Becoming Immune Confident

Do you ever feel like something's missing in healthcare? Like there are important conversations we should be having, but aren't?
Get ready for a sneak peek into a brand-new podcast, "Lessons We Didn't Learn in Medical School," hosted by Dr. Kara Wada and Dr. Beth Vukin. In this special bonus episode of "Becoming Immune Confident," Dr. Kara shares what inspired this exciting project, a taste of the powerful conversations to come, and how YOU can be a part of the movement by joining their Launch Team. It's all about bringing together patients and physicians, sharing stories, and creating a healthcare system that truly works for us.
Join the "Lessons We Didn't Learn In Medical School" Launch Team for exclusive early access, bonus content, and a chance to win some amazing giveaways! → https://www.drkarawada.com/lessons-we-didnt-learn-launch-team
EPISODE IN A GLANCE
00:00 Intro
00:39 Introducing Lessons We Didn't Learn In Medical School and Hosts
01:12 Challenges in Healthcare
01:50 The Importance of Community
02:33 Sneak Peek with Dr. Beth Vukin
04:01 Complexities of Chronic Illness
05:00 Navigating the Healthcare System
06:44 The Power of Shared Experiences
10:22 Lessons and Stories
ABOUT DR. BETH VUKIN
Dr. Beth Vukin is a board-certified pediatrician and hospitalist, bringing over 20 years of experience to her insightful conversations about healthcare. As both a physician and a patient with scleroderma, she understands the importance of bridging the gap between medical knowledge and lived experience.
CONNECT WITH DR. BETH VUKIN

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/realtalkwithkiddocs 
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RealTalkWithKidDocs 
ABOUT DR KARA WADA
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
CONNECT WITH DR WADA

Website → https://www.drkarawada.com/ 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karawadamd/ 
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/immuneconfidentmd/ 
Podcast Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/becomingimmuneconfident/ 
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/KaraWadaMD 
Twitter → https://twitter.com/CrunchyAllergy 
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@immuneconfident 
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER → https://www.drkarawada.com/newsletter 
Get Dr. Kara’s weekly dose of a naturally-minded and scientifically-grounded approach to immune system health.
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→ https://www.greencloudapparel.com/discount/LWDLMS

Have you ever wondered if there's a connection between mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and Sjogren's? 🤔
In this episode of the Becoming Immune Confident Podcast, Dr. Kara Wada explores the fascinating world of mast cells, those "allergy cells" that have been with us since prehistoric times! She breaks down the mysteries of MCAS, explaining what mast cells are, how they can misbehave, and the possible overlaps between MCAS and Sjogren's.
Dr. Wada, an allergist-immunologist and someone living with Sjogren's, shares her clinical insights and observations, even though research on the direct link between these two conditions is still in its early stages.
Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how MCAS might be playing a role in your Sjogren's journey and how to approach your doctor with concerns about MCAS.
EPISODE IN A GLANCE
01:18 Introduction to Mast Cell Activation and Sjogren's
02:35 Understanding Mast Cells
06:05 Mast Cells and Allergic Reactions
11:31 Mast Cell Disorders and Misbehaviors
17:58 Clinical Approach to Mast Cell Activation
20:01 Treatment and Management Strategies
21:22 Potential Triggers and Patient Guidance
24:22 Emerging Treatments and Researc
25:44 Conclusion and Community Engagement

ABOUT DR KARA WADA
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
CONNECT WITH DR WADA

Website → https://www.drkarawada.com/ 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karawadamd/ 
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/immuneconfidentmd/ 
Podcast Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/becomingimmuneconfident/ 
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/KaraWadaMD 
Twitter → https://twitter.com/CrunchyAllergy 
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@immuneconfident 
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER →
https://www.drkarawada.com/newsletter 
Get Dr. Kara’s weekly dose of a naturally-minded and scientifically-grounded approach to immune system health.
Join the "Sjogren's Superpowers Activated" Challenge Waitlist! → www.drkarawada.com/sjogrens-28day-challenge 
Based on the incredible feedback from our first round, it's back for round 2 this October. Join the waitlist now and snag a special early bird discount.

Have you ever been told your pain is "just medical student anxiety?" Or faced a diagnosis during a stressful time like medical school? This week, we're diving into the experience of medical student and advocate, Stephanie Moss, and how she navigated chronic illness, medical gaslighting, and even a leave of absence from her medical education.
In this episode, Dr. Kara Wada sits down with Stephanie Moss, a fourth-year medical student and advocate, to discuss her journey with chronic illness, navigating medical school with a diagnosis, and how she found strength and confidence in her resilience. Stephanie shares her experience with medical gaslighting, the importance of finding support and advocating for yourself, and how her leave of absence from medical school, while challenging, ultimately empowered her to develop valuable tools and strategies for managing chronic pain.
EPISODE IN A GLANCE
00:39 Meet Stephanie Moss: Trauma-informed Advocate and Activist
03:01 Stephanie's Chronic Illness Diagnosis and Perspective Shift
04:55 Medical Gaslighting and Power Dynamics in Healthcare
08:20 The Power of the Placebo Effect and Human Connection
09:20 Failing a Major Exam and Advocating for Accommodations
13:30 Taking a Leave of Absence and Overcoming Challenges
18:29 Tools for Managing Chronic Pain
20:42 Reframing Exercise as a Practice of Love and Kindness
22:56 Advice for Students Facing Similar Challenges
25:00 Becoming Immune Confident: Building Confidence in Body and Resilience
26:59 Connect with Stephanie Moss
ABOUT STEPHANIE MOSS, MD
Stephanie Moss is a trauma-informed advocate, health disparities activist, Endometriosis and Infertility warrior, and a 4th year Medical Student pursuing her Medical Doctorate (M.D.) at Rush Medical College in Chicago. Through her lifelong dedication to diversity, health equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) she has striven to be a voice for marginalized communities. She is a part of the Family Medicine Leadership Program (FMLP), TightLipped medical team, is on the Infertility Committee at American Medical Women's association (AMWA), and serves on the International Society of Study of Women's Sexual Medicine (ISSWSM) Advocacy committee. During COVID she co-founded the Chicago Homelessness and Health Response Group for Equity (CHHRGE).
Stephanie shares her experiences through her narrative medicine writing and public speaking, with her work being featured on notable platforms such as MedPageTody, The Endometriosis Foundation, KevinMD, Doximity, and American Medical Women's Association (AMWA).
CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE MOSS, MD

Website → https://medpsycmoss.com/ 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-e-moss/ 
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/medpsycmoss 
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Ypzlapvju3XZ-8rgjF8Vw 
Twitter → https://x.com/medpsycmoss 
ABOUT DR KARA WADA
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
CONNECT WITH DR WADA

Website → https://www.drkarawada.com/ 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karawadamd/ 
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/immuneconfidentmd/

Did you know that air pollution can increase the effects of allergies threefold? Imagine a world where you could paint your way to cleaner air.
Dr. Kara Wada sits down with Dr. Tanya Rogers, a NASA engineer with a passion for sustainability, to discuss her journey from space exploration to launching a company dedicated to carbon capture. Dr. Rogers shares her story of navigating a demanding career path while also facing chronic health challenges, inspiring listeners to embrace acceptance and prioritize self-care. We explore the link between climate change and our immune health, highlighting the critical role of individual action in creating a healthier future.
EPISODE IN A GLANCE
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Tanya Rogers, NASA engineer and CEO of The People's CO2
02:52 The connection between climate change and immune health
04:11 Balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with chronic illness
06:56 The unexpected ways Dr. Rogers' health journey has impacted her leadership
09:43 Staying motivated through challenging work
12:54 The long-term goals for The People's CO2
13:55 The power of starting small and making safer swaps
16:20 The importance of collective action and finding your genius zone
21:05 How to connect with Dr. Rogers and support her work
22:00 Dr. Rogers' perspective on becoming immune confident
ABOUT DR. TANYA ROGERS
Dr. Tanya Rogers is a NASA engineer and co-founder of The People’s CO2, a woman-led started focused on fighting climate change through citizen empowerment.
CONNECT WITH DR. TANYA ROGERS & THE PEOPLE'S CO2
Website → https://www.thepeoplesco2.com/ 
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/peoplesco2 
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565170804108 
ABOUT DR KARA WADA
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
CONNECT WITH DR WADA
Website → https://www.drkarawada.com/ 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karawadamd/ 
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/immuneconfident/ 
Podcast Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/becomingimmuneconfident/ 
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/KaraWadaMD 
Twitter → https://twitter.com/CrunchyAllergy 
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@immuneconfident 
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER → https://www.drkarawada.com/newsletter 
Get Dr. Kara’s weekly dose of a naturally-minded and scientifically-grounded approach to immune system health.

We all know that movement is essential for health, but what if you're dealing with chronic pain? Many people feel limited, even discouraged, from embracing movement because of fear or past experiences.
But what if that even with chronic pain, movement can be a source of joy and empowerment?
In this week's podcast episode of the Becoming Immune Confident Podcast, Dr. Kara Wada had the pleasure of speaking with DK Ciccone, a certified Pilates instructor and author of "You're Meant to Move," who shares her personal journey of navigating chronic back pain and reclaiming her love of movement.
DK emphasizes that our bodies are designed to move, and even with pain, we can find ways to engage in activities that bring us joy and support our well-being. She encourages us to shift our perspective on pain, exploring the role of the nervous system and how we can foster a deeper connection with our bodies.
DK's inspiring message reminds us that movement is not just about achieving a certain aesthetic, but about cultivating a deeper sense of agency, self-compassion, and resilience.
EPISODE IN A GLANCE
01:40 DK Ciccone's Personal Journey with Chronic Pain
04:35 The role of body image and diet culture in shaping our relationship with pain
07:36 Unhelpful Messages and Misconceptions About Pain
10:38 The Impact of Dismissive Medical Advice
12:58 Holistic Approach to Pain Management
17:53 Building Resilience and Managing Pain Flares
24:45 Pain Reprocessing Therapy and Somatic Tracking
28:39 Finding Joy in Movement
30:49 Core Message of the book 'You're Meant to Move'
33:07 Conclusion and How to Connect with DK Ciccone
ABOUT DANA KAREN (“DK”) CICCONE
Dana Karen (“DK”) Ciccone is a certified Pilates instructor who helps people in pain improve strength, mobility, and well-being in a weight-neutral environment. She’s also trained in pain reprocessing therapy through the Pain Psychology Center. Having begun her own journey with chronic back pain as a young teen, she has been exploring ways to help herself and others regain joy of movement for decades. After twenty years in the health sector, DK left a corporate career to follow her passion, later launching Movement Remedies, a chronic pain–focused Pilates studio in Boston, Massachusetts. Her first book, You’re Meant to Move: A Guide to Conquering Chronic Pain, Increasing Stress Resilience, and Reclaiming an Active Life, was released December 2023.
CONNECT WITH DANA KAREN (“DK”) CICCONE

Website → https://movementremedies.org 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-karen-ciccone 
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/movement_remedies/ 
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/movement.remedies.llc/ 
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@movementremediesllc 
Pick up a copy of DK Ciccone's book, "You're Meant to Move: A Guide to Conquering Chronic Pain, Increasing Stress Resilience, and Reclaiming an Active Life," available on Amazon.
ABOUT DR KARA WADA
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
CONNECT WITH DR WADA

Website → https://www.drkarawada.com/ 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karawadamd/ 
Instagram → <