What Happens When Healthcare Starts With Humanity

When you’re told you have cancer, you’re thrown into a world of fear, confusion, and decisions that can change everything. But what if someone showed up, not to bill you — but to walk with you?

In this powerful and compassionate episode, we sit down with Lana Uhrig, a nurse, public health PhD, and the force behind Naples Cancer Advisors — a nonprofit giving cancer patients something revolutionary: expert second opinions, totally free.

Lana shares her deeply personal journey from small-town Ohio to national healthcare leadership, including her own cancer diagnosis, and why she returned to the front lines of care. You’ll hear stories of clarity, resilience, and why “no one should face cancer alone.”

If you’ve ever wondered what real compassion looks like in healthcare — or how one woman is bringing light into the darkest moments — this episode is for you.

Transcript

Sometimes people think automatically like, I'm gonna go to this big cancer hospital because that's the best name in the world. But that doesn't mean that that place has the very best person in the world for your type of cancer. Cancer is not cancer. Mm-hmm. Um, each individual cancer is treated very uniquely.

Almost one in every two people is going to face this in some form or fashion. Yeah. Um, either themselves or, or with a loved one. When we think about second opinions, think about just your day-to-day life. When you go to buy a car, don't you usually check with more than one dealership and oncology?

Sometimes that doesn't happen because it is such a jarring diagnosis and you feel like, oh, my life's at stake. I don't have time. Men I think are afraid to go out and hear that diagnosis or go get a screening. It's kind of like if it's outta sight, outta mind. Yeah. The whole one to two hour appointment was sitting down and helping them walk through their whole journey.

Wait, one to two hour appointment you said? Mm-hmm. Yeah. And that's unheard of in the medical. It unheard of. Our physicians always take the time to say to the, the caregiver or the partner to say, how are you doing? Oftentimes the caregiver gets lost. Of course, it's all about the patient. Yep. And of course it should be.

Mm-hmm. But that caregiver's going through just as much emotional turmoil and upset. Were agnostic to insurance as it relates. So if you have nothing. And you have no insurance. You can see us. If you do have insurance, you can see it. Dr. Barrett's ultimate goal was to reduce the mortality and suffering associated with a cancer diagnosis.

Today's guest is one of those rare humans who blends compassion strategy and servant leadership in powerful ways. Lana UIG is is a nurse, a PhD in public health and a nationally recognized healthcare executive. She's led major cancer centers across the country, including Emory University and the University of Cincinnati, and is now the heart and force behind Naples Cancer Advisors, a nonprofit providing platinum level oncology consultations and second opinions, a hundred percent free to cancer patients in southwest Florida.

She's not just transforming cancer care, she's redefining what support and dignity look like during life's hardest battles. Welcome. Wow. Thank you so much. Yeah, that's very nice. Certainly is a team effort, not just me, but that's a great intro. Yeah. Well, you were, um. Brought on by the founder for a reason.

He, he knew you had something special and chose you for this mission mm-hmm. That he's on. Right. Can you tell us a little about that? I know we touched on it a little bit beforehand, but Yeah. Who is he and how did you get, get affiliated with him and why are you here? Yeah, absolutely. So, uh, Dr. Barrett, uh, Dr.

Bill Barrett is our founder. And, um, I met him back in 2016 when I worked at the University of Cincinnati. I worked there as the, um, executive administrative director for the cancer program under his leadership. And so, uh, I worked with him for a few years and, uh, right before I left to go to Emory to work there.

And as I was leaving to come back home, I had left my position at Emory and was coming back to Ohio, just coming right out of COVID and, and, uh, ready to come back to, uh, Ohio. I had called Dr. Barrett to say, you know, I'm, I'm headed back to Ohio. And he's like, well, what are you gonna do next? And I said, I'm, I'm not sure yet.

I'm, I'm trying to, you know, decide what I wanna do. Uh, I said, right now I'm gonna go on vacation. I'm taking a cruise. And, uh, he said, well, why don't you, um, think about, uh, I'd really like to open a second site in Naples. Um, would you consider going. Down and helping get that off the ground. And, um, so I thought about it and I'd never been to Naples.

Uh, I'd been to Florida, living in Atlanta. I had driven to Destin several times and, uh, knew the White sand side of the, the West coast and the Gulf, uh, but had never been to Naples. So, uh, I said yes, because he's a pretty great guy and he's hard to say no to. And, uh, just, uh, have such admiration for him and, and his, his vision and his mission for, for what he wants to achieve and, and elevating cancer care and helping patients, uh, in an altruistic way.

And that's really what I think we're about, is really trying to help people through the most difficult period of their time or period of their life to get through that, that difficult journey. So I came to Naples and, um, we got the, the business off the ground. But this originally started to, back to your question, I think I, I kind of, um.

Uh, weaved there a little bit. Uh, Dr. Barrett started this in 2015 on his own, just seeing patients in an office in Norwood, Ohio, um, on the weekends in the evenings, and, uh, had the opportunity in 2018 to officially start a foundation, which is called the Cincinnati Cancer Foundation. And that really is the parent, the umbrella organization for Cincinnati Cancer Advisors and Naples Cancer Advisors.

And, um, with that, he, uh, worked with a local physician, uh, Dr. Phil Lemming and his nurse practitioner, Jill Hunt, um, who had been working together for a number of years in the Christ uh, health system. And they came on board and we launched the office in Cincinnati at that point in time. Mm-hmm. And so their very first year, it was right.

Uh, they started in December and COVID hit that very next year. But even so, still saw over 200 patients in the office that very first year. Mm-hmm. So people who, um, were seeking that second opinion, wanting to know, do I have the right diagnosis? Am I on the right treatment plan? Looking for that reassurance to know that, um, they were, they were on the right path for their journey.

So what is, so, what is the service that's provided? How is it different from. Other organizations and, and what is the service? Yeah, that's a good question. So I, I like to say it. Um, we don't compete because we don't treat, it's a nice little rhyme, kinda sticks in your head. So, we're consultative only, uh, we hire physicians who are really top, uh, in their fields.

Expert oncologists in different specialties of cancer care, who look at the whole picture for a patient. So when a patient or a physician refers a patient to us, we collect all of their medical records and we can see the patient either in the office or we can do it by telehealth. Um, right now we service the Cincinnati Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky area and the southwest Florida market.

Uh, and that's where our physicians, uh, see patients. Mm-hmm. And so. As I said, the patient can come in or we can do it by telehealth, but we do a complete medical review of all of their care and their treatment plan and evaluate are they on the right plan, are they eligible for a clinical trial? We'll do a nationwide search to see if there are any clinical trials that they might be eligible for.

We do genetic testing and counseling, um, if that's something they can't afford, we pay for it as well, the genetic testing and counseling. And we also offer, uh, financial counseling service. The, there's the patient, uh, advocate Foundation, and that's a service that any patient that. Um, part of our practice, uh, we provide that free of charge, and that's something that we pay about $300 a patient just for them to be able to access that service.

Mm-hmm. And they basically case manage the person help to make sure that if they're eligible for, um, copay assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, um, they really help evaluate, you know, could they help them with copays and, um, if they have a large, uh, medical debt, how they can help reduce that debt. So they really help them, uh, work through all the financial toxicity that comes with, uh, a cancer diagnosis.

Yeah. And so, um, we. Largely do all of that, um, through this initial visit. But once a patient is a patient, they can continue to see us as much as they need to, um, or want to, sometimes people will see us one time, sometimes people will see us through each stage in step of their, their cancer diagnosis all the way through survivorship.

Yeah. I, I don't know anyone who doesn't know someone who has cancer or has had cancer or has died of cancer. Mm-hmm. There's just, it's so pervasive everywhere and I know that from my own personal experience, from the moment that diagnosis comes from the C word, there's just so much emotional overwhelm and disbelief and, and, um, upset around the whole, amongst the whole family and siblings and everybody who is affected by the one person.

Mm-hmm. And what they're hear that first moment when they hear that word. And, but then there's also this, um, well. There's a recommended treatment, but there's so much, it seems like there's so much time that goes between, alright, now we're gonna have a follow up. And then you have to see these other three people.

Mm-hmm. And then you have to see these other, and there's all this space that's there that the mind is just tortured by the what ifs and mm-hmm. The unknowns. Um. So a second opinion sometimes seems like, well, that could be, you're gonna get on a waiting list somewhere that's gonna take forever, uh, to get a second opinion and go through so many hoops with that person that you already went through with this person.

And so this is an interesting niche that I've mm-hmm. Never heard about before that. Um, so how quickly is that process from day one? They get diagnosed and they get some testing done, and they have that. And then how much longer after when they call you? Well go back to what you first said, which is I think a really important thing is that first what happens initially when a patient is diagnosed, it's a really noisy process to get a diagnosis with cancer.

Um, there's so much chaotic, uh, you know, swirl around a person with their, their family, with um, you know, all the Google searches family. That's the worst Google search. I know. That's the worst. It's just this, right? Yeah. Family, friends, everybody's giving you advice. And when we think about second opinions, um.

You know, think about just your day-to-day life. When you go to buy a car, don't you usually check with more than one dealership? Um, don't you usually look at more than one option? Uh, I know that in the orthopedic space that that's a really common thing, that if you're gonna have your knee replaced, you're gonna check with a couple different surgeons Sure.

Before you let them replace your knee or do surgery on you. Sure. And I think in oncology, sometimes that doesn't happen because it is such a, um, jarring diagnosis and you feel like, oh, my life's at stake. I don't have time. I have to just move forward with whatever I'm told. Right. But I think that that's where it's important to take a moment and take a breath, because there likely is some time.

To make a, a really, um, well thought out decision. And I think that's where we can come in and really help people. And sometimes we can be the very first people that a patient might come to from not just a second opinion, but a first opinion. Mm-hmm. Maybe they've just found out they have cancer and they don't even have an oncologist yet.

Mm-hmm. And that happens sometimes too. Where we're that first opinion? And to your point earlier you mentioned that sometimes people get bounced around between this appointment and that appointment, and that sometimes does happen. It takes sometimes people a long time. To get to the right doctor, to get to the right specialist.

They start out with, they're seeing their primary care. Something shows up, they send them to this doctor and they do a workup. Mm-hmm. And then that's not the right doctor who can take care of them. Mm-hmm. So then they have to make an appointment with another specialist. So seeing our physicians really early on actually can cut through all of that noise and really help people get set up to see the right physician at the right time.

And, um, that's where I think we can really serve, um, in helping prevent the delay. So. When a patient calls or a physician makes a referral, really the only limitation in time that it takes to see a patient is just a matter of the time it takes to get their records. Mm-hmm. Which is usually somewhere, you know, around a week, a week and a half.

Mm-hmm. So we can typically see someone within one to two weeks, uh, pretty quickly. Wow. And in, in that time, you know, we've collected, uh, um, and especially in the Florida market here, there are so many, um, individual practices in the space and I think we've all experienced that, uh, scenario where you get your patient portal and you've got your records in that patient portal.

Mm-hmm. Well. Oftentimes people have five or six portals. Mm-hmm. So they're trying to manage between all of these portals and put this whole picture together where they've had diagnostics at one location. They've, um, you know, maybe had a surgery at this location. They're getting medications ordered from this location.

Yes. And so that's all. You know, very segmented. And so what we do is really help put that whole picture together. I like to say it's like a necklace, and we are taking the pearls and we're stringing the necklace, and we're helping the patient to really understand that full picture of what's going on. And, um, I, I, when I first came down here, I had the opportunity to sit in on all of the visits with the patients because I served as the office nurse and the, the scheduler and the, you know, record, uh, getter and the mm-hmm.

The janitor and, and the development person, all that. So I gotta do all of that, which was just, um, I wouldn't trade it for the world because it was such a great experience. And I remember seeing patients come in and that look of anxiety and fear. They had been through all of those things you just said.

Mm-hmm. They had been through those multiple appointments, they'd been through all of, you know, everybody. Talking in their ear, telling 'em this and that. Yes. And they didn't really even understand what a second opinion was. They didn't know why they were really there, to be quite honest. Yes. Their physician told 'em to come see us and, and they would say that, like my doctor said to come see you and I'm not really sure why I'm here.

Hmm. But, um, they said I should get a second opinion. And so, um, they would come into the visit and then sit down and we had already collected all of their records and basically the whole one to two hour appointment was sitting down and helping them walk through their whole journey. Wait, one to two hour appointment you said?

Mm-hmm. Yeah. And it's unheard of in the medical, it unheard of. It's usually seven minutes or I don't know what that number is. Right. And that's all contact with a physician too. That's not just, you know, someone, the physician dropping in for five minutes and then you talking to, to someone else the rest of that time that, that's really high touch.

Yeah. Um. Time that you get and it's explaining this is what this test means and this is why you had this test and this is why you're going to have this test and this is what your diagnosis means, and this is what the, the trajectory is going to look like. And it's helping explain and empowering people.

I think that's the best way, um, to describe. I think what we do is people come in very confused and very, um, discombobulated of course. Um, and so they walk out. We didn't change the fact that they have cancer. We didn't change the fact that they are gonna have to have treatment. We may have given them some other options they didn't know about.

That can, can really change trajectory for them. But what they do walk out with is now a sense of understanding, a sense of empowerment, that they have some, um. They have some agency, they have some choice in the matter, and they know what questions to ask because that's what oftentimes happens when you're diagnosed lay people don't know all of this terminology.

No, no. And you don't even know what questions to ask. Yeah. You're just hoping that that physician that you got referred to is the best in the world. Mm-hmm. And has given you the very best, um, advice. Sure. And I will say I have been very, very impressed and pleased with the, the caliber of the physicians here in the Florida Southwest Florida market.

There's a lot of really great oncologists here. And so I think one of the things that we are also able to do is help people feel comfortable to be able to stay local for their care. Mm-hmm. If that's the right thing for them to do. And being able to stay local, because if you can stay close to family.

And not have to travel, especially, um, as an example, when you're getting radiation therapy, you may have to go 30 times and that's daily. Yes. And that can be extremely taxing for someone to have to drive three or four hours mm-hmm. Or stay away from family. Yeah. And if you get sick, you end up in the er that's usually back in your hometown.

Yeah. And if you've had your care away from here, people don't know what's going on. Your local physicians don't know what your care has been. Right. Mm-hmm. And so I think having that local oncologist, even if sometimes you need specialized care for other things like surgery or, you know, specialties that they don't have here, um, having your home-based oncologist is, is a very important thing.

Mm-hmm. Um, to have. And so I think we've really helped people, um, to feel confident in the care that they're getting. And I, I also would say that, uh, to the point earlier about, um. Seeing us early on and helping us, us helping them kind of cut through all of the, the noise, cut through the thicket and get to the right person.

Um, sometimes people think automatically like, I'm gonna go to this big cancer hospital because that's the best name in the world, or I'm gonna go to this big place because that's the one I know. Yes. Um, but that doesn't mean that that place has the very best. Person in the world for your type of cancer.

Right. And so sometimes really having our help and advice to know what type of cancer you have, who is really the best in that area, who's doing the most work and research, clinical trials, um, we can do that. VIP handoff. Our physicians have such amazing networks, uh, across the country mm-hmm. That they can pick up the phone and make a phone call and, uh, really make a connection for a patient just that quick and cut through all of the, the, the noise.

That's interesting. That's really special too, because it's usually the first person you talk to will say, oh, you have to go to Moffitt, or you have to go here without any knowledge at all, really. It's just, it's just a brand that is affiliated with mm-hmm. The C word or whoever it is. Oh, you need to go to Jacksonville or you need to go without any medical, um, background at all.

It's just based on Right. You know, hearsay and. The other thing that you said that I thought is incredibly invaluable, if it's just that alone, is the ability to have a conversation with somebody for that amount of time. Mm-hmm. While you're just absorbing the facts. 'cause you go in there for seven or 10 or 15 minutes, even if they give you a full 15 minutes and they're telling you, mm-hmm well this is what we're gonna do.

This is what you have, you're, you're shell shocked when you walked out of there and people are asking you questions about it, you don't even remember because your, your brain isn't even working. Even if you bring somebody with you, you're still left with so much. And to have that guidance to just get the facts mm-hmm.

You still have cancer, but you, you have the facts and the, the possibilities mm-hmm. And the avenues that you go to without that, uh, shell shock feeling of what I should have asked them. This I should have, well, I'm gonna see them again in four weeks for that four weeks. You live with this uncertainty.

Mm-hmm. But having the knowledge, the facts, and then having, uh, some guidance, I think is, is an incredible, I'm married to a doctor. Mm-hmm. I'm, she's an md and, and she, um. I didn't realize how much of that was necessary throughout the process of any diagnosis with any medicine. And, and doctors are all different.

They all have different philosophies and different views. Mm-hmm. They're not all the same. And I was raised in the thing the way that, you know, whatever the doctor said goes, whatever they tell you to do, you do. Mm-hmm. And they're the, the gods of everything. And not that they're not, they're, they're specialists.

Mm-hmm. And they know their areas, but they, there's some that have different philosophies and different ways Right. And different viewpoints of how they've look at things. Right. And, uh, asking questions is okay. Mm-hmm. Well, and, and I would say too, um, you know, physicians that are in active practice, uh, I have utmost respect for, because they're seeing 20, 30, 40 patients a day.

Sure, sure. They're really busy. And so if you think about what time they have to prepare for each individual patients, and most of the oncologists in the area are not specialized. So they're seeing, um, uh. GI patient and then a breast patient, and then maybe a lung cancer patient. So they're seeing all the different cancer diagnoses, and cancer is not cancer.

Mm-hmm. Um, each individual cancer is treated very uniquely, uh, especially now that we know more about the smart molecular targets. And, um, that is such an important part of cancer diagnosis and treatment now, is to know what molecular markers should we be getting on this patient, on their tumor type. And, um, you know, what, what is unique about this cancer in this person?

And that really drives the treatment regimen that they're going to be on. And so the cha, the changes that are happening so rapidly in oncology, oncology has well over a hundred different indications a year that are coming out for the use of different, um, oncology, pharmaceuticals, and therapies. And so it's.

Probably across all of the, the disciplines in medicine, the most rapidly changing. Mm. And so to think about what that requires, a physician who is seeing patients at that high level to be able to then go out and absorb in the literature and know. Every detail of what's changing. It's incredible. The amount of, it's, it's, it's almost impossible.

Yeah. It really truly is. Yeah. And so that's one of the things that we do in the Cincinnati community. We offer every year, Dr. Jazzy is one of our physicians. And, um, Dr. Robin on, she was the president. She's just the, now the past president of, um, the American Society of Clinical Oncology for the nation. And so we do every year the best of oncology.

Every year in May, they have this huge conference where all of the oncologists across the country come together. I think there's probably over 50, 60,000 people that attend. This conference is really incredible. It's in Chicago and it's where all of the scientific discovery is shared across the oncology space.

And, um, you know, all of the new, um, abstracts and, and, um, things that are happening in bench science and in therapeutics, and, um, it's where all the melding of the minds come together. Mm-hmm. And so we in Cincinnati offer the best of oncology conference, which is a review of that conference. It's all the best things that came out of that.

And we bring those speakers in and we educate the, the clinicians in the community. 'cause not everybody can go to that conference. And just to be able to absorb all of that knowledge, it's kind of like we condense and we, um, take. The best parts, the things that are the most important, and try to disseminate that to the local oncology community.

And, uh, I know the physicians have really appreciated that in our community and we'd like to do more of that, um, in the southwest Florida area too. We are gonna be doing a, a nursing conference, um, next spring. There's not a lot of opportunity for, um, the nursing community to get continuing education in the oncology space.

So we would like to help be a, a partner in that way. Hmm. So, uh, that being said, I kind of see us as just being this honest broker. We're not affiliated with anyone. We're not competing with anyone. We don't charge, so we're not billing, we're not Yeah. Um, you know, trying to take anyone's business. So we really can be that just.

Partner synergistic, helping all boats rise, um, across the oncology space. Oh, it's such a unique offering. It's something so special. I mean, there's so many people throughout the course of a year that I hear, my mother has this, I have the mm-hmm. I just diagnosed. I mean, it's, it's common. It's on a, on a weekly basis.

Mm-hmm. There's somebody always that I know that is encountering some, some version of it. You know what I mean? I tell everyone, you should, you should, you know, even if you feel comfortable and you're perfectly fine with your, um, treatment plan, there is no harm, no foul with just having a review and make sure, and just feel confident that you're on the right treatment plan.

Yeah. I, because even, even, I remember my mother, um, died of lung cancer and I remember one of the decisions she had to make was whether she wanted to have the lung resected. Mm-hmm. And, um, we didn't. At the time, we didn't think there was time to get a second opinion. Mm-hmm. We just thought, we gotta get it out.

It's gotta happen right now. And then there was always this lingering, should we have done that? You know, like we just didn't have any affirmation at all. And, and that affirmation alone would bring peace. We knew she was, it was inevitable that she was gonna die. We knew that that was coming with this diagnosis.

Um, and just how were we gonna prolong and make her comfortable was the rest of it. But there was always that should we have. Mm-hmm. And just having that simple affirmation of whatever choice we made or option to know that we made mm-hmm. That we chose the path that we thought was the best one. We were advised that way.

'cause that alone just will always live with us. Right. You know, just, it's always there that, um, and, and many of the patients we see, I would say a third to half of the patients that we see it is affirmation. You know, your physician has prescribed the exact same thing we would do. You're you're doing the right thing.

You know, that gives someone, um, who just as you said, has just that little, you know, nagging thought of, am I, am I doing everything I could? Because, you know Yeah. Sometimes it's your one shot to get that right to Yeah. And you're, and you're like, I wanna make sure I'm doing everything right. Yeah. And to walk out and No, yes, I'm giving myself, or I'm giving my spouse or my family member, we're giving them the very best shot.

Yeah. Um, at beating this. Yeah. That just gives you so much more optimism and hope and, and we know psychologically that going into cancer treatment with optimism and with the positive attitude, um, just makes you get through that journey. Yeah. So much better. Yeah. I can see how that would be. Mm-hmm. Um, such a blessing.

You know, when I think about, um, my mother's chemotherapy after the resection, and then it. It spread to her, metastasized to her brain and her spinal fluid. And she was on a form of chemotherapy and, um, we gave her that last round. We didn't know it was gonna be the last round, the last round of chemotherapy and, and kind of did her in that the next day she was, didn't regain consciousness and we, um, probably that was the right thing.

This was 25 years ago. Mm-hmm. Was the right thing to do. I don't have any regrets about it, but I just go, oh geez. If we wouldn't have just done that one last one, did it really make a difference? Mm-hmm. Could we had two more days or five more days or whatever it was, but having somebody just to comfort us along the way seems like mm-hmm.

Such a cool special thing that, um. Would give some inner peace to the mm-hmm. Thought process and the decisions that we had to make for her and that we had to live with, you know, beyond that. So I think it's, uh, really special and there's just no one who could not benefit from that. Mm-hmm. I mean, what is the, what do you have to lose?

Right. Exactly. Exactly. You know, it made me think when you were saying that we were talking a little bit beforehand. My, my father was diagnosed with, uh, hepatocellular carcinoma in 2016, and he was 79. He was still working. Big strong guy, ran an excavation company was out working the day before he got sick and just thought he had a gallbladder attack.

My brother takes him to the doctor and they find a big liver mass. And, um, at that time I was, uh, living away and, um, I had, was just getting ready to start my job, um, at the University of Cincinnati. Had just, you know, had just started there. Just met Dr. Barrett in fact. And, um. He was having just horrible pain and he was being taken care of in a local hospital.

Small hospital, and they'd basically just given him a lot of pain medication. He, he was really not coherent anymore. He wasn't able to talk to us. So he'd went from being this strong guy that was out running excavation equipment yesterday to now, he wasn't even able to communicate with us the next day.

He was running, he was doing what? Running excavation equipment at 79? Yeah. So, so from Boston, from 24 hours, there was that much change. And, um, and that was, you know, actually my first experience with Dr. Barrett as an oncologist. And I had, I told him about it and I was, I was honestly, had just started my job there and I was kind of uncertain, am I gonna be able to stay?

Because I felt like I needed to take care of my dad. I grew up in a big family. I've got four brothers. I'm the only girl, I'm a nurse. And so, um, I, he's like, well, well let's just, let's bring him to here. So he actually had him transported to the University of Cincinnati and admitted. And, um, to your point, it wasn't.

It was a second opinion. Mm-hmm. It wasn't like going through what we are doing now, but he was doing the same thing at that point in time, giving us a second opinion and really talking through our options because his cancer was so advanced and, and really getting to know a person and what their goals are in life.

Where they are in life, what they want. My dad was a very high control person, such dignity. Mm-hmm. He did not wanna lose control. Mm-hmm. He did not. So for him, he could have went down this path of doing chemotherapy and, and being really sick, but I knew that wasn't what he would've wanted. And we, we had a conversation.

Dr. Barrett was able to do some radiation on him while he was there. That decreased his pain almost immediately. And so suddenly he goes from unable to speak with us. So his pain's under control. Mm-hmm. And now he's completely lucid and we're able to have a strong three weeks. The, that's how long he lived after that.

Mm-hmm. But during that time, we were able to spend just high quality time with him and have conversations that I wouldn't trade for anything in the, the world. How precious. How precious. Yeah. And so I think to that point, it, it is really important that, um, and I think that's one of the things that we're able to do with the second opinion clinic is really talk to people about what are your goals.

Mm-hmm. You know, it's, it's one thing, uh, whenever you go and you get a diagnosis and the automatic is, we're gonna treat and we're gonna do this, this, this, and this. Mm-hmm. But you don't even have time to think about, well, what are my goals? What do I wanna do as a person? Yeah. You know, what do I want the rest of my life to be?

What do I want the quality of my life to be? Yeah. And so we really do try to talk to people about that. And I think. That, that's a gift to the family sometimes that's a hard discussion to have. Yeah. Um, with your spouse or your parent or your loved one. Um, but it's reality. It's, it's, and so we kind of help open that Yeah.

Conversation so that it's, um, it's easier to have, uh, because we're there with them and, and it's an opportunity for them. And one thing I always love in our consults, uh, our physicians always take the time to say to the, the caregiver or the partner to say, how are you doing? Because oftentimes the caregiver gets lost.

Of course. It's all about the patient. Yep. And of course it should be. Mm-hmm. But that caregiver's going through just as much emotional turmoil and upset as well, and they're thinking about, how am I gonna get through this? How am I gonna, you know, you. Potentially live without this person or how am I gonna take care of this person and still have, keep my job and do all the things that I have to do in life.

Yeah. Yeah. They gotta just deal with life. Yeah. And so we really try to look at the mental health and the um, just the family dynamics and, you know, how can we help support that? And, um, I always, it's, it's, um, it's interesting to see that response that the caregiver getting asked that question 'cause they're not used to being asked that question.

How are you doing? Yeah. And sometimes that can get very emotional because it's that first time that they've been asked. Right. How are you holding up? Right. Because it's all about, yeah. Mm-hmm. Taking care of who they're taking care of, right. Mm-hmm. That's fascinating. Only having gone through the experience myself, it's fascinating to hear like, had we been given that question, what is the goal here?

Like the reality is. Mom's gonna die. Mm-hmm. We, we know that this is a terminal diagnosis and, and what is the goal? Because it seemed like there was this, this team that was there. Like, let's give her everything we got, give it all we got. Mm-hmm. Let's keep it going. Keep it going. You know, pump her full of this, pump her full, and, and that's their job.

That's what they were doing. Right. But we just didn't have the, and maybe there was that, but I wasn't present enough to hear any of it mm-hmm. At the time. Right. We're just like, let's get her, let's, we're gonna save her. We're gonna get her. Right. One more day to the adrenaline is just, you know, it's, it's, it's almost like that adrenaline rush if we just have to Yeah.

You know, it's an emergency. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yes. But not versus what's the goal. And if we know that's the truth, like what's our quality gonna be like? And just having somebody, an outsider to bounce that kind of stuff off of, to even present that as a. As an option. Mm-hmm. As like, there's other things to consider here.

'cause if I know my days are limited, how do I want the days to be right with her? You know, like how valuable those are. Like those three weeks with your dad. Right. How incredible were those three weeks and he wasn't suffering. Mm-hmm. To the point of he was in such pain, he couldn't talk to you, but he was, you actually had a, at three weeks, well changed your life.

Mm-hmm. And absolutely I'm sure changed his on his way to heaven. Mm-hmm. You know, he was a different human leaving the earth having been so complete with you. Mm-hmm. And how special that was. Yeah. It was. I love that, um, that there's something like this. 'cause it just, it seems so many people go through this.

Yeah. And almost one in every two people is going to face this in some form or fashion. Yeah. Um, either themselves or, or with a loved one. So it really is, it's something we're. We're likely all going to face in at some point in our life. And, um, so I think just, you know, thinking about what resources are out there, I guess if there was one takeaway I would want from people to have from, from this whole conversation is just for people to know that this resource is here.

It's right here in, um, this southwest Florida community. And it's very rare. It's not something that you can get anywhere else in the country except for in Cincinnati and, and southwest Florida. And really we exist because of community support and because of philanthropy and, um, the, uh, the support for the Naples site has come from.

The success of the Cincinnati site, supporting the growth of the Naples site. And so we're really hoping that the, uh, Southwest Florida community kind of wraps their arms around, um, this, this, uh, idea and this concept and sees it for the value that it is and, and really helps it grow because all the money that we raise locally stays local, um, to this chapter.

So what a gift. Mm-hmm. What a gift to the community, really. Mm-hmm. And that's for everybody. It's not just for people in Port Royal, it's not just for people with money, it's for every, it's for the whole community. Right. What a blessing for all of us. 'cause it touches every, it hits everybody, sadly. Mm-hmm.

We all are affected by it in some way or another. Yeah. You're a nurse. I am a nurse, yes. Is that where you started? That's where I started. Yeah. So I, I, uh, um, went to Ohio University, uh, and graduated and. Worked as a nurse for the first several. Well, I've always worked as a nurse to some degree, but yeah. Uh, worked on, you know, patient care floors for the first few years of my career and then kind of got into administrative, um, uh, functions and was at, uh, Dena Health System, a small little community hospital for the first 13 years of my career.

And then, um, went to the big city in, uh, Columbus at Ohio State and worked at the James Cancer Hospital for a number of years. And that's where I, uh, worked on my PhD. Mm-hmm. And then I also, um, have taught for Franklin University for about 17 years and their healthcare management program. You have a lot of initials that after your name, you've done a lot of work.

PO post You. And are you an MBA also? Yes. Uhhuh? Yes. You a PhD, MBAA lot. How so? The, the nurse part, you started there. Um. Why, how did you, were you always that, that this nurturing kind of soul, how did that happen? Well, you know, I grew up in a, like I said, I grew up in a small town in Appalachia where there was just a lot of, um, a lot of need, a lot of disparity.

And I think, um, I grew up in a family that was always very, um, in tune and generous to the needs of people around. And so I think I always just had that mindset of what's the problem? How can we fix it? And so I think that, um, my aunt was a nurse and, um, so I think I admired, uh, what she did. And I, I, I, I believe I, I was, I was like 16 years old.

There was like one of these career fairs that came to school and they were talking to you about what do you wanna do with your career path. Mm-hmm. And, um, and they were talking about different, different things to do. And, um, and I think that just, you know. It kind of piqued my curiosity and I, um, was always very into academics and athletics, and I think nursing was, um, you know, a, a pretty, uh, academically challenging, um, degree program.

And so, um, I, I really enjoyed, uh, the, that side of it and just continuing to, to extend my education. I've always, I'm a lifelong learner. I, it has been my motto in life that if I didn't learn something today, I didn't try hard enough. So, and you Four brothers. Four brothers. Yeah. Four brothers. Uhhuh, where are you in the birth order?

I'm the youngest. Oh. Yeah. So, ah, so, so you were the baby of the family? Yeah, I was the baby. Yeah. Yeah. And your dad was in what business? What was he doing? Um, so he had, uh, multiple businesses, but um, he was in excavation and construction. He had an auto parts store, and it was like my very first, uh, my very first job was when I was 14, was doing, uh, inventory in the auto parts store.

Mm-hmm. Always working around it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Is your mother alive? She is. Shes, my mom is, uh, 88 in August, and she still lives in, uh, Chillicothe. Um, she just recently had to move to an assisted living, so it's been kind of a big shift in our family from moving from the family home to, uh, an assisted living.

Yeah. Um, she has macular degeneration, so doesn't see well, um, so she's not been able to be on her own, but she's doing very well. She's extremely, um. Extremely bright minded. Listens to probably five to six books a week or a month rather on tape. And really, um, yeah, just very, very, uh, cognitively alert. Yeah.

Mm-hmm. That's awesome. Has she's always been that way? Yes. Uhhuh always a big reader and, uh mm-hmm. How would she describe you, her baby girl? Oh, that's a good question. I guess I've never asked her that. Um,

I don't know. I, I guess she would probably always say, I was always trying to kind of test the limits a little bit and, um, um, try to keep up with the boys. Ah, competitiveness. Okay. Mm-hmm. Who were you in high school? Um, I was a kind of a scholar athlete. I played multiple sports, basketball, volleyball, softball was in the band.

Um. I lived really close to the school, a small town, so, you know, walked to walk to school in the morning. So it wasn't, um, very may, it was very may bearish in, in that sense, Uhhuh. Um, so I was, uh, the valedictorian of my high school. I was always been a kind of a, a high achiever. Yeah. And, um, competitive in that way.

Not competitive so much with others, but more competitive with myself. Um, it's come natural for you. Does, uh, testing and, and learning, and are, do you, do you, is it just something that's in your blood? Like to, to have that discipline to me, has always fascinates me to be able to, you know, um, I don't know, you know, I think it probably was just part of my upbringing.

I think when you grow up with, I always say I was raised by wolves. Um, I think when you grow up with, um, with brothers and in that kind of competitive environment, it just, it makes you more, um. Uh, aware that, you know, you have to, you have to stay sharp and alert. Mm-hmm. You never know when you're gonna get like,

pummeled, uhhuh.

Um, but no, I, I really, um, um, get along really well with my brothers. We, I probably text with them three or four times a week or more. Awesome. Yeah. Um, so we, we are a pretty close family and, um, I, uh, say that they really taught me how to be successful in life. Yeah. Um, through, through all the trials and tribulations of growing up with them.

Yeah. Are they spread around the country too, or are they still Uh, there's one here in Florida, one that, uh, is a snowbird that goes back and forth between here and Ohio and the other two are, uh, close. So everyone's still pretty close in geography? Yeah. Mm-hmm. What do you miss about home? Um, I think the simplicity, um, there's, you know, uh, no politics in the sense that, you know, growing up in a small town, not to say there's no politics, but, um, simplicity of small town life and just knowing your neighbors and, um, I think being, um, being in a fabric of a community.

Mm-hmm. Who was a big influence on you growing up? Uh, well my dad is, um, um, from his, his father was from a big family, 10 kids. Wow. So I grew up with all of these aunts and uncles and that we used to spend, uh, a ton of time when I was a kid at my aunts and uncles. And, um, they were always really, I think, very influential in our lives.

And I had an uncle who was a coach, a basketball coach. And a teacher, um, a lot of teachers in my family. Mm. And um, he was always very encouraging. I remember he would always, like, how many a you got on your report card? He would give you a dollar for every a you got on your report card. Mm-hmm. So that was always an incentive to, to do well.

And, um, I think education was always, um, really highly encouraged in the area where we grew up in Appalachia, the graduation rate and even the college completion rate is just dismal. Mm-hmm. So I feel like that was something in my family that was always really highly encouraged that it wasn't, uh, if you go to college it was, you know, you will go to college and, and, and, but it wasn't expected that my parents were gonna pay for that.

So we all had to figure out how we were gonna pay for our college and Wow. And work and, um, you know, make our way. And, um, but it was expected that we were gonna do that. And so, um, I think not in a. Not in a, um, overly demanding way, but I think it was just built in a young age that that was, you know, what they wanted to see us do with our lives.

And, um, I think we were raised in a very, um, traditional kind of religious family. We went to church, you know mm-hmm. Two or three times a week. Is that right? Yeah. So it's part, you know, very much a part of our life. And, uh, my dad was a pretty strict disciplinarian. Mm-hmm. And, uh, I think raising four boys in a, um, community where there was lots of opportunities to get into things that, um, could have taken them down the wrong path.

I think he, he held a very steady hand. Yeah. And I think at the time they probably didn't appreciate that, but I think now they, we all look back and think that we're real, very thankful that they, um. They raised us that way. Yeah. Didn't like it in the moment. I had one of those dads too. I, I never liked it at all, but now I look back and go, yeah.

Yeah. He was, he had some foresight that I didn't know about at the time. Mm-hmm. I was happy he was that way. Yeah. Nothing wrong with that at all. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Good. People turn out of that. What, what's something that, uh, when you first got to Naples, 'cause you had never been here before, um, what's something that stood out to you coming here?

Um, I think just to, uh, as I'd mentioned to you earlier, I think just how neighborly people are. It is such a friendly community. I have just, um, really felt at home here. And I think because I did grow up in a small community and it feels like, you know, it's not extremely small, but it feels small. As I'm going out to different events, I start to see the same people.

Mm-hmm. And I'm like, oh, okay. I know that person. It was pretty easy to meet people. Mm-hmm. People are friendly. They're, they're generally happy. Yeah. And I think, you know, living here in the sunshine, of course. Makes you a little happier. I, I'm sure. Yeah. Um, but I just really love the, the culture here. The, um, um, the friendliness and I would say in the business community, what I have seen, that there is such a concerted effort to help grow small businesses and, um, and network and, uh, just bring opportunity into this community.

Mm. Um, so that, you know, small businesses can thrive. And, um, so I, I think there's just, you know, so many opportunities here. Mm-hmm. What do you And generosity I would say too. Yeah. What does your typical day look like? Well, my day has changed a lot lately, so, um, uh, I. Don't know if I had mentioned this to you earlier, but the director in our Cincinnati office, um, Steve Abbott, he was a prostate cancer survivor for many, many years, for over a dozen years.

And he passed away in, um, late summer Wow. Of last year. And so, as such, I have been now going back and forth in covering our Cincinnati and our Naples office. So I haven't been here as, as much as I, I was before. And we have, since we've hired a nurse practitioner in our office, Mandy Reed, and a scheduler, Alicia Laplant, and we have a physician here on site, um, Dr.

Mj. Uh, and so we're, we're growing and I'm getting ready to bring on a fundraising and development, uh, person later this summer who will be, they're from Naples and, um, you know, kind of native here. So I think that's gonna be really helpful to be a face and out in the community since I can't be here as, as as often.

Yeah. Um, so, uh, I guess a day for me, um, can vary from, you know, doing something like this with you mm-hmm. Uh, to, um, dealing with, you know, some different things related to our foundation or, um, you know, working on, you know, planning for, um, you know, what our patient volumes might look like or strategies around how we're gonna grow, um, in our Naples community and networking, uh, with others.

Mm-hmm. Helping with fundraising efforts. One of the big things that we're really excited about, um, is our Wine Women and Shoes event. And we're gonna be doing that for the third time, and it's February 21st at the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club. It's a different yacht club this time, so it's Naples Sailing and Yacht Club.

And, um, that has been, uh, this will be our third, the first two have been extremely successful. We were, um. Uh, noted as one of the best events of season for the first two times. So we're just trying to continue to up our game, and that's one of our biggest fundraising events and, uh, we're, we're looking forward to.

And what is the event? So it's really a, a day of just, uh, fun shopping, um, all for a good cause. And, uh, it starts at 11:00 AM and goes to 3:00 PM So we have vendors, um, we have different activations where ladies can get involved, like best in shoe and a wine wall, and mystery boxes and a raffle and, uh, different things.

But then we have a sit down luncheon where we talk about the mission of Naples Cancer Advisors. We have a live auction and when we do a mission moment, and then, um, the fun part of the show, the fun part of the program is our fashion show. And this year we're gonna have a, a local well-known, um. A designer who's going to be releasing her line, um, at our fashion show.

Oh, cool. Wow. So we're pretty excited about that. Well, whatever we can do to support mm-hmm. Uh, we can. And that's Turk and Turk. I don't know if you've heard of Turk and Turk. Okay. Yeah. Course, course in the OK. Turk. Uhhuh. Okay. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. So she's gonna be, um, our, uh, fashion, uh, designer and, um, help, uh, run our fashion show and, and be releasing her line.

Um. Oh, cool. And you have an auction that people can buy things at? We do. Okay. We do. Alright, well, we'll, we will for sure contribute handsomely to that. Awesome. Zach, you gotta make a note for us that we Oh. We'd love to have you involved, ready to make sure that we support you in any way that we can. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for what you're doing. We're real happy about it. And that's in February? That's February 21st. Okay. In 2026. Yes. The Naples Sailing Yacht Club. Okay. Downtown. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, for sure. We'll be a part of that. Absolutely. Thank you. Um, what are, uh, some current books or podcasts that are in your rotation?

I know we talked a little bit about that before. Um, so I have, um, been really kind of into the longevity space. I've been watching a lot of things with, um, the, is it Brian Asprey? Um, have you seen his Yes. Some of his, I think that's pretty interesting. I also like the diary of a CEO. Mm-hmm. I watch a lot of, um, his, his, uh, podcast Uhhuh.

Um, uh, I bounce around between different ones. I, I really like them. May ambi, um, um, what's it called? Breakdown one. Dunno if you've seen her. She, the, the, the, the Amy from Big Bang Theory May Bialek. Oh, okay. She, she has a really interesting podcast. She's got some just kind of, um, fringe types of things that she talks about.

Yeah. Um, and I, I really enjoy her stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes I need to step away from the. How do I make myself better, my life better stuff? I have to just get out outside of the, you know, 'cause then I'm beating myself up. Like, why am I sitting here listening to this when I should be doing what they're doing and they're making their life better?

And I, so I have to have things that are, make me drift away from Uhhuh. Always striving for the next best thing. So, yeah. What ones do you like to listen to? Uh, I'm all over the place. I to, when I escape from things, it's usually some crime, murder thing or something like that. Some Dateline type thing.

Mm-hmm. Um, and now that the World Series of Poker is in, uh, going on, I watch some poker vlogs, uh, a video of, uh, vlogs, uh, but di of the CEO of Joe Rogan, of course. Mm-hmm. You know, just, uh, and, uh, and I listen to a lot of books on tape or me too, not tape anymore or whatever. Books on digitally anyway. Yes.

Always in the car. Always feeding my mind with something that mm-hmm. Uh, fills the space. If not, it gets filled with noise. That's. Not helpful. I'm listening to the one now. Let them, Mel Robbins, have you, have you heard that? That's a really good one. Um, just like, um, when there's things you can't control, like you let yourself get so uptight and anxious about things that if you just say let them, why, why do you feel like you need to control that?

Yeah, just let it go. I like that. Um, and it's a really good book, so I'm, I'm about, that's the name of the book. Let them, it's called Let Them. Mm-hmm. Let them Mel Robbins. Yeah. It's really good. Yeah. Yeah. I need that in my life because it's automatic. It keeps coming back, you know? Yeah. When I realize, um, you know, the moment, uh, like when you talked about the three weeks with your dad, you know, I just think we so don't, we so live, I so live like I have all the time in the world, you know, like that.

I have so much. Mm-hmm. That's even why I have this, this thing here. This is my reminder, not about how much time I need or how much time I've spent or. But this is like my little reminder of, um, you know, I, this is, this is the time we have, or that we think we have, you know, we have this hour, it represents an hour.

This is the time that's already happened. Life's already happened down here, and this is the present. And really, that's all we, we have no idea what's up there, but we, I live like, I have all of that. Like I know. Mm-hmm. I have so much time. I have 800 more weeks. If we live 4,000 weeks, I have 800 left. But that's not true.

I don't know that, that's very true. I only have that right there. That's all I got. So I, um, always interested in things that, uh, kind of keep me present. Mm-hmm. Keep me in the moment without, you know, that, where I become that control freak. Mm-hmm. I have to have it a certain way and I have to sometimes just let them.

I like that. Yeah. I, I, it's been, it's been really eye eyeopening for me and lightly I, myself, you know, thinking about that, that hourglass, I went through a cancer diagnosis myself. Mm-hmm. When I was, um. I'm 42 years old. I'm 52 now. So it's been about 10 years ago. Mm. It was a year before my dad was diagnosed and Wow.

Um, I was, you know, didn't expect, didn't even know, didn't think I had cancer. Um, and was very shocked by the diagnosis. And, um, had to make some pretty big decisions that would've altered my life. And I opted to do some things that were less, um, um, I did some things that were more conservative than, than what was recommended.

So I kind of went against, uh, an opinion. Yeah. Went with kind of more of a second opinion. And it's ultimately worked out, um, well for me, but I think that was a real, my daughter was 16 at the time, um, you know, right at that prime of her life. Yeah. Wow. Wow. And, um, I, uh, I think it's an eyeopening, it's an eyeopening period of time whenever you're faced with your immortality and, and you imagine, can imagine.

Can't imagine. You have to think about, you know, what's important in life and Yeah. What are you willing to. Um, spend your life working on. I think that's what I, um, have really kind of come to think about is what do I wanna spend my time working on? Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mitchell, one of the guests who I spoke to a couple weeks ago was another guest who brought that up in a conversation that he was diagnosed with a cancer at some point in his life, and he looked at it as one of the greatest blessings that he's ever had.

I mean, it was a tough year, a tough time for him, but the way he contextualized it and how his life goes now is so different. You know, he just is, he feels like, you know, every day is such a blessing and the way he looked at things was really fascinating. Mm-hmm. Me, not that I would want that on anyone, but it's ironic that you had a diagnosis the same.

And then there was also Adrian too, right? Zach, wasn't it Adrian? Who, who was the other one? Yeah. He also had brain cancer and uh Wow. Yeah, he's a director of, uh, Florida Sports Paradise Park, uh, paradise Sports Comp. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Uhhuh, just vital. Great guy. Mm-hmm. Uh, but you know, I just.

Brought 'em back into what really matters, you know? Mm-hmm. Like what really matters. And you know, when you have your health, you have everything and Right. Think about other things, but yeah. Mm-hmm. Well, I'm happy to hear that you're, thank you. Successfully. Yeah. I, I felt very privileged to get to do what I do and, um, can certainly appreciate what people are going through and, um, you know, that, that moment of noise and chaos and, um, you know, I think, I think we are a beacon, you know?

Yeah. We're, we, we can be a beacon to people when they're going through that storm and a parent at the same time, to a child at such a tender age to, you've gotta not be vulnerable, but be vulnerable. Like, you gotta be a away that I can't even imagine. Like, you know, you just, you have this, I, you know, you look back at things like that and I, I, I probably didn't handle it.

Um, the way, maybe like a. A psychiatrist would tell you to handle things. I look back and I think, I don't know that we really had conversations with her. I think we just kind of tried to keep it quiet and not really talk about it and keep it from her so she wasn't afraid. And you know, kids, kids, well, who really knows.

Anyway, kids are so very observant though. So I, of course, I often wonder, you know, she just kind of silently afraid, afraid and, and afraid to ask questions. Yeah. Um, and you know, I think those are, those are important things to look back on and think about that families that are going through that, um, those are hard conversations to have with your kids.

Yeah. I'm sure. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And who knows the right way, you know, like, who knows? Mm-hmm. The textbook way or whatever. Yeah. Then nobody's walked in your shoes or they don't know. Yeah. And she just got married last fall. Oh, awesome. Oh, congratulations. That's awesome. She's doing really well, and I'm excited to think about next, next steps I've already put my order in for.

Is she down here? She's actually up in Cincinnati. She's, yeah. Okay. So what do you do for holidays up there? Um, I do typically go, um, actually though we're down here for 4th of July. My husband's down here and, um, so we're spending 4th of July down here, but the December holidays up in the cold or we typically do go up, sometimes we'll come down though for part of the, um, after, right after the Christmas day come down.

Yeah. Any grandkids on the way or is it not? Not yet. So I just have one. She's our, our one and only, and, uh, so my husband and I have been married for 31 years in May. Congratulations. Wow. And, uh, wow. We met when I was, uh, very young in. Had dated for a long time, and, and so he's been the true staple and the steady person in my life.

Yeah. And I don't know what I would've done without him. So were you, after you became a nurse, were you working in the world when you got your MBA or when you did your PhD? Mm-hmm. I worked the whole time. Yeah. Wow. Yeah, it's been, um, you know, I, I mentioned to you earlier that our parents had a high expectation that we would Yeah.

Go to school, but we had to figure out how to pay for it. So I figured out how to pay for it. You work and, uh, and you let your organizations that you work for help pay for it. Yeah. And so that's what I did. Just a lot to juggle that. I just can't imagine. Yeah. But when you're young, you know, if you just do it when you're young Yeah.

It's, you don't even know any difference. Right. You just, you just do it. I think it's harder if you put it off and go back and do it when you're, you're older and you got, you gotta juggle all the other things. I just have a lot of admiration for people who go beyond a. Undergrad, just, just can't wait to get out of it No more.

No more. And then you go for two more and four more and Yeah. And you had to do so much more work on your own, the higher up you go. Mm-hmm. Just God bless you. Don't have it in me. Not at all. Well, it sounds like your wife though. What, what type of physician is she? She works in orthopedic. She's not a surgeon, but she works for Arthrex and she works in medical education and Arthrex.

So That's an awesome company she loves. Yeah. Mm-hmm. She, she's a great career there and they are, um, just doing some incredible things with orthopedics. Mm-hmm. You know, they're really putting a lot back into the development of Yeah. Um, medicine. The new, the new orthopedic hospital and Yeah. Yeah. I went to some different presentations of all the new things that they're doing and Yeah.

Yeah. It's pretty incredible. Yeah, it's exciting. Yeah. I, I love hearing about it. She works with biologics now. She's working with spine, so she gets to do a lot of different areas of, of. Medicine and science, which she just does loves. Oh, how interesting. Loves, loves it all uhhuh so she can have a life. And also she's kinda right there on the cutting edge of Yeah.

All the, yeah. Yeah. So she's probably someone who, when you're talking about like second opinions, like she knows what's coming. Yeah. So you, you can almost someone that's going to a physician maybe that is getting some very traditional therapy that she, she's gonna know like, Hey, hundred percent, here's what's next.

Yeah. She's always, yeah. She's always, I mean, her, she's, she's got her head buried in mm-hmm. Something new and what's, what's always, what's going on in every area of medicine. She really is very involved in it. And I, she's, I've learned so much being married to her, but also just the field that she's in and, and what she discovers every day.

Mm-hmm. And I just, uh, you know, I used to hear her as like, um. You know, she'll, she'll, she'll watch the podcast sometimes she'll say, you need to sit, you need to sit up straight when you're back, can have a hump neck. She's, she's always looking out for me in so many ways. I'm sure she's very proud of you doing this.

Oh, oh, she's, she's a, she's the best thing to grab me. Not Have you had her on as a guest? She, I would love to. I would love to have her, but, uh, I don't think there's any way she would ever do it. She's always behind the scenes. She's like, no, no. I'll have to ask her. So if Honey, did you hear she'd be a great guest?

You invited please? Yeah. I wanna see her reaction to this now that I'm talking directly to you, Michelle. Yeah, I would love to have that, but I don't think, uh, maybe, maybe someday I'll have to keep working on her for that. 'cause um, yeah, she says she's always. Behind the scenes, just like she likes to be.

She's so modest about everything that she does. Yeah. And she's like, such a changed my life in such a special way. I don't know who I'd be without her. So she's a special woman and I'm blessed to That's awesome. Have her. Yeah. Yeah. How many children do you have? We are, um, so I have, I had my first, uh, marriage, which was my practice marriage.

And uh, I have two children from that Uhhuh, and Michelle and I are, uh, now doing IVF and hopefully we'll Oh, awesome. Uh, we have one embryo uhhuh and, um, might be doing an implantation this summer, so, uh oh, good luck. Fall goes well. Thank you so much. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So I'm, I'm a little bit more, um, at, um.

Mentally stable, it seems like at this stage in my life. Mm-hmm. Where I, I'm not in all chaos with the first round. Mm-hmm. So I'm, I'd love, I love kids. Mm-hmm. I absolutely love kids. I just, they're just such a reminder to me of, of what life truly is. Mm-hmm. 'cause they're just so present. Right. They're just so in the now and so in that they're just living right there in that space all the time, aren't they?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And they're such a gift to, to see that and be with them, and they're so authentic and open and honest and, you know, just tell you like it is without, without any remorse at all. Mm-hmm. They're just so straight. I just love the gift that they are. So, so that's why I'm hoping that, you know, there are more to come anyway.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Well, good luck. Thank you so much. Yeah, I appreciate that. And I'll have to tell her that you invited her on the show too, so she'll be here. Is there something that, um, that you would say are the biggest barriers to cancer care? Um, because you're tackling, I think, some of those things, but what do you think some of the biggest barriers are for cancer care in the world right now?

I think, you know, when I think about my dad and, um, with men, men I think are afraid to go out and hear that diagnosis or go get screening. It's kind of like if it's outta sight, outta mind. Yeah. I think women are more to go and get screening because it's more accepted. Um, I think we need to encourage men more to get screening and, um, I think we can do that with the, the men in our lives.

I think as women, we need to encourage the men in our lives to get their screening, to get their PSA, to get their Yeah. Cologuard or their colonoscopy. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, those are things that I think that having a late diagnosis. Is sometimes just a shame because it could have been caught so much earlier.

Mm-hmm. And I do see that sometimes with, you know, young people who come in and maybe they'd been having symptoms for a while, they didn't think about it, they didn't think about being cancer, or they were just afraid they didn't wanna know. Mm-hmm. Um, and if you wait, the odds of curing it just, you know, uh, are, are harder Yeah.

To come back from. But if you catch cancer early, it's very, very, very curable. And I think that's a, a, an important takeaway is getting, getting those screenings. You know, if you've been a smoker in the past, you have lung screening now that's just a really quick, in a CT machine, less than five minutes can tell you if you, you know, have any lung nodules or, um, men getting their PSAs, um, you know, paying attention to.

Your skin going to a dermatologist, especially down here in the sun. Yeah. Um, it can be so easy to have a melanoma let it go, and that's so curable if it's caught early. Um, so I think, I think that's something to take away. I think, um, also just people being aware of that, a second opinion is out there. Um, whether it be with us or anyone.

Um, I think people knowing that that is available to them and that it's okay to do that and that some it, it doesn't always have to feel like it's such an emergency that you can't stop and take a breath and get that information before you move forward. Yeah. Now, now that doesn't mean that you wanna delay your treatment months and months.

Yeah. But taking a few weeks to just, you know, make sure that you're on the right path because um, you know, we have seen patients who've come in to see us. You know, we have been on the wrong therapy or we're going to go down a path that, that they didn't need to go down with therapy they didn't really need to have.

Um, and we were able to intervene and help them. Um, and one thing that we really, uh, I think, and I'm really proud that we do this, we never triangulate a patient with their physician. And I know that's oftentimes a question that, that people have. They're like, okay, how do you guys do what you do without making the physicians mad and angry?

And, um, our, our physicians are really good at what they do, and it's all very backed by evidence-based research. And so we call the physician and our physician has a peer-to-peer conversation with them. And, um, they, you know, say, I saw your patient today. You know, I'm. I like your plan. This is, you know, just a couple things that I might suggest that you might consider, or, you know, here's some tests that I think you might wanna add on to that.

Or, um, you know, if there's some pushback or disagreement, there's always the, well, here's, here's the evidence, or here's the latest research and nine times outta 10, it's always an agreeable. Okay, I see where you're coming from. Let's do that. Because physicians want the best for their patients. Yeah. And so, um, working as a team, the patient wins and I think that's where, um, you know, we're able to help give that kind of, uh, neutral neutrality, um, and have the conversation with the physicians where they, they don't feel like we're trying to compete with them Yeah.

Or trying to take their patients. Yeah. And so, um, I think, you know, those are things that I, I would want people to, to think about that. Um. You know, that, that this resource is available? Um, I think, well, it, it's something that's so, so needed, and I think anybody listening at any point of life, I think it's really, this is something that can impact everyone's life.

And at what stage? Because I think there might be this going on in somebody's mind. Well, I, do I have to have a certain income level? Do I have to not be at an income level? Or am I, am I getting a handout here? What is this and when should they call? So what is who, just so that people are a hundred percent clear, who can pick up the phone and call you?

Who? Anyone? Truly anyone. We don't even check income. Um, we don't even look at an insurance card. Mm. So it really is for all comers. We're we're agnostic to insurance as it relates. Mm-hmm. So, um, if you. I have nothing and you have no insurance. You can see us. If you do have insurance, you can see us. So it really has nothing to do with that.

It's a, it's a free service because it really is an altruistic mission to help break down the barriers that people face in, in navigating the cancer journey. And that, that really was Dr. Bear, Dr. Bear. It's ultimate goal was to reduce the mortality and suffering associated with the cancer diagnosis. Oh, wow.

And, um, that is through doing what we do. Um, you know, that you don't have to face a cancer diagnosis alone and that, you know, there's someone here to help guide you through that process. And, um, uh, you know. I think people sometimes think that just sounds too good to be true. 'cause there's not really anything else out there.

Right? Yeah. What's the catch? What's the catch? Yeah. There really is done. Yeah. That's awesome. It, it's all supported by people, um, who give generously to support what we do. Um, and it's all a philanthropic mission. And so Thank you Dr. Barrett. Yes. And you know, there's no one better than to be a testimony of it.

'cause you know, firsthand. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. You know what, what happened there? Wow. Mm-hmm. Alright. Some fun questions. Okay. Do you have a hidden talent most people don't know about you? Not especially, I don't think. Probably have to ask your brothers. Yeah. On the follow up. We'll find out. Yeah. Maybe. I used to be a really fast runner.

I don't think. Oh, is that right? You're runner Okay. Used to be. Okay. All right. I am not anymore. Um, and you played softball. Uh, yeah. Was that, is that your sport? Basketball? Basketball too? Volley, yeah, volleyball was my favorite. Oh, really? That was, yeah. You get that spike over the nerve, huh? Yeah. What music's playing in your car, uh, or when you're in the zone?

Um, I often times listen to news radio. I'm kind of a nerd. Um, but, uh, I listen to all kinds of music. Honestly. I, I really don't have just one genre. I just, I kind of listen to all kinds of music. I like 60 seventies rock, um, kind of the old school. Uh, but I don't, I don't have any specific Okay. A range. Yeah.

When news isn't on news and podcast isn't right. Mm-hmm. What's your coffee order? Um, because you got a tick, almost got a ticket for a Starbucks, so you know, you That's true. It's usually a caramel macchiato. Caramel ma. Oh, okay. Okay. I'll have to remember that for next time. We didn't have the caramel in your ma in your, uh, cup, but I'm trying to cut down my sugar intake, so Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. If you weren't doing this work, what do you think you'd be doing today? I don't know. I don't think I wanna do anything else. Mm. This is, I don't know. This is what my heart is. What's something most pe what's something about you that most people don't know but should? Wow. These are hard questions, deep thoughts with Jack and

remember that. Yeah. Um, let's see. What is something, um, I'm, I'm, I'm, uh, serious in my, my work, but I actually am, am pretty jovial and kind of a cut up in, in my day-to-day life. I'm, I like humor. Um, and I, I like, uh, I like levity. Hmm. What are you doing when you're not working? What do you do on weekends for fun?

Um, I usually do things with family. This past weekend, um, visited with my daughter and we played pickleball, pickleball and, uh, so her, her new husband, he's quite, he's quite the pickleball player and she, uh, it was just the three of us and, uh, it was two of us against him. And, uh, after he beat us in the first two games, we realized he was playing with his left hand.

He's not left hand. Oh, wow. Two against one. And he's playing with is his opposite hand. He must be really good. Wow. He's really good. So I got a long way to go on my pickleball and Hey, you getting out there? I haven't done it yet. Yeah. My sister-in-law's a pro and I still haven't done it yet. I, I haven't played very many times, but I really do enjoy it.

It's a lot of fun. Yeah. And I, I, one of my goals is I really wanted to learn to golf. Um, so I've met a friend here who I've met through Naples Cancer Advisor. She's actually done some talks for us. Her name's Debbie Barnes and, um, she golfs and so she's told me she'll gimme some golf lessons, golf capital of the world.

Yeah. I don't golf either, so I know. Yeah, you have to golf here. I guess that's what somebody who's gotta do it. Let's get to the, the deck. Oh, this is the deck. All right, so go ahead and pull one from there. Is this a magic, magic a magic deck? Do I read it? Sure. Which do you trust more, your head or your heart?

Well, I would like to say I trust my heart more, but I would say sometimes, um, I get kind of, um, uh, conflicted between my head and my heart. I think sometimes my head gets in the way. Um, and so I think I lean to learn to trust my heart more. 'cause the heart's usually right? Mm-hmm. Right. I think your gut instinct is usually the right instinct.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Good. I like that. I get to do it again.

Who is the one person in your life that knows you best? Well, I would say definitely my husband. Um, you know, he's my best friend and I, uh, can really tell him anything. And he's a great listener, listens to me endlessly. I know sometimes he probably has to think, oh my goodness, would she just shut up? He's very patient and listens and gives really good advice.

How, what's his name? His name's Tony to How would Tony describe you? Um, I think he would describe me as fun, uh, fun loving, um, generous giving, and, um, worry too much about what other people think. Hmm. I think that's what he would say. Yeah. Good. Is he, because he, he would, he would tell me, you know, like, why do you worry about this stuff?

Just, you know, who cares? That's the big, compassionate heart you have. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Thank you Clay. 'cause that's really important. I think most importantly for people who are affected by this and everyone, I don't think there's anyone who's ever gonna listen to this who has not been affected in some way.

Mm-hmm. What do they do? So they can either call us at (239) 846-2273 and that's 2 3 9 8 4 6 care, CARE or at www naples keith cancer advisors.org. And there's an online consultation form that you can fill out. So either way, um, you can call and get a consultation through, um, a phone message or through the online portal.

Oh. So they could start to process that easily. Mm-hmm. And at any stage. And at any stage, absolutely. We have seen patients. As a matter of fact, um, I remember, um, you know, just not too long ago, um, a a woman called us who had been referred from a friend of hers that knew one of our physicians and, um, she was planning to go to another cancer center and get a second opinion and it was gonna cost her about $20,000 to do that because she was gonna have to go have all of her scans redone all of the blood work.

I didn't that, you know, all of that stuff didn't. Oftentimes that's what happens with people because they don't accept the yes. Scans and stuff that you've had someplace else. They want 'em all done in their system, and whether that's to make money or not, I have no idea. Sometimes it's just that they just know that what's done in their system they can trust and, you know, but regardless, the patient ends up having to pay for that.

And so she saw our physician and interestingly enough, um, he had taught and was a professor and had mentored. The physicians she was gonna go see Oh, wow. At the other Oh, wow. At the other organization. And so he was able to do her second opinion without ordering all of that stuff. He was able to review all of her records, give her, um, peace of mind, help her get on the right path, and, you know, save her $20,000 and she didn't pay anything, um, for us.

And so she's someone who's, you know, we've continued to see throughout different, um, parts of her journey. Yeah. That, uh, that hap that happens sometimes. Uh, folks will come to a decision point in their treatment journey and they'll come back and they'll say, okay, this is my next step. What do you think? Is this the right choice?

Should I do this or this? And, and we will, you know, go through everything again with them and help make sure that they're making those, those right decisions. Um, it's kind of like a decision tree oftentimes when you're going through this, where you start and you're, you're starting on, you know. Standard of care therapy.

If you first get a diagnosis, you're not always immediately gonna jump to a clinical trial. Yeah. It's oftentimes you're gonna be doing standard therapy. Right. Um, but at some point, depending on the trajectory of your cancer, um, a clinical trial might be the right thing for you at a different point in your care.

And so that's where people can come to us at different parts of their journey and we can be helpful in each step of that. Yeah. 'cause what a tremendous service just. Such a need for something like that. Mm-hmm. Just, just incredible. I just, yeah. It's like kind of having a doctor in the family. Yeah. You think about you like your wife.

No, I know what it's like. You know, it's, yeah. Yeah. It's, it's very similar to that. Yeah. That you have a, a phone, a friend, you have someone who, that you can call to just get very objective, very good advice that, that, um, 'cause our physicians are really top of the field. Just like you were talking about your wife, that she knows everything that's coming next in orthopedic medicine.

Well, that's what our physicians, because they have the time and because they're specialized, they know everything that's coming next. Yeah. In oncology. And they are at the top of their game and know all the players. In the oncology space. And so I think that's what is really a benefit to patients is they not only get to see us, they get the Rolodex of that physician of their contacts and who that they can put them in touch with.

Yeah. What a great resource for people. I just love that and, and we're blessed Rolodex, who even says that anymore. Right? Right. Yeah. I know what you meant. Maybe some people wouldn't. I know. I'd love to still have one of those sitting around just to ask people, do you know what that is? Especially most of the people that are here.

Yeah, I am. We're, that's an honor and we're blessed to have you. It's an honor to be here. Just really happy to have you, and I know a lot of what you do and a lot of what you're about is all about others, and so when it comes time to talk about you, it's, it's usually uncomfortable for people because it's never about you.

It's always about what you're doing for others. You're a giver and. As a nurse initially and as a the baby sister of the siblings that you are, you're always taking care of others. So we we're blessed to have you here. Well, thank you for what you're doing. What a great service you're doing with this podcast.

Yeah. It's just, uh, we we're just surrounded in this great community with, um, with great people, so. Mm-hmm. So we wanna make sure that the world knows, and this is something this, this one is near and dear to my heart, what you provide for people. So I think it's really special and I think it'll Thank you.

Something that, um, you know, as the word gets out and I wanna make sure the word gets out. 'cause there's nobody that I know that is not gonna be, um, able to benefit from this. Mm-hmm. You know, such a great thing. So thank you for that. And I have one more question. Sure. 'cause this one's back on you now. Okay.

What do you love about your life? Oh, wow. Um, you know, I feel like I'm at a point in my career, um, and at a point in my age people talk about that they. Dread getting older. And for me, I, I don't, I feel like with age sometimes wisdom, I wouldn't mind having my body when I was 30 again. But I, I wouldn't trade where I am as far as what I feel like I've been through in my life and, and what I've learned, the lessons I've learned.

Um, I like, um, the fact that I have a wonderful relationship with my husband and with my family and my daughter, and that I get blessed every day to be able to do the job that I do. Mm. And, um, I think that's just so much to be grateful for. So. Mm. Love that. That's, thank you. Thank you. Thanks for what you do.

And. We appreciate you, appreciate having you in our backyard. Thank you. In our community here. It's a pleasure to meet you. Yeah. Thank you, Lana. Thank you for showing us what it means to lead with heart, to listen deeply, and to never give up on people, especially when they're at their most vulnerable. Your work at Naples Cancer Advisors is not just about medicine.

It's about dignity, clarity, and giving people their power back during one of the hardest seasons of their lives. You've built something rare and beautiful, a place where hope meets expertise, where second opinions open new paths, and where no one walks through cancer alone. We're so grateful for your vision, for your voice, and the love you pour into this community.

Southwest Florida's lucky to have you, and we're honored to shine the spotlight on you today. Thank you.