Real Medicine

Episode 2: Advocacy, Grief, and the Medicine We Don’t Talk About

Dr. Jennifer Anderson MD, CCFP Season 1 Episode 2

In this deeply personal episode of Real Medicine, Dr. Anderson shares her journey through the hidden world of medical trauma — the unspoken grief, fear, and emotional injuries that many patients, caregivers, and even healthcare providers carry.

Drawing from her own experiences in the Pediatric ICU with her son, and more recently navigating a new medical crisis with another child, she explores how medical systems often dismiss trauma instead of recognizing and healing it.

Through powerful storytelling, research-backed insights, and reflections on vulnerability and authenticity in medicine, Dr. Anderson reveals how real healing begins — not with perfection, but with presence.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of medical trauma, why trauma-informed care matters, and three practical ways to begin their own healing journey.

Key Takeaways:

  • Medical trauma is real — and more common than we realize.
  • Authenticity and vulnerability are essential for healing, not weaknesses to hide.
  • Being heard and seen by healthcare providers can be as powerful as any prescription.

This episode is for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals ready to reimagine what true healing looks like.

Support the show

Podcasts we love

Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.