ABOUT OUR GUEST:   Dr. Nicole T. Rochester is a Board-certified pediatrician, TEDx and keynote speaker, and the CEO of Your GPS Doc, LLC, an innovative company committed to eliminating health disparities and bridging the gap between healthcare providers, patients, and family caregivers. Dr. Rochester was inspired to start her company after caring for her late father and witnessing the complicated healthcare system from the other side of the stethoscope.  Dr. Rochester has been featured on television and radio, is a frequent podcast guest, has an active presence on social media, and has contributed to numerous digital publications. Dr. Rochester is a powerful and engaging speaker and presents locally and nationally about navigating the healthcare system, elevating the patient and family caregiver voice, diversity, equity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce, and eliminating health inequities.  CONNECT WITH NICOLE  LinkedIn   Facebook  IG  Your GPS Doc Website   EPISODE AND EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS TedX Talk: Overcoming Invisibility:  The Doctor-Patient Relationship Racism, Sexism, and the Crisis of Black Women's Health NPR:  How Poverty and Racism 'weather' the body, accelerating aging and disease LinkedIn Article - The Empathy Gap:  Revisiting the 90 Second Encounter Documentary:  The Color of Care Empowering Women in Industry Membership Empowering Women in Industry Magazine Empowering Women in Industry Website Empowering Women in Industry Virtual Events (Including Book Club and Membership Circles)  QUOTES AND KEY TAKEAWAYS “In order to be your healthiest self, you have to have wealth.  You have to have power, You have to have influence. Those qualities are not what we typically see in women, black women, and women of color.” “Racism and sexism literally changes your biology.  It is a form of stress.  It is a form of trauma. Stress and trauma change the hormones your body produces which has an effect on your blood vessels.” “Racism and sexism also impact the care. We receive different care as a result of the biases on behalf of providers that may not even be aware that they have sexist or racist beliefs.” “There are literally today, in 2024, neighborhoods in black communities across the U.S. where there are no grocery stores.” “Black doctors are 5% of physicians.” “Health care would look completely different if we all approached patients and families with empathy. If we took the time and explored and invested in understanding how our patients got to where they are. “ “What would it look like for us to put humanity first?”