OT and PT Working Together To Systemically Transform Maternal Health From a Culture of Trauma to Supported Liberation: An Interdisciplinary Call to Action For All at the Individual, Micro, Meso, and Macro Level

Evolved Living Podcast

The podcast interview discusses maternal health disparities, the importance of collaboration between occupational therapists and physical therapists, and the role of technology and personal experiences in empowering women and improving healthcare outcomes, with a focus on trauma-informed, individualized care and systemic change.
Released in Tandem with AOTA SPECIALTY CONFERENCE:
Women's Health
https://www.aota.org/events/calendar/aota-specialty-conference-womens-health
Trauma-Informed Collaboration Resource Compilation: https://qr.link/jgmFXO
Katherine Sylvester is a mother of two, physical therapist, preeclampsia survivor, clinical assistant professor for women’s health, and VBAC-certified doula. She is the founder of Operation M.I.S.T. where she and her team teach women to use smart watches and blood pressure cuffs for safer pregnancies, smoother cycles, and better health. She and her team also host More than a Period Parties and Heart Harmony Seminars where they teach ladies about their bodies so they can trust, prepare and protect them throughout all phases of womanhood.
Operation M.I.S.T.
https://operationmist.org/
The poem (both written and read) is below:
Written poem: From Racism to Remote Monitoring: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-3lGLBjORkkyhjOkAdTPxo2VLe2_npOV41-WQ8k3YE/edit
Read: From Racism to Remote Monitoring Spoken Word:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=5nXYRxPEqbGBk5H8&v=W1qrTFcVrC8&feature=youtu.be
Kary Gillenwaters serves as a community-based OT and the SOLACE Foundation director of support and community engagement. Eeleven years ago, the birth of Kary's first child resulted in her becoming a member of a club no one signs up for or anticipates. At the time, little to no support was available online, health care teams had little experience with serious obstetrical tears, and the lack of understanding and meaningful support made an already difficult life transition even more challenging. But as many of the members of this club have learned, these experiences are more common than we think-it's just that it's all too painful (and sometimes embarrassing) to talk about, so we don't. The silence and isolation that so often follow a severe obstetric laceration exacerbate the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual challenges people face, overnight, not just to their body, but to their roles, their relationships, and their identity.
SOLACE Foundation: https://www.solaceforwomen.org/
Raising awareness of severe obstetric lacerations by promoting prevention through maternal education and research, driving change toward a standard of care, and providing women with comprehensive support through their healing journeys.
Kary's 4th Degree Care Story:
https://solidagovc.com/blog/the-impact-of-birth-injuries-interprofessional-teaming-and-informed-consent-on-the-occupations-of-motherhood
Evolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetwork
Free Occupational Science 101 Guidebook
https://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcast
OS Empowered OT Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/
Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit