In a time of rising cancer rates and growing challenges in women’s health, it’s never been more important for patients to be able to access the best possible treatments, promptly and readily.

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During my time in cell division research—a process fundamental to cancer development and many women’s health issues—I came to realize that the bottleneck to advancing treatments is rarely a lack of scientific discovery. As a society, we’re generally not expecting to be saved by magical cures. More often than not, we’re simply missing seamless, collaborative communication cycles between scientists, healthcare providers, patients, non-profits, and policymakers, whether knowingly or not. 

While I was fortunate enough to receive an extensive and respectable education in the sciences, many others were less fortunate. Despite having an entire healthcare team assigned to my case, when being examined for a tumor, I had never felt more unsupported. Thankful to have had the means to navigate the situation, I was painfully aware that others wouldn’t fare so well.

The collective mistrust patients have in the healthcare system is only exacerbated by a lack of genuine curiosity, patience, and empathy in medical communications. This, in turn, causes patients to seek information from sources that are merely more inviting, at the risk of being completely inaccurate, inappropriate, or even unsafe. Put simply, humans are wired to seek out safety and security. If this isn’t presented by ‘trusted’ providers and institutions, they will seek out alternative measures, even to their own detriment.

Ultimately, a biomedical scientist or provider’s contributions ought to be helpful. For this to be the case, all parties must come together to integrate science, creativity, and compassion in equal parts. Without science, there are only conspiracy theories. Without creativity, all messages are inaccessible. Without compassion, accurate information is not properly received. It is only when we use all three in conjunction that people choose to listen, can understand, and feel safe enough to take necessary action.

It's easy to fall into the trap of blaming others for what is actually a complex, systemic communication issue. I choose to believe that most who get involved with this communication cycle do so with good intent. Too often, however, these intentions are overshadowed by overwhelming workloads, extreme pressures, and unanticipated circumstances. It's for this reason that I strive to create compassionate, hopeful, and safe communication environments in which everyone can better understand the conditions they work on or live with. 

When we all feel supported and confident enough to step up and do our part, there's nothing we can't achieve as a collective.

With hope for the future,