Episode Summary

In this powerful episode of Amplify, Carmen Wyton joins Ursula Mann and Anne Marie for a bold conversation about the invisible gaps in women’s healthcare — and the movement to change them.

Carmen shares how her experience listening to women with uterine fibroids, many of whom waited over a decade for diagnosis and treatment, sparked the creation of the Women’s Health Coalition of Alberta, which later evolved into the Women’s Health Coalition of Canada.

Together, they unpack the systemic biases that have historically reduced women’s health to “bikini medicine,” discuss the importance of lived experience in shaping policy, and explore the groundbreaking Bill S243 — a proposed legal framework designed to ensure women’s health remains a national healthcare priority in Canada.

This conversation goes beyond healthcare. It’s about advocacy, accountability, economic impact, prevention, and empowering women to speak openly about their health experiences. Carmen explains why this movement is not just about one disease or condition — it’s about transforming an entire healthcare system for future generations.

Why You Should Listen

• Learn why women’s health has remained systemically overlooked for decades
• Understand what Bill S243 could mean for healthcare in Canada
• Hear how advocacy organizations differ from traditional patient groups
• Discover how patient voice and lived experience are driving policy change
• Explore the economic and societal impact of investing in women’s health
• Be inspired by a movement focused on collaboration over competition

Episode Highlights

• Why women’s health became an “invisible gap” in healthcare
• The problem with “bikini medicine” and reproductive-only thinking
• How uterine fibroid patient stories sparked a national movement
• The creation and rapid growth of the Women’s Health Coalition of Canada
• What makes Bill S243 groundbreaking legislation
• Why accountability matters more than temporary health strategies
• The role of advocacy, collaboration, and grassroots action in policy reform
• How women’s health impacts families, workplaces, and the economy
• Why women’s stories need to be told publicly and unapologetically
• Carmen’s vision for the future — and her dream celebration in Paris

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 advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.

Always seek the guidance of your physician or other licensed provider with any questions regarding your health, medical conditions, or treatment options.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Amplify: Elevating Patient Voices, Ursula Mann and Anne Marie Hayes sit down with Neelam Bance for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, lived experience, healthcare innovation, and the importance of listening deeply to patients and caregivers.

Neelam shares reflections from her personal and professional journey — including motherhood, identity, advocacy, and leadership — and how these experiences shaped her perspective on creating more human-centered healthcare systems.

The discussion explores the value of curiosity, empathy, and meaningful collaboration in driving change across healthcare and patient engagement spaces. From recognizing barriers within systems to understanding the emotional realities behind patient experiences, this episode highlights why lived experience must remain at the center of innovation and decision-making.

This conversation is reflective, inspiring, and filled with insights for healthcare leaders, patient advocates, caregivers, and anyone passionate about creating more compassionate systems of care.

Why You Should Listen

• Learn why listening to lived experience is essential in healthcare innovation
• Hear Neelam’s perspective on balancing leadership, motherhood, and advocacy
• Explore the importance of empathy and curiosity in driving meaningful change
• Understand how patient-centered thinking can improve healthcare systems and conversations
• Gain insights into leadership rooted in humanity, connection, and collaboration

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 – Introduction to Neelam Bance and her journey in healthcare leadership
• 03:12 – The importance of lived experience in shaping healthcare conversations
• 07:45 – Balancing leadership, motherhood, and personal identity
• 12:30 – Why empathy and curiosity are essential in innovation
• 18:05 – Challenges within healthcare systems and the need for patient-centered thinking
• 24:18 – Building meaningful collaboration between patients, caregivers, and healthcare leaders
• 30:42 – Reflections on advocacy, listening, and creating lasting change
• 36:10 – Final thoughts on leadership, humanity, and the future of healthcare

Links

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelambance/
MedGeneius https://www.linkedin.com/company/medgeneius/
ODINsight https://odinsight.ca/

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 advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.

Always seek the guidance of your physician or other licensed provider with any questions regarding your health, medical conditions, or treatment options.

What happens when surviving cancer in your 20s leads to a completely different health journey decades later? In this powerful episode of Amplify: Elevating Patient Voices, hosts Ursula Mann and Anne-Marie Hayes sit down with Jackie to explore the realities of women’s heart health, delayed diagnosis, and why patient-led advocacy is changing the future of care.

After surviving Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 24, Jackie went on to build a successful career in fashion and live what she thought was a healthy, “normal” life — until nearly 20 years later, she experienced chemotherapy-induced heart failure. What began as flu-like symptoms eventually led to a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, opening her eyes to the long-term “legacy” cancer treatment can leave behind.

Today, Jackie is a passionate advocate working to improve awareness, access to care, and support systems for women living with heart disease. She shares why women are still too often misdiagnosed, how heart disease symptoms can look very different in women, and why advocacy starts with simply believing that your health matters.

This episode is an urgent and empowering conversation about equalizing care, listening to lived experience, and ensuring women are no longer treated as “small men” in cardiovascular medicine.

Why You Should Listen

• Learn how chemotherapy and cancer treatments can impact heart health decades later
• Hear why women’s heart disease symptoms are still frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed
• Understand the growing connection between gynecology, hormones, and cardiology
• Discover the importance of patient-led support communities and advocacy
• Gain practical insights into heart health risk factors every woman should know
• Explore how Canada and global organizations are working to improve women’s cardiac care

Episode Highlights

• 00:32 – Why women’s heart health remains under-researched and misunderstood
• 04:35 – Jackie’s cancer diagnosis at 24 and the long-term effects of treatment
• 06:32 – Discovering chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy nearly 20 years later
• 07:54 – The moment Jackie’s mother pushed her to request an EKG
• 09:49 – The alarming statistics around women and heart disease misdiagnosis
• 12:42 – Feeling isolated while searching for trustworthy patient support
• 16:48 – Jackie’s advice for women: “Put yourself first”
• 18:12 – Hidden heart disease risk factors linked to hormones, pregnancy, and autoimmune conditions
• 22:48 – Why women are still being treated as “small men” in research and medication dosing
• 25:30 – What “bikini medicine” means and why it limits women’s care
• 28:24 – Canada’s progress in women’s heart health and the new national women’s health framework
• 30:43 – Jackie’s “Heart Warrior Queens” philosophy: love boldly, live bravely, lead your own journey

Resources & Organizations

• HeartLife Foundation
• HeartLife Women / Life in Hearts
• Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance
• Global Heart Hub
• Bill S-243: An Act to establish a national framework for women’s health in Canada

About Jackie

Jackie is a patient advocate living with chemotherapy-induced heart failure following treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in her 20s. After nearly two decades working in the fashion industry as an apparel buyer, her diagnosis inspired her to dedicate her life to advocacy and women’s heart health awareness.

She is the