Epiphany Jordan, MPH, CPH, is on a mission to rebrand human touch. From 2013-2020, she provided platonic touch therapy in a ritualized setting with her business, the Austin-based Karuna Sessions. She is also the author of Somebody Hold Me: The Single Person's Guide to Nurturing Human Touch. Somebody Hold Me addresses the touch deficit singles face, and offers multiple solutions. She has appeared on several podcasts discussing human touch, and spoke about solving loneliness with human touch at Austin’s SXSW Interactive Festival in 2019. In 2023, she completed her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Social Marketing from the University of South Florida, and researched rebranding human touch as part of her program. She has been a journalist, a legal assistant, an event planner, a professional tarot reader, an advice columnist, a cigarette girl, and a gig economy serf.

http://www.nurturinghumantouch.com
Twitter: @karunasessions
IG: somebody_hold_me
FB: https://www.facebook.com/karunasessionsatx
https://www.facebook.com/somebodyholdme/

Epiphany Jordan, author on a mission to rebrand human touch.

David E. Montgomery is a board-certified cardiologist focusing on preventing heart disease at PREventClinic in Atlanta, where he is the founder and managing partner. Dr. Dave is also a sought-after TV personality, frequently appearing as a medical contributor on CNN/HLN and NewsNation.
 
Dr. Dave was selected by his peers in Atlanta Magazine’s Top Doctors in 2022.
 
Dr. Dave is the host of the web series, The Good Doctor TV, and the podcast, The Health Mastery Café with Dr. Dave.
 
He believes that mass media and social media can play a key role in enhancing people's health everywhere. 
 
Weblinks:
YouTube: youtube.com/TheHealthMasteryCafe
Practice website:  https://www.preventatl.com

David Montgomery, cardiologist, and founder of PREventClinic, Atlanta.

Tina M. Baxter, an advanced practice registered nurse and board certified gerontological nurse practitioner based in Anderson, Indiana, has over 20 years of experience as a registered nurse and 16 years as a nurse practitioner. She owns Baxter Professional Services, LLC, specializing in legal nurse consulting, wellness coaching, and healthcare educational resources. Tina hosts a weekly Facebook live program, teaches stress management, and offers virtual classes. She founded The Nurse Shark Academy to mentor nurses in business, and is a certified small business advisor with LegalShield. She's a frequent speaker and contributor to various media outlets. Currently, Tina works at Adult and Child Health focusing on mental health for adults and geriatric patients. She has a Master of Nursing and post-master's certification from the University of Indianapolis, and serves on multiple boards and associations.

Social Media Links
https://linktr.ee/baxterprofserv

Tina M. Baxter, Founder of The Nurse Shark Academy

Mary I. O’Connor, MD is founder and Chief Medical Officer of Vori Health, a virtual musculoskeletal company focus on transforming the delivery of patient-centered and value drive care. She is a nationally recognized leader in health equity and Chair of the Board of Directors of Movement is Life, a nonprofit multi-stakeholder coalition committed to addressing musculoskeletal health disparities. Her new book, “Taking Care of You: The Empowered Woman’s Guide to Better Health,” supports women advocating for equitable healthcare. A past Olympian (US Women’s Rowing), she is passionate in her promotion of the power of sports for girls and women.
Dr. O’Connor is Professor Emerita of Orthopedics at Mayo Clinic and past Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine. She received her MD from Drexel University and completed her residency in orthopedics and fellowship in orthopedic oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She practiced at Mayo Clinic in Florida until 2015 during which time she served in many leadership roles: Enterprise-wide Medical Director of the Office of Integrity and Compliance; Chair, Orthopedic Surgery Department (Florida); Medical Director for Development (Florida); and member of the Executive Operations Team (Florida). In 2015, she became the inaugural Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Care at Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Health. In February 2021, Dr. O’Connor became a founder and Chief Medical Officer at Vori Health to advance her passion for transforming musculoskeletal care.
Dr. O’Connor has published extensively on clinical research and innovation in care pathways, hip fracture care, limb salvage for tumor, sex and gender differences in arthritis, and regenerative medicine. At Yale, she led the creation of a multidisciplinary hip fracture program which transformed clinical outcomes and promoted innovation in the care of this vulnerable population.  She authors a quarterly column in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research entitled, “Equity360: Gender, Race and Ethnicity,” to advance health equity in the orthopedic profession.
She has broken numerous gender barriers as the first female member of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS), the International Society of Limb Salvage (ISOLS), the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) and The Knee Society. She is the Past President of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeon, AAHKS, ISOLS, MSTS and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society. She is past Chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) Diversity Advisory Board and the AAOS Women’s Health Issues Advisory Board, founding member of the AAHKS Women in Arthroplasty Group, past board member of the Perry Foundation, and member of the AAHKS Diversity Advisory Board. She is past member of the Advisory Committee on Research on Women's Health at NIH. 
Dr. O’Connor has received numerous awards and honors during her training and career, including the 2023 AAOS Diversity Award, 2023 AAHKS Diversity Award, Distinguished Clinician Award at Mayo Clinic, and the Corinne Farrell Award from the International Skeletal Society. She received the Congressional Gold Medal as a 1980 Olympian (Women’s Rowing).

Company: https://www.vorihealth.com
 
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryoconnormd/
 
TEDx: Promoting Health: Your Secret Superpower https://www.ted.com/talks/mary_o_connor_promoting_health_your_secret_superpower
 
Book: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/product/taking-care-of-you/
https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Care-You-Empowered-Womans/dp/1945564148
 
Movement is Life (the non-profit focused on health equity): https://www.movementislifecommunity.org

Mary O'Connor MD,  founder and Chief Medical Officer of Vori Health

Mahwish Syed is an award winning fashion and interior designer, celebrated author, cancer survivor, and devoted mother. Her creations have adorned bodies and homes for over two decades, fostering spaces that nurture and heal. Featured in distinguished publications like New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, her designs transcend boundaries. Her book "Purgatory to Paradise" unveils her triumphant cancer journey, showcasing how design became her healing sanctuary. Committed to empowering others, she advocates for personal paradises, affirming that genuine beauty is immediate and attainable for all.

1.	http://www.msd-ny.com/press
2.	https://elephantsandtea.com/survivorship/you-are-not-alone-and-i-love-you-too
https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/news/prodigy-press-wire/mahwish-syed-on-nature-informed-homes-with-meredith-oke-on-quantum-biology-collective-podcast 
3.	https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/15-decorators-create-delightful-scenes-inside-the-brooklyn-heights-designer-showcase
4.	https://www.brownstoner.com/interiors-renovation/interior-design-trends-brooklyn-forties-fever-curves-facets-fringe-velvet-lighting-furniture/ 
5.	https://twistoutcancer.org/art/mahwishsyedandsherylannnoday/ 
6.	https://www.heyartifact.com/creations/912XN/

Mahwish Syed, Author and Designer

Emily is the Founder and CEO of Attane Health, a digital health company in the “food is medicine” space. Rooted in lived experience, Emily leads a passionate team dedicated to changing health outcomes through harnessing the healing power of food.
 
After experiencing first-hand the challenges of managing chronic health conditions with limited resources, Emily founded Food Equality Initiative (FEI). Under her leadership the nonprofit grew to a 7-figure annual budget, supporting patients' access to healthy food.
 
Emily is a national patient advocate who has provided both oral and written testimony to the FDA and USDA. Active in her community, Emily serves on several hospital committees and food policy coalitions. A member of the 2025 Child and Adult Core Set Annual Review Workgroup, Emily works to advance health equity in all pursuits.
 
Her research interests include food systems, health disparities, and patient-centered approaches to care. Emily is a published co-author of several peer-reviewed articles with top research institutions in allergic disease.  Emily believes in the power of patients and data to achieve greater health outcomes.

Emily Brown, CEO of Attane Health

Dr Sondra Butterworth is a visionary leader and advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Sondra’s work is particularly focused on inequalities within health and social care sectors for rare disease patients and communities in the global majority (ethnic minority). 
 
As a British born black black woman, with Afro-Caribbean roots tracing back to St. Kitts, Sondra's parents moved to the UK as part of the Windrush generation.  They instilled in Sondra a strong work ethic, and a sense of resilience, community empowerment, and a passion for humanitarian work.
 
As one of the very few black Community Psychologists in the UK, Sondra brings her expertise in mixed-methods research, education, and EDI to lead groundbreaking initiatives like EDIRA (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusive Research Association) EDIRA Academy: which is an online platform for learning and networking, RCNet (RareQoL Community Network) and MELD (Minority Ethnic Leadership Development). Sondra's work has impacted countless individuals by advancing initiatives to improve health equity and address barriers to inclusion. 
 
Sondra was recently recognized with the prestigious Best DEI Social Enterprise Founder 2024 (UK) title by the Global CEO Excellence Awards, solidifying her role as a trailblazer in DEI and social enterprise leadership. This award celebrates her tireless dedication to building more inclusive frameworks within research, healthcare, and social services. RareQoL Consulting offers consultancy services to not-for-profit organizations, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry. 
 
 
Celebrating the ‘Doers’ Event
 
Join Us at ‘Celebrating the Doers’ Event – November 7, 2025
Dr. Butterworth and EDIRA Partners will host the ‘Celebrating the Doers’ event on November 7, 2025, at the University of Birmingham, UK. This event, a hallmark of EDIRA's mission, shines a spotlight on individuals and organizations that are actively driving positive change in research and social care. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with EDI professionals, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss best practices, celebrate achievements, and network with others passionate about inclusion.
 
For more information about Dr Sondra Butterworth and her groundbreaking work with RareQoL and EDIRA, or to attend the ‘Celebrating the Doers’ event, visit EDIRA. https://rareqol.com/edira-2/
 
Consultancy Services
 
Sondra’s ability to understand the complex dynamics of diversity and inclusion has made her a sought-after consultant, known for her clear, actionable strategies.
Whether your organization is looking to improve its EDI framework, engage in inclusive research, or develop leadership programs, Dr. Butterworth is ready to provide support that drives real, lasting change. Get in touch today to discover how her consultancy services can help your organization achieve its goals.
For more details on how Dr. Sondra Butterworth can support your organization, visit https://rareqol.com/rareqol-consulting/



Sondra Butterworth, CEO & Founder of RareQoL and EDIRA

Rucha Shah attained her Master of Science degree in Clinical Research Organization and Management from the Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She further completed certificate coursework in Advancing Health Equity from ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and Research Advocacy Network as well as certificate coursework in Artificial Intelligence in Pharma and Biotech from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Currently, Ms. Shah works as a clinical research project manager within the oncology space, an area in which she has a decade of experience. She has proven experience in managing study teams and study sites as well as working collaboratively with various functional teams to meet study deliverables.

Additionally, Ms. Shah’s passion lies in advocating for accessible healthcare and improving health outcomes for the broader patient community, especially the next generation of patients.  Currently, Ms. Shah leads an advocacy group for patients and caregivers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania. She also collaborates with like-minded organizations and pharmaceutical companies on bringing forth initiatives which make meaningful connections within the disease community, improve the quality of life for patients and to increase awareness within the larger community. She strives to apply the "lessons learned" from her patient advocacy experiences to her professional work by building the trials to be more patient centric and accessible.

Recent Works: Woolford T, Andemariam B, Blaylark R, Colasanti R, Shah N, Jonassaint C, Trimnell C, Sheth S, Davis J, Gallagher E, Zaidi AU, John H, Shah R. Setting Industry Standards for Patient Engagement, Partnership and Care: The Patient Vision Project. Poster and Oral presentation at NORD. October 16, 2023. Washington DC, USA.


Rucha Shah, Clinical Research Manager & Advocate

Brain cancer significantly impacts marriages, often increasing the risk of divorce. According to research published in the journal Cancer, women are six times more likely to end up separated or divorced if they are diagnosed with cancer ... than if their husbands were facing the same illness. The study suggests, "Early identification (marital discord) and psychosocial intervention (life coaching) might reduce the frequency of divorce and separation, and in turn improve quality of life and quality of care." The stress and emotional toll of a brain cancer diagnosis can strain even the strongest relationships. This is where Aware Coaching comes in.

Services Offered:

Relational Health: Coaching for those dealing with brain cancer diagnoses, fostering emotional, spiritual and relational resilience.
Speaking: Jason and Tracy share their inspiring brain cancer story and expertise on marriage, parenting during illness, navigating the health system, and healing from trauma, providing hope and practical guidance to audiences.
Devotional for Women: Tracy Binder's book, Shine On: A Devotional of Encouragement for Women Who Feel Broken, offers bite-sized doses of encouragement and spiritual guidance for women navigating their healing journey.
      

Jason Binder, Founder of Aware Coaching

Susannah Fox is a health and technology strategist. Her book, Rebel Health: A Field Guide to the Patient-Led Revolution in Medical Care, was recently published by MIT Press. She is a former Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she led an open data and innovation lab. She has served as the entrepreneur-in-residence at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and she directed the health portfolio at the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project.

Susannah Fox, author, health and technology strategist

The Health Design Podcast brought to you by the Journal of Health Design(www.journalofhealthdesign.com). Features interviews with the world's leading health design experts including clinicians, designers, patients, authors and researchers. Better health by design.

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