Episode Summary

In this episode, Ursula Mann is joined by Christine Pisapia for a thoughtful conversation with Sigrun Watson, a healthcare leader and entrepreneur passionate about improving women’s health and reducing stigma around mental health.

Sigrun shares her personal journey with perfectionism, an eating disorder, depression, and what it meant to seek help—and why storytelling and community can be powerful first steps toward healing. The conversation also explores gaps in women’s health education and care, including pelvic floor health and menopause, and what Sigrun is building through her work with UROSPOT to make pelvic health support more accessible and modern.

Why you should listen

Listen if you want:

• A real, compassionate conversation about mental health, perfectionism, and asking for help
• Insight into why women’s health is still under-researched and under-discussed
• A clearer understanding of pelvic floor health, menopause-related changes, and why symptoms are often normalized
• A leadership perspective grounded in empathy, lived experience, and patient-centered care
• Hopeful reminders that you’re not alone—and that support can start with hearing someone else’s story

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Introduction
Ursula and Brent welcome listeners to Amplify – Elevating Patient Voices and introduce the themes of women’s health, mental health, and leadership.

[00:03:00] Meet Sigrun Watson
Sigrun shares her Icelandic roots, career journey from dietitian to pharmaceutical executive, and her passion for healthcare transformation.

[00:06:11] Perfectionism & Eating Disorders
Sigrun opens up about her struggle with bulimia, the connection between perfectionism and eating disorders, and how mental health shaped her career path.

[00:08:54] The Impact on Young People
Christine and Sigrun discuss perfectionism in children, early warning signs for parents, and the pressures of social media.

[00:12:15] Depression & Dark Thoughts in University
Sigrun shares her experience with depression during first-year university and why early intervention and support matter.

[00:14:03] The Power of Storytelling & Unsinkable
Sigrun discusses her work with Unsinkable, the healing power of shared stories, and how vulnerability creates connection and hope.

[00:18:52] Mental Health Access & Affordability
The conversation explores barriers to accessing care and why hearing others’ lived experiences can be a powerful first step.

[00:22:45] Women’s Health Gaps
Ursula transitions the discussion to women’s health—highlighting stigma, lack of education, and systemic research gaps in menopause and midlife care.

[00:23:19] Sigrun’s Menopause Journey
Sigrun shares her personal experience with perimenopause and menopause, and how it reshaped her perspective on healthcare.

[00:27:55] Pelvic Floor Health Explained
A deep dive into pelvic floor muscle function, why issues like bladder leakage are common but under-discussed, and how hormonal changes accelerate muscle weakening.

[00:30:36] What UROSPOT Does
Sigrun explains the technology behind pelvic floor rehabilitation and how non-invasive electromagnetic therapy works.

[00:33:41] The Reward of Being Close to Patients
Sigrun reflects on moving from corporate healthcare into entrepreneurship and the profound impact of working directly with patients.

[00:34:43] Closing Reflections
Ursula and Christine thank Sigrun for her candor and leadership in advancing mental health awareness and women’s health innovation.

Want to Share Your Voice?

If you’re a patient or caregiver, you&

Episode Summary

In this episode of Amplify: Elevating Patient Voices, hosts Ursula Mann and Brent Korte speak with Reg Joseph, CEO of Health Cities, about how community-based care, patient empowerment, and system design shape real healthcare outcomes.

Reg shares insights from his background in biotechnology, finance, and healthcare innovation, explaining why technology alone cannot fix healthcare challenges. The conversation highlights the importance of redesigning care models, supporting patient self-management, and integrating healthcare into communities—especially in rural and underserved settings.

Drawing from real-world examples and personal experience as a patient, this episode explores prevention, data use, access to care, and why the future of healthcare must extend beyond hospitals and clinics.

Why You Should Listen

• Learn why community-based healthcare is critical to better outcomes
• Understand how innovation should be driven by patient and system needs, not technology
• Hear practical examples of remote monitoring and self-management in action
• Gain insights into rural healthcare access and decentralized care models
• Discover how patients can self-advocate and partner with clinicians
• Explore how responsible health data use can improve community wellness

Episode Highlights (with Timestamps)

• [00:00–01:36] Introduction to Reg Joseph and the focus on community-driven healthcare
• [02:06–04:21] Reg’s transition from biotech and finance into healthcare systems
• [04:21–05:14] Why healthcare innovation often fails due to system complexity
• [05:47–07:18] Designing care models before introducing technology
• [07:18–08:21] Meeting patients where they are to improve outcomes
• [08:36–11:22] Remote monitoring, rural care challenges, and patient self-management
• [11:22–12:32] Prevention, education, and long-term wellness
• [12:46–14:17] A personal patient experience inside the healthcare system
• [14:40–17:35] How patients can self-advocate and engage clinicians effectively
• [17:35–19:46] What healthcare can learn from banking and consultative models
• [20:01–22:31] Simplifying complex systems through community collaboration
• [22:31–24:37] Rural Alberta as a model for integrated community care
• [25:32–29:10] Decentralized care, technology, and access beyond urban centers
• [29:55–31:03] Looking ahead: leadership, recovery, and personal goals
• [31:03–32:01] Final reflections on patient-centered, community-based healthcare

Want to Share Your Voice?

If you’re a patient or caregiver, you can join Patient Voice Connect to share your experiences and help shape healthcare here.

Join our email list to get new episode updates here.

Together, we can bring more voices to the table and shape the future of healthcare.

Share this episode, leave a review, and follow Patient Voice Partners on LinkedIn to help amplify more voices.

Medical Disclaimer:

The content shared on Amplify is for informational and educational purposes only.

Nothing discussed on this podcast—including stories, experiences, perspectives, or commentary from hosts, guests, or contributors—should be interpreted as medical a

In this episode of Amplify: Elevating Patient Voices, hosts Ursula Mann and Barry Liden are joined by Barry Stein, President and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about colorectal cancer, early screening, and why patient voices matter in shaping healthcare systems.

Barry Stein shares his remarkable journey—from a late-stage colorectal cancer diagnosis in the mid-1990s, through multiple surgeries and innovative treatments, to becoming one of Canada’s most influential patient advocates. His story highlights how determination, shared decision-making, and advocacy can drive meaningful change at both the individual and system level.

Together, the hosts explore why colorectal cancer screening is so critical, how screening programs have evolved across Canada, and the real-world barriers patients face when it comes to testing and access to care. The conversation also dives into the importance of patient engagement in research, clinical trials, and health technology decision-making—reminding us that data alone is never enough without lived experience.

This episode is a compelling reminder that patients are not just stakeholders in healthcare—they are essential partners.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

• Barry Stein’s personal experience with stage IV colorectal cancer and what it taught him about advocacy
• Why early detection and screening save lives
• The role of FIT testing and colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening
• How patient voices influence policy, access, and innovation in healthcare
• Why patient preference and lived experience matter in research and decision-making
• The long-term impact of advocacy—for individuals, families, and health systems