In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, Dr. Mary O’Connor speaks with Stephanie A. Wynn—author, Crohn’s survivor, and founder of The Stephanie A. Wynn Foundation. Stephanie shares her powerful journey through years of misdiagnosis, medical dismissal, pregnancy loss, and a near‑death experience that ultimately shaped her mission to support underserved IBD patients.

She breaks down the barriers many patients face when navigating Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and explains how her IBD Patient Navigator® Program helps individuals access specialists, understand their diagnosis, reduce ER visits, and overcome social determinants of health.

You’ll hear insights on:

• The impact of delayed diagnosis and clinical bias

• The difference between IBS and IBD

• Why community health workers are essential to IBD care

• How journaling and documentation strengthen patient advocacy

• Expanding navigator programs into rural and underserved communities

This conversation is a must‑listen for anyone working in gastroenterology, community health, patient navigation, or health equity.

In this rewind episode, we explore the concept of weathering — the cumulative, biological toll that chronic stress from living in an unjust society can have on people from marginalized communities. This framework helps explain why health disparities persist, and why they often deepen over time.

Our guest is Dr. Arline Geronimus, a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and Institute for Social Research. She is also affiliated with the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, and is the author of Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society.

Dr. Geronimus joins us to unpack the science behind weathering, the lived realities it reflects, and what it means for public health, policy, and equity.

In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, host Joyce Knestrick sits down with Mia L. Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Agape Family Health, a community‑rooted health system serving Jacksonville with comprehensive medical, pharmaceutical, and behavioral health services.

Agape’s mission is simple and powerful: “everyone deserves quality, affordable care delivered with compassion, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.” Mia shares the experiences that shaped her path to leadership and the values that fuel her commitment to community‑centered care. She discusses the gaps she saw when stepping into her role and how Agape works every day to remove barriers to access—from sliding‑scale payment options to neighborhood‑based clinics across Jacksonville.

Together, Joyce and Mia explore:

• What a new patient experiences when accessing Agape’s family practice, women’s health, pharmacy, and behavioral health services
• How integrating medical, pharmaceutical, and behavioral health improves outcomes for patients managing chronic conditions
• The importance of trust, dignity, and compassionate care for patients who have faced dismissive or negative healthcare experiences
• Jacksonville’s legacy of community‑based care—from Brewster Hospital to Dr. Alexander Darnes—and how that history shapes Agape’s mission today
• Real‑world inequities such as transportation, insurance gaps, chronic disease burdens, and mistrust in the healthcare system
• The partnerships, funding challenges, and operational realities of sustaining a mission‑driven nonprofit health system

Mia also shares powerful stories of impact—moments when Agape’s care changed the trajectory of someone’s life—and offers practical advice for clinicians and listeners who want to support health equity in their own communities.

This episode is essential listening for anyone working in community health, public health, philanthropy, health equity, or systems‑level change.

Subscribe for more conversations about community‑driven solutions, health equity, and the work to eliminate disparities.

In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, host Desiree Clemons talks with Maria Haugen, Founder and CEO of FoXX Health.

After experiencing months of dismissed symptoms, delayed testing, and uncertainty, Maria created FoXX—a daily health companion designed to help women track symptoms, prepare for appointments, and advocate for better care. Her story reflects a reality many women face in healthcare, and FoXX was built to ensure no woman has to wait months to be heard.

Maria shares how her personal health scare became the catalyst for a tool that turns lived experience into clarity, confidence, and actionable data. She explains the gaps she encountered—missed warning signs, lack of preparation tools, and the emotional toll of not being believed—and how those moments shaped the core features of FoXX from day one.

Desiree and Maria explore FoXX Health’s approach and discuss the broader landscape of women’s health, including:

• How daily symptom tracking helps women communicate more effectively with clinicians

• The importance of clinical credibility, privacy, and safety in digital health tools

• Why women’s health is often treated as “niche,” and how that leads to worse outcomes

• What developments give Maria hope for progress in women’s health equity

• Lessons from fundraising and the challenges of building consumer‑focused health technology

Maria also reflects on earning third place at Movement Is Life’s 2025 PowerHER Pitch Competition—a recognition of her vision, momentum, and commitment to improving women’s health experiences.

This episode offers insights for anyone working in women’s health, digital health innovation, patient advocacy, community health, or health equity.

Subscribe to hear more conversations about community‑driven solutions, women’s health, and efforts to eliminate disparities.

• Community health workers use persistence, trust, and cultural insight to uncover the real reasons behind missed appointments or labels like “non‑compliant.”
• Common specialty needs include cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, and advanced imaging, supported by a network of volunteer physicians.
• Transportation support, hotel stays, translation services, and food access function as essential parts of healthcare, not optional add‑ons.
• Florida’s expansion of the Volunteer Provider Program and the urgent need for increased dental funding are highlighted as key policy issues.
• Peer‑to‑peer physician recruitment, strong hospital partnerships, and donor investment help sustain a model rooted in community trust.

What does real community‑centered health equity look like, and what does it take to sustain it? In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, host Jerail Fennell sits down with two powerful leaders in community health: Dr. Atiya Abdelmalik and ReGina Newkirk Rucci.

Together, they unpack the lived experiences, grassroots strategies, and relationship‑building that fuel their work across the country. From disrupting harmful systems to investing in local leadership, Dr. A and ReGina share what it truly means to listen to communities, partner with them, and build solutions that last. Drawing from their work with the Center for Thriving Communities, they discuss:

• Why lived experience is essential to leadership
• How grassroots organizations are transforming health outcomes
• The importance of listening before acting What funders and institutions must do differently
• Why hope, collective care, and community power still drive the movement
• How real relationships — not extractive engagement — create lasting change

Dr. A also reflects on her book, A Life Worth Saving, and the belief that every life and every community deserves to thrive. A must‑hear conversation for anyone working in health equity, community engagement, philanthropy, public health, or systems change.

Subscribe for more conversations on health equity, community leadership, and the movement to eliminate disparities.

How do we protect and advance health equity in a rapidly changing political and legal landscape?

In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, host Christin Zollicoffer sits down with Dr. Giridhar Mallya — family physician, policy leader, and Senior Policy Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — to explore the future of health and racial equity work.

Dr. Mallya shares how his family’s immigrant story shaped his belief in the power of policy, and why funders must stay committed to equity even as restrictive laws and legal challenges grow across the country. He breaks down what organizations can do to stay mission‑aligned, legally sound, and resilient.

In this episode, Dr. Mallya discusses:

• Why health equity remains a core priority for major funders
• How philanthropy is supporting legal defense strategies
• Practical ways organizations can navigate legal uncertainty
• Why equity should be integrated — not hidden — in health initiatives
• Lessons from states like Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama
• How personal experience and clinical practice shape Dr. Mallya’s approach

A powerful conversation for funders, practitioners, and community leaders working to advance equity in challenging times.

Subscribe to The Health Disparities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite platform.

What does it take to rise after life tells you “you can’t”? In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, we sit down with Grace Moore—Financial Empowerment Specialist, Founder, Speaker, and 2025 Movement Is Life Health Summit Speaker—whose journey is a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and the transformative force of mindset.

At just 17, Grace was told she would never walk again. After waking from a nap with her left leg paralyzed, she faced a defining crossroads: accept limitation or choose possibility. She chose movement—of the body, the mind, and the spirit. Today, Grace speaks from the lens of the patient, sharing what it looks like to keep moving forward while living with daily pain. Her message is simple but profound: we can choose to be “up and able” rather than “down and defeated.”

Grace also brings her expertise in financial wellness to the conversation, highlighting how financial empowerment—especially for seniors—directly connects to health equity, stability, and community well‑being. She breaks down the barriers people face, the myths that hold them back, and the power of language to either uplift or limit our lives.

In this episode, Grace opens up about:

• Her journey from paralysis to purpose

• How mindset can shift the trajectory of your life

• Why financial empowerment is a health equity issue

• The importance of speaking life into yourself and others

• Her upcoming journal, Graceful Movement, and how it helps readers embrace pain with compassion and courage

Grace’s story is a reminder that movement isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, mental, and deeply personal. Her voice is one of hope, empowerment, and unwavering belief in what’s possible.

Never miss an episode—subscribe to The Health Disparities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen.