donor or telling you not to be one. It’s about understanding the process, knowing your options, and having the conversations with your family before you ever need them.We talk about the difference between brain death and DCD donation, what being a registered donor can mean for your family’s role in the decision-making process, and why Lindley ultimately chose to unregister herself while still believing strongly in the gift of organ donation.We also pull back the curtain on what families may experience when life support is withdrawn, what happens in the OR, honor walks, the emotional weight carried by healthcare professionals, and the importance of treating donors and their families with dignity through every step of the process.Some of these conversations are uncomfortable. That’s exactly why we believe they’re worth having.Our biggest takeaway? Know what you want. Ask questions. Understand the laws and procedures where you live. And most importantly, talk to the people you love now — because far too many families are forced to make these decisions without ever having had the conversation.This episode is intended for education and conversation and reflects the experiences and perspectives shared by our guests. Organ donation laws and procedures can vary by state and circumstance.Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine. ***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit #WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

In this episode of The Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with lead organ transplant coordinator Lindley Amsel and honorary Device Girl Ashley Duncan for an unfiltered conversation about the world of organ donation and transplantation.Lindley has worked on both sides of the process, from organ procurement to coordinating transplants, and she takes us behind the scenes of a system most people will hopefully never have to encounter firsthand.They break down how organs are matched and allocated, what makes an organ viable, why donor management looks different from the care of a patient expected to recover, and what actually happens between donation and transplantation.Then they get into the questions people are often afraid to ask: What does being a registered donor actually mean? How much say does your family have? Why does timing matter so much? Who pays for the process? Why can a donated organ still result in enormous transplant costs? And how do you know whether a transplant center is truly advocating for its patients?Lindley also shares the side of transplant medicine most people never see—the middle-of-the-night calls, patients waiting years for an organ, pediatric donation, compassion fatigue, recipients who turn down offers, directed donation, and some of the wildest donor stories she has encountered throughout her career.This episode isn’t about convincing you to become—or not become—an organ donor. It’s about education, asking better questions, advocating for yourself and your family, and having difficult conversations before you’re forced to make decisions during one of the hardest moments of your life.Before you register, make sure you understand what you’re agreeing to—and make sure the people you love know what you want.Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine. ***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit #WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

What happens when you stop playing it safe and decide to bet on yourself?In this episode of The Device Girls, Sarah and Haley sit down with Dan Payson, CEO and co-founder of All-Stars Surgical Assist, to talk about his journey from the clinical side of healthcare to med device sales, running a neurosurgery practice, and ultimately stepping into entrepreneurship.Dan shares why leaving a successful, comfortable career became one of the best decisions he ever made—and what he learned about risk, networking, problem-solving, and building a business along the way.They also dive into a career path many healthcare professionals don't even realize is available: independent surgical first assisting. Dan explains how providers can leverage their experience and licenses to create more flexibility, build their own book of business, and potentially develop an additional—or even primary—source of income.Dan also breaks down the less glamorous side of going independent: insurance reimbursement, billing, credentialing, navigating different state regulations, and the infrastructure required to actually get paid. All-Stars Surgical Assist was built to handle much of that back-end work so providers can focus on what they do best in the OR. Their current model supports independent surgical first assists with billing, appeals, credentialing support, and predictable payment structures.This conversation is about more than surgical assisting. It's about recognizing the value of your skill set, building relationships, solving problems, taking calculated risks, and realizing that the traditional career path may not be your only option.If you've ever considered entrepreneurship, freelancing, stepping outside of a traditional W-2 role, or simply wondered what else you could do with the experience you already have—this episode is for you.**Connect with Dan & All-Stars Surgical Assist:**📧 [email protected]🌐 https://allstarssurgical.com#TheDeviceGirls #MedDevice #MedicalDeviceSales #HealthcareCareers #SurgicalFirstAssist #HealthcareEntrepreneur #MedicalSales #Entrepreneurship #OperatingRoom #HealthcareProfessionals***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit #WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

What did heart surgery look like before modern technology, advanced monitoring, and standardized protocols?Lee Aldridge spent more than 43 years in perfusion and witnessed the field evolve from the early days of heart-lung machines to the technology used today. In this episode, he joins the Device Girls to share the stories behind that evolution, including equipment adjusted with wrenches, ice used to stop the heart, 61-hour shifts, early ECMO and LVAD technology, and the trial and error that helped shape modern cardiac surgery.Lee also shares the deeply personal side of his career, including raising a son with congenital heart disease, caring for more than 1,000 pediatric patients, and why he continues teaching the next generation even after retirement.From the terrifying realities of early cardiac surgery to the innovations that now save lives every day, this conversation is a look at just how far medicine has come and the people who helped get us here.🎧 Subscribe to Device Girls for more conversations about medical devices, healthcare, and the people behind them.Follow the Device Girls:Sarah Kruse: @sarahekruseHaley Gibson: @haleygibssonfit

In this episode, the Device Girls sit down with Maddy to talk about what happened when she followed God’s call to Africa and stepped into maternity wards where many of the resources we take for granted simply weren’t there.Maddy shares the reality of serving mothers and babies in low-resource communities, from her very first delivery ending in stillbirth to being handed a baby who wasn’t breathing and realizing no one else was coming to take over. She opens up about the heartbreak she witnessed, the strength of the women she served, and the moments that forced her to rely on God in an entirely new way.They also talk about the stark differences between healthcare in America and Africa, what gratitude looks like when you have very little, sharing Jesus across cultures, and the moments when Maddy saw prayer and faith meet seemingly impossible circumstances.This conversation is a powerful reminder that following God doesn’t always mean knowing what comes next. Sometimes it means simply saying yes, showing up, and trusting that He has a purpose for placing you exactly where you are.Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine. ***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit #WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls

Millions of women have been told that leaking when they laugh, pain after childbirth, or pelvic discomfort is "just part of life."What if it isn't?In this episode of The Device Girls, we sit down with Shaley Goad, owner of Pelvic Shift Physical Therapy, to talk about one of the most overlooked areas of healthcare. From postpartum recovery and pregnancy pain to pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder leaks, chronic constipation, painful intercourse, and even men's pelvic health, Shelli explains why so many people suffer in silence—and why they don't have to.We discuss:• The biggest myths about pelvic floor therapy• Why leaking urine is not a normal part of aging or motherhood• How pregnancy, childbirth, stress, posture, and even your jaw can affect your pelvic floor• Pelvic floor therapy for both women and men• What actually happens during a pelvic floor evaluation• How these conditions impact relationships, confidence, and everyday life• Why getting help sooner can dramatically improve your quality of lifeWhether you're preparing for pregnancy, recovering postpartum, experiencing symptoms yourself, or simply want to better understand your body, this conversation could change the way you think about pelvic health.If this episode helped you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear that it's not normal—and they don't have to live with it.📍 Learn more about Pelvic Shift Physical Therapy:https://www.thepelvicshift.com325-667-1607#TheDeviceGirls #PelvicFloorTherapy #Women'sHealth #PostpartumRecovery #Pregnancy #PhysicalTherapy #PelvicHealth #Motherhood #Healthcare #AbileneTexas

What happens when the healthcare system fails one of its own?After spending 7 years as an ER nurse, Aly Hayon found herself on the other side of the hospital bed. What followed was a series of events that changed the way she views medicine, patient advocacy, and personal health forever.In this episode, Aly shares:• What happened after she began experiencing unexplained seizures• Why she ultimately walked away from emergency nursing• Her perspective on burnout, patient advocacy, and the current healthcare system• The lifestyle changes she says transformed her health• Why she believes prevention deserves a bigger role in healthcareWhether you agree with every perspective shared or not, this conversation challenges us to ask important questions about patient care, provider burnout, and what it means to truly pursue health.We'd love to hear your thoughts:⬇️ What do you think is the biggest challenge facing healthcare today?🎧 Watch the full conversation now.#TheDeviceGirls #Healthcare #Nursing #ERNurse #PatientAdvocacy #HealthPodcast #FunctionalMedicine #HealthcareWorkers #MedicalPodcast #Wellness #Prevention #HealthcareReform***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit

In this episode of The DEVICE Girls, we sit down with Camryn Silverton, a Physician Assistant working in one of the nation's busiest emergency departments, to uncover what life inside the ER is *really* like.From believing her medical career was over after fainting during her first clinical experience to now treating patients in a Level I Trauma Center, Camryn shares the journey that reshaped her confidence, her purpose, and her definition of success.Together, we discuss:* Camryn's path to becoming an Emergency Medicine PA* The moment she thought she'd never work in medicine again* What actually happens behind the scenes in a busy emergency room* Why ER wait times are longer than most people realize* The healthcare system challenges providers face every day* Insurance, overcrowding, and the hidden factors impacting patient care* The emotional weight healthcare providers carry after every shift* Why communication and compassion matter just as much as clinical skillThis conversation offers an honest look at emergency medicine from someone living it every day. Whether you're a healthcare professional, considering a career in medicine, or simply want to better understand what happens after walking through the ER doors, this episode provides valuable insight into the realities of patient care.If this episode impacted you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation.#TheDEVICEGirls #EmergencyMedicine #PhysicianAssistant #Healthcare #ER #EmergencyRoom #HealthcareWorkers #PatientAdvocacy #Medicine #MedicalPodcast***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit