Ever feel like navigating healthcare is harder than the illness itself?

Meet Claudia Cometa: clinical pharmacist turned fierce patient advocate, and she’s on a mission to make healthcare less confusing and more human.

In this episode, Claudia speaks with Geoff about her deeply personal story of how caring for her father’s illness made her realize just how broken the system really is.

If you’ve ever felt lost, frustrated, or downright defeated by the healthcare system (or know someone who has), this episode is for you.

Additional Resources:

www.mo-mentsofexperience.com
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Connect with Claudia Cometa on LinkedIn
Visit Peace Advocacy Group Patient
Empower Thyself! by Claudia Cometa, PharmD

Key Takeaways:

• Patient Advocacy is Crucial: Claudia highlights the necessity of patient advocates in a healthcare system that often overwhelms even the most knowledgeable.
• Healthcare Needs Simplicity and Empathy: The current healthcare system has grown too complex, and both patients and professionals are struggling with it. Human connection and simplicity should be the focus.
• Permission to Question the System: Patients need to give themselves permission to seek second opinions and demand better care.

In this episode, Geoffrey hosts Stephanie S. Abbott—a healthcare executive, cancer survivor, and champion of human connection.

Stephanie’s experience navigating the healthcare system as both a patient and leader revealed a powerful truth: human connection is at the heart of healing.

Discover the vital link between employee experience and patient outcomes, and how supporting healthcare teams can lead to life-changing care.

This episode is a candid, inspiring look at resilience, purpose, and what it means to truly care for others—whether you're leading a team or receiving care yourself.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Stephanie Abbott on LinkedIn
Buried or Planted by Stephanie S. Abbott
www.mo-mentsofexperience.com
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Turning Pain into Purpose: Stephanie shared how her cancer diagnosis became the catalyst for her mission to improve healthcare through empathy and connection.
• The Intersection of Employee and Patient Experience: Healthcare systems must prioritize employee well-being to enhance patient care, as the two are deeply interconnected.
• The Power of Words in Healthcare: The right words can provide hope or strip it away. Human connection and empathy are crucial in every interaction, from physicians to support staff.

In this episode, Geoffrey sits down with Michael Overlie, founder of Dogs and Men, to explore the deep connection between humans and their dogs.

Michael shares his journey from personal loss to healing, all thanks to the unconditional love of his dog. They discuss how dogs reflect our best selves and remind us of our capacity for love, presence, and self-healing.

If you’ve ever wondered what your dog is trying to teach you about life, this episode is for you.

Listen in and discover why we truly do deserve dogs.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Michael Overlie
Visit Dogs and Men
www.mo-mentsofexperience.com
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Guest Sally Wolf shares her inspiring journey of turning trauma into growth through physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.

She emphasizes the importance of finding authentic meaning in difficult situations and the power of post-traumatic growth. Sally also discusses the need for better understanding and support for individuals living with cancer, particularly those in the NED (no evidence of disease) stage.

The challenges of navigating healthcare as a solopreneur are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for accessible and affordable options for all.

Sally Wolf is a wellbeing advisor, patient advocate and keynote speaker. She’s been featured in many leading media outlets including Oprah Daily, Allure, The Independent, Glamour, Netflix, Health, Entrepreneur, Good Morning America, CBS New York, and Anderson Cooper's podcast.

Additional Resources:
https://www.sallywolf.com
Connect with Sally Wolf on LinkedIn
www.mo-mentsofexperience.com
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

In this powerful episode, host Geoffrey Smith speaks with healthcare change makers Stephanie Feals and Dr. Apurv Gupta.

Together, they discuss the critical importance of love, compassion, and empathy in healthcare. Stephanie shares her deeply personal journey, highlighting how her unique blend of communication expertise and personal healthcare experiences fueled her passion for improving patient advocacy.

Dr. Gupta discusses the transformative power of love within healthcare organizations and the ripple effect it has on both employees and patients.

If you’re invested in the future of healthcare, then explore how creating a loving community can drive positive change, improve outcomes, and foster a more compassionate healthcare environment.

Additional Resources:
www.mo-mentsofexperience.com
Connect with Stephanie Feals on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Apurv Gupta on LinkedIn Making Healthcare Work for You Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Dr. Stephen Beeson, a leading innovator in professional development for caregivers, discusses the importance of continuous human development in healthcare.

He emphasizes the need to support and empower caregivers to provide better care for patients and find purpose and contentment in their work.

Get a real life example of how to craft a people development strategy that leads to transformations in patient experience, staff turnover, engagement, and quality.

The conversation concludes with personal stories that underscore the impact of human connection and the power of living in one's purpose.

Additional Resources:
www.mo-mentsofexperience.com
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Welcome to the first episode of Mo-ments of Experience where impactful conversations and meaningful moments take center stage.

I'm your host, Geoffrey Smith, and I am honored to be joined by the remarkable Pantea Vahidi—an accomplished nurse, engineer, and advocate for advancing compassion in healthcare and beyond.

In this episode, Pantea shares poignant stories from her journey, both personal and professional, that illustrate how small acts of compassion can make a world of difference.

From comforting a young cancer patient to drawing strength from her father's simple gesture of bringing tea during an exhausting deadline, Pantea vividly illustrates the essence of compassion.

Together, we delve into the importance of raising awareness, cultivating compassion, and being authentically present for those in need.

We'll also explore the intersection of technology and compassion, and how even in an age of rapid advancements, the human touch remains irreplaceable.

Additional Resources:

www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Pantea Vahidi on LinkedIn Compassion Clinic
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Inspired by host Geoffrey P. Smith’s faithful near 14-year-old beagle Mo whose unwavering spirit and love lifted his family during challenging times, the Mo-ments of Experience podcast highlights the meaningful mo-ments that shape us, move us, and inspire us to pursue our purpose. Join us for powerful, uplifting and sometimes challenging stories from some of the world’s leading innovators in employee, patient, caregiver, and human experience and gain inspiration from the mo-ments that connected them to their true calling.