Episode 33: Democratization in Microsurgery: The Proximie System
DiepCJourney Podcast
Democratization is a noun. The meaning of democratization as it pertains to microsurgery is the action of making training and education available through technology, in this case, microsurgery in breast reconstruction. The chosen field of microsurgery requires hours of training and practice. Observing colleagues perform this sophisticated and complex surgery increases their own skill set with the primary goal being improving patient outcomes in breast reconstruction. I invited back to the two internationally known microsurgeons. practices in Sydney, Australia and is a fellow of the . He...
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Episode 32: Patient Advocate, Storyteller, and Lobular Breast Cancer Survivor
DiepCJourney Podcast
is a breast cancer survivor who deals with a lot of effects from treatment and being diagnosed with lobular breast cancer at a very young age. But she excitedly begins our conversation by saying her pain melted away at the when she was able to meet patient advocates in person for the first time. Social media connects many of us but the conference we both attended in early December of 2023 allowed us to sit down together to share intimate conversations, ask each other how we are doing, and share our advocacy work. I was fortunate to be one of those advocates to finally meet her in person at...
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Episode 31: Project Restored after Breast Reconstruction
DiepCJourney Podcast
The art of microsurgery transcends the work behind surgical loupes and microscopes when a breast cancer patient has breast reconstruction after loss of breasts due to a disease. My guest on this episode of the are two microsurgeons who worked together to create and selected several of their patients to participate in this unique artistic endeavor. Our key guest today is one of those patients, . Chelsey shares the story of her diagnosis at the very young age of 33. She has an extensive family history of breast cancer and felt she had a wealth of knowledge. However, when she was...
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Episode 30: Classical Art & Drawing Concepts in Breast Reconstruction
DiepCJourney Podcast
We are speaking about the art and practice of microsurgery as it relates to breast reconstruction surgery in this episode of the . Microsurgery is a specialty of plastic surgery requiring training beyond plastic surgery residency. Microsurgery involves moving tissue and blood vessels from one part of the body to another to repair or replace tissue that has been affected by disease or trauma. Carefully dissecting blood vessels from a donor site, microsurgeons then place the tissue from the donor site to the new site and tie blood vessels together at the new site under high powered microscopes....
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Episode 29: Breast Cancer Answers from a Medical Oncologist
DiepCJourney Podcast
In this episode of the I speak with a medical oncologist. has her own podcast called, with Dr. Teplinsky. She is Head of Breast Medical Oncology and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, NY. She has a robust and education speaking about key topics in cancer care and survivorship. She addresses the consequences of a cancer diagnosis and the very real occurrence of patients playing the “blame game” thinking they may have caused their cancer. She addresses risk factors and how risk factors are not causal. Her favorite quote in her...
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Episode 28: A Breast Cancer Journey of Resilience
DiepCJourney Podcast
, Adjunct Professor at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC is an author, educator, breast cancer survivor, and woman of faith. She personifies resilience. Neosho is my guest on this episode of the . We met as patient advocates at the in December of 2022 and found our lives had many parallels. We talk about these parallels through our Kansas heritage and our own personal Journey through DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Neosho has experienced homelessness and going through breast cancer treatment at the same time. She writes about her life’s experience in her book, . Her faith has...
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Episode 27: Is Access to DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Danger?
DiepCJourney Podcast
Access to DIEP flap breast reconstruction is in danger. Why? Because of coding changes to insurance, it may become out of reach financially for some women. This is the most advanced form of breast reconstruction available, and I felt it was time to address this concern. I begin by sharing my own story and how I was positively affected by making the choice to have DIEP flap after a second breast cancer diagnosis. I am one of thousands of voices who need to be heard, to be honored as we work to reverse this decision so access to this type of surgery can continue to be available. It was important...
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Episode 26: Breast Cancer Through the Lens of a Nurse Navigator
DiepCJourney Podcast
We are discussing a topic that will resonate with many of our listeners who have been affected by breast cancer. Whether you are the patient, caregiver, physician, or surgeon we are going to discuss navigating the complex Journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer through the lens of a nurse navigator. How does one seek this help at the cancer center you are being treated at? We will discuss working during a diagnosis and while in treatment and living a full and purposeful life as a survivor after breast cancer and breast reconstruction. We will also unpack the often challenging topic of...
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Episode 25: Flap Monitoring in Breast Reconstruction and the History of the Guinea Pig Club in Plastic Surgery
DiepCJourney Podcast
Since having DIEP flap, a plastic reconstructive surgery technique performed to rebuild breasts after a mastectomy, I have been fascinated with the field of plastic surgery and topics related specifically to breast reconstruction. I interview , CEO, of Spectros for the first episode of season three of the . Rob shares the story of his visit to the Queen Victory hospital () in England. He was able to visit Queen Victoria while attending the in late 2022. While at the conference, Rob demonstrated the developed by Spectros. T-Stat is used to monitor flaps in breast reconstruction and in our...
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Episode 24: Thought Leaders in Shared Decision-Making
DiepCJourney Podcast
The final episode of Season 2 of the DiepCJourney podcast brings together thought leaders in shared decision-making. This fireside chat includes the members of the (WHIS) . This team was formulated and is led by who founded WHIS in 2015. Taking a Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG3) approach to person centered health, Gareth Presch recognized that there were five key cornerstones of which all needed to be supported, at a the same time, by the same people: Health, Economy, Education, Environment, and Ecosystems. He discusses his work by looking back at the accomplishments and milestones met in...
info_outlineNeosho Ponder, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC is an author, educator, breast cancer survivor, and woman of faith.
She personifies resilience. Neosho is my guest on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast. We met as patient advocates at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December of 2022 and found our lives had many parallels.
We talk about these parallels through our Kansas heritage and our own personal Journey through DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Neosho has experienced homelessness and going through breast cancer treatment at the same time. She writes about her life’s experience in her book, GOD’S GOT JOKES: How I Used My Faith and God’s Humor to Survive Breast Cancer. Her faith has sustained her and grounded her throughout her life. Weaving in her healthy sense of humor she tells us it has been her strength and foundation.
She is a first-generation college graduate and proud alumni of Howard University where she earned her Ph.D. Neosho is a volunteer as a Tigerlily Angel Advocate sharing the knowledge she gained through her own breast cancer treatment and surgery. She also volunteers in the Young Survival Coalition DC and For the Breast of Us.
Our conversation wraps up as we share our Kansas connections. I am honored to share the story of her uncle, Jesse Lee Jackson, a former mayor of Chanute, Kansas.
Connect with Neosho on LinkedIn: