Women Leading the Healthcare Industry is Helping Women Receive Better Treatment

Women's Journal Staff on September 5, 2024

As efforts to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into the workforce, it is time for the medical field to enter the conversation. Women’s health is frequently overlooked in the healthcare system; research surrounding women’s bodies has been disproportionately placed on the back burner compared to research revolving around men’s bodies. Public health cannot exist without the proper attention to women’s health and an understanding of how their bodies work. This systematic oversight can be blamed on a variety of reasons, including the lack of comprehensive training in women’s health by medical professionals and the continuing gender disparity within the healthcare system. If these concerns are not properly addressed, women can continue to slip through the cracks of the healthcare system, potentially never receiving the accurate treatment they require.

The healthcare system has historically been incredibly male-centered. When we study the history of this nation, we frequently note how women were not mentioned nor included in the cultivation of our governing system. All men were created equal, but weren’t all women too?

The lack of research in the medical field stems from a dangerous belief that men are the blueprint for health research and women are simply an aberration. Thus, medical treatment for men is made and then adjusted according to the needs of women. However, this misconception of how women’s bodies function about men is resulting in women being misdiagnosed, mistreated, and misguided on the proper avenues for relief.

Men’s and women’s bodies operate differently and must be researched and treated as such.

Often, medical training surrounding women’s health fails to comprehensively equip healthcare professionals with the necessary tools to address women’s health. In medical school, students barely learn about the realities of the woman’s body, frequently limiting the knowledge these students retain to conditions such as menopause and reproductive health. Other issues like respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases are underemphasized – in turn, developing healthcare providers who are not prepared to take on women’s health issues.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies heart disease as the leading cause of death among women. Yet, there is insufficient attention and recognition – both in training and practice – to address this reality. The lack of specialized training regarding women’s cardiovascular health is resulting in women being poorly treated for conditions that disproportionately affect them.

The absence of women in leadership roles within the healthcare system is a disparity that is negatively affecting women’s health. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions and research roles. We’ve seen far too many times that a specific group’s lack of representation in the decision-making process results in exacerbated neglect. Without women at the forefront of the medical industry, their valuable—and necessary—experiences and knowledge are not involved in the conversation regarding their bodies.

“The serious disregard for women’s health in the healthcare industry must be met with a systematic change. Sure, history has often prioritized men, but that can no longer be an excuse to dismiss women’s health. Now more than ever, it is imperative to integrate women into leadership positions in the healthcare industry. Women can advocate for one another and ensure that the healthcare system remains relatively free of gender-based biases and disparities,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.

Continuing to overlook women’s health will have dire consequences. Women will proceed to endure unnecessary pain and turmoil because the industry built to serve them is failing to do so. Reproductive health is vital and frequently reserved for women, however, their health goes beyond that.

The healthcare system must address these gaps, working diligently and quickly to create a bridge that reaches beyond the male-centered precedent set in the industry. As times progress and open-mindedness prevail, medical education must equally assess both men’s and women’s health in order to accurately treat patients, regardless of gender. Women carry on integrating medical spaces and must be granted leadership roles to properly confront not only the lack of knowledge surrounding women’s health but also to effectively integrate female healthcare providers into the field.

Women’s health is a vitality that can no longer be ignored. Women should not be subjected to dismissive providers who simply do not know how to adequately diagnose and treat female patients. The neglect of women’s health is a multifaceted issue that requires attention and cooperation. Diversity in thought and decision within the medical field is imperative to ensure women feel heard by their healthcare providers. By doing so, we can ensure that women receive the care they deserve.

Published By: Aize Perez

Dr. Molano on Building a Harmonious Family Environment

Women's Journal Staff on September 5, 2024

By: Joshua Finley

Overcoming Parenting Challenges: Dr. Molano’s Guide to Building a Harmonious Family Environment

Parenting is often described as one of life’s most rewarding yet challenging experiences. The journey of raising children is filled with moments of joy, but it also comes with its fair share of obstacles. Dr. Karen Molano, an expert in early childhood development and family dynamics, has spent decades helping parents navigate these challenges. Her comprehensive guide to building a harmonious family environment offers practical solutions that empower parents to create a nurturing and balanced home life.

Understanding the Root Causes of Parenting Challenges

One of Dr. Molano’s key insights is that many parenting challenges stem from a lack of understanding of children’s developmental stages and the impact of parental expectations on these stages. “Parents often expect their children to act in ways their brains aren’t yet developed enough to handle,” Dr. Molano explains. “This can lead to frustration, misunderstandings, and conflicts within the family.”

Dr. Molano emphasizes the importance of understanding that children, especially in their early years, are still developing critical skills like emotional regulation, reasoning, and social interaction. When parents recognize these developmental limitations, they can adjust their expectations and approach to better support their child’s growth.

The Power of Connection: Building Strong Parent-Child Relationships

At the heart of Dr. Molano’s approach is the belief that a lack of connection is at the root of a wide range of problems—whether it’s disconnection from our children, others, the planet, or ourselves. She advocates for a connection-based approach to parenting, focusing on fostering trust, understanding, and open communication. “Children deeply desire to feel safe and understood by their parents. When this connection is nurtured and strong, many common parenting challenges naturally become easier to resolve,” she says.

Dr. Molano encourages parents to prioritize quality time with their children, actively listen to their concerns, and validate their full range of emotions. This doesn’t mean agreeing with everything a child says or does, but rather acknowledging their feelings and helping them navigate their emotions in a healthy way. By doing so, parents can build a strong bond with their children, reducing the likelihood of behavioral issues and creating a more cooperative family dynamic.

Practical Strategies for Managing Common Parenting Challenges

Dr. Molano’s guide is filled with practical strategies for addressing common parenting challenges, from managing tantrums to dealing with sibling rivalry. One of her most effective tools is the ‘Align and Connect’ approach. When faced with a challenging situation, she advises parents to reflect on what might be triggering their own feelings, focus on discovering the underlying reasons for their child’s behavior, and then connect with their child to address those deeper issues. “Often, a child’s misbehavior signals that they are struggling with something internally, whether it’s a need for attention, feeling overwhelmed, or being unable to express their emotions,” Dr. Molano explains. Research in child psychology supports the idea that understanding these triggers can help parents respond with greater empathy.

By taking a moment to align, parents can approach the situation with greater empathy and clarity. This allows them to respond in a way that addresses the root cause of the behavior rather than just the symptoms. This method helps to de-escalate conflicts and fosters a more positive and supportive environment for both the child and the parent.

Creating a Harmonious Home Environment

Beyond individual strategies, Dr. Molano emphasizes the importance of creating an overall environment that nurtures confidence, curiosity, and harmony within the family. This involves clear communication, establishing routines that support well-being, and creating a home atmosphere that fosters relaxation, connection, and a sense of safety. “Children thrive in environments where they feel secure and supported, which allows them to explore the world with confidence and curiosity,” she notes.

Dr. Molano also highlights the role of self-care for parents in maintaining a harmonious home. “Parents often put their own needs last, but in order to effectively care for their children, it is important for them to remember that they also matter and they are a piece of the puzzle,” she advises. Whether it’s finding time for a hobby, ensuring adequate rest, or seeking support, self-care is essential to a balanced family life.

The Role of Mindset in Parenting Success

A significant part of Dr. Molano’s approach involves helping parents shift their mindset around parenting. She believes that many of the challenges parents face are exacerbated by societal pressures and unrealistic expectations. “Parenting is often portrayed as something that should come naturally, but in reality, it’s a skill that requires learning, practice, and support,” she says.

Dr. Molano encourages parents to let go of the idea that they need to be perfect and instead focus on being present and adaptable. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution to parenting. Every child is different, and what works for one family may not work for another. The key is to remain flexible, open to learning, and willing to make adjustments as needed,” she advises.

Through her guide, Dr. Karen Molano offers a compassionate and practical approach to overcoming parenting challenges. Parents can navigate the complexities of raising children with greater ease and confidence by fostering solid connections, understanding developmental stages, and creating a supportive home environment. With Dr. Molano’s strategies, families can move from conflict to connection, building a harmonious environment where everyone can thrive.

Published by: Khy Talara

The Ways That Cancer Shaped Tara Troy’s Filmmaking Journey

Women's Journal Staff on September 5, 2024

Tara Troy is an award-winning filmmaker, but on December 3, 2021, she heard the words, “You have cancer,” for the second time in her life. This diagnosis led to a colon resection, a partial hysterectomy, and 12 rounds of chemotherapy.

What does this have to do with filmmaking? Actually, a lot.

One of the scariest things about cancer was this: When Tara thought of her future, it was blank. Everything she read about chemotherapy suggested she would never be the same. She was no longer just scared of death; she was scared of living.

Then she remembered a script she had been working on. It became her “why” to get through chemotherapy and live again.

It took a year after treatment to wrap production on “A Moment in Time,” her second short film and directorial debut.

Why did it take so long? Let’s talk about filmmaking and how it relates to Tara’s top 5 lessons that she learned through her cancer journey.

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN

If she had to go through cancer treatment again (something she fervently hopes never to face), Tara would hire an assistant to coordinate everything: food, medicine, antibiotics, laundry, work—the list goes on and on. She had to anticipate her every need and want after treatment.

The same goes for pre-production – to the best of your ability, PLAN AHEAD. Tara wrote and produced “A Moment in Time”. Therefore, her pre-production included crowdfunding, cast and crew hiring, and location scouting while she was still revising and finalizing the script. Tara suggests putting a solid plan in place before hiring crew, but always have Plan B through Z in your back pocket. The beauty of filmmaking is that YOU are making it happen. The terror of filmmaking is YOU are making it happen, so plan, plan and plan some more.

GET THE RIGHT TEAM

On the afternoon of her colorectal cancer diagnosis, Tara’s gastroenterologist, whom Tara considers an angel, called to introduce Tara to the finest team of surgeons her doctor could secure. Tara’s doctor didn’t take away her agency; it was Tara’s choice to follow the recommendations.

Tara chose each member of her medical team because they had the expertise she didn’t have and were willing and patient enough to answer all of Tara’s questions (which were many) and collaborate with Tara to get her healthy.

The right team can make or break a film shoot. When Tara interviewed potential department heads for her film—and they interviewed her as well, as it should be—Tara didn’t hide the fact that this was her directorial debut. Like her doctors, she wanted a team that possessed the expertise she didn’t have and the willingness and patience to make “A Moment in Time” a reality.

HAVE A CLEAR VISION AND FIGHT FOR IT

When Tara felt sick, too tired to even stand in the shower, or couldn’t exercise, taking “A Moment in Time” from paper to film got Tara through. She didn’t have a vague vision of life after treatment; she had a fully detailed vision of her life after treatment. Armed with that, she fought to become the person she envisioned—someone healthy enough to make “A Moment in Time” and make it well. Despite setbacks and uncertainties in her treatment and recovery, Tara never stopped fighting for the vision she held in her heart and her mind.

Days before the scheduled shoot, Tara still didn’t have her main location. She found a spot that fit the budget; the cinematographer said it could work and it was available when needed. But it just didn’t feel right for the vision she had in her head. With days left before shooting, she said no and was left without a main shooting location.

She went back to the beginning, back to the foundation, started from scratch, and found the perfect location at an even better price.

RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER

Nothing could prepare Tara for the strange side effects of treatment:

The mouth pain upon taking her first bite of food
The random bone and body aches
The numbness in her fingers and toes

Her oncologist adjusted her medication, but most of the time, she had to ride the ride and wait for it to stop.

Yes, Tara had found the perfect main shooting location, but it came with one caveat – limited shooting time. Tara reorganized the script to shoot as many scenes consecutively as possible to conserve time between shooting setups. But before she knew it, lunchtime had hit, and her shot list didn’t look much shorter. After freaking out for about 5 minutes (we are all entitled), she rallied her team, reviewed the shot list and made a final decision of what shots were critical to grab before breaking for the day.

Sometimes, you plan and plan, secure an excellent collaborative team, fight for the vision in your head, and things still fall apart.

Take your moment, come up with Plan AA, and trust your gut!

KEEP THE FAITH

Tara only surrounds herself with people who hold and can hold her vision with her. She did what she needed to do to be who she needed to be. Anyone who didn’t believe in what she believed in was removed from her circle. Tara fought to hold onto her faith as she fought to hold onto her vision.

There were days when she felt lost. This applies to both cancer treatment and filmmaking.

Tara was still short of her crowdfunding goal at midnight, just 8 hours before the campaign ended. She had emailed, called, and texted everyone at least four times for donations. She didn’t know what else to do and didn’t know what to do at midnight.

She fought the feelings of failure and chose faith.

During the night, a friend from LA and Shanghai, who she had heard nothing from during the crowdfunding campaign, contributed the final funds. By 8 a.m., the goal was surpassed. Faith wins again!

Where is Life Now?

Tara has been in remission for two years and feels great. Life is better now than before the cancer diagnosis. She not only survived. She thrived.

Post-production for “A Moment in Time” is complete and the film will be on the international film festival circuit in 2025. She prays to have it on a film screen somewhere near you soon. Since shooting “A Moment in Time”, she has written a feature film and a pilot.

To stay in touch with Tara and receive updates on the film, visit “A Moment in Time” website.

Published By: Aize Perez