Genetics for Healthcare
by Rome Madison
This is GENETICS FOR HEALTHCARE—a podcast dedicated to helping patients and caregivers advocate for precision medicine in treatment, survivorship, disease screening, and prevention. #geneticsforhealthcare
Podcast episodes
Season 1
A Life Saving Catch: My Faulty Gene's Mission to Make Hereditary Cancer Testing Accessible
This is GENETICS FOR HEALTHCARE—a podcast dedicated to helping patients and caregivers advocate for precision medicine in treatment, survivorship, disease screening, and prevention. #geneticsforhealthcare Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5tvMOrd9RyHLdOEGFNWavq?si=18815af6d1fe4da0 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeneticsForHealthcare Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geneticsforhealthcare/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@genetics.for.healthcare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/genetics-for-healthcare-podcast/ In this powerful episode of Genetics for Healthcare, Kathy Baker, CEO of My Faulty Gene, shares her deeply personal journey with genetic testing and how it saved her life. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, Kathy initially declined genetic testing, but nine years later, she discovered she carried a BRCA1 mutation. This revelation led to life-saving risk-reducing surgeries, which unexpectedly revealed early-stage ovarian cancer. Kathy’s story underscores the importance of genetic testing not only for individuals but for entire families, as her diagnosis prompted multiple relatives to get tested, many of whom also carried the mutation. Through her nonprofit, Kathy educates and assists others in accessing genetic testing, advocating for proactive healthcare and precision medicine. Kathy’s advocacy work extends beyond her personal story, as she highlights the critical role of genetic testing in preventing advanced-stage cancers and the importance of partnerships with healthcare providers. She emphasizes that knowledge is only powerful when acted upon, and her organization, My Faulty Gene, helps bridge the gap for those who may not meet insurance criteria for testing. Kathy’s mission is to empower individuals and families to take control of their health through genetic insights, ultimately saving lives and creating a ripple effect of awareness and action. #GeneticTesting #CancerPrevention #MyFaultyGene
Advancing CGP: Pathology’s Critical Role in Accelerating Precision Medicine - Dr. Carlo Bifulco
This is GENETICS FOR HEALTHCARE—a podcast dedicated to helping patients and caregivers advocate for precision medicine in treatment, survivorship, disease screening, and prevention. #geneticsforhealthcare Guest: Dr Carlo Bifulco, Chief Medical Officer, Providence Genomics In this podcast, Dr. Carlo Bifulco discusses his personal and professional journey, emphasizing the critical role of pathology in diagnosing and treating diseases, particularly cancer. He reflects on his own experience as a cancer patient and the importance of timely and accurate genomic profiling. The conversation touches on the significance of comprehensive genomic testing in cancer care, highlighting how it can identify actionable mutations and improve treatment outcomes. Dr. Bifulco also discusses challenges in adopting genomic testing in hospitals and offers advice on how patients can advocate for genomic profiling, family screenings, and clinical trial participation.
Life after CRISPR: How Faith & Pharma Restored My Ability to Dream - Victoria Gray
Victoria Gray’s journey with sickle cell disease was filled with unimaginable pain, systemic neglect, and constant battles—not just against the illness but also against a healthcare system that often dismissed her suffering. In this powerful segment, she exposes the stark contrast between pediatric and adult care, the medical racism she endured, and the heartbreaking moment when a nurse deliberately withheld pain medication, believing her pain wasn’t real. Her story is a wake-up call about the urgent need for better healthcare advocacy, especially for marginalized communities. Despite these struggles, Victoria refused to give up. Through her faith and determination, she found a way to advocate for herself and others, ultimately leading her to a groundbreaking CRISPR gene-editing clinical trial that changed her life forever. Her experience sheds light on the challenges sickle cell patients face while inspiring others to speak up, demand better care, and never lose hope.
Hacking Cancer: Building Community to Unlock Precision Medicine - Brad Power
Guest: Brad Power, Co-Founder & CEO of the Cancer Patient Lab. In this powerful episode of Genetics for Healthcare, host Rome Madison sits down with Brad Power, a process innovation expert and cancer survivor, to discuss the urgent need for patient-driven change in precision medicine. Brad shares his personal battle with follicular lymphoma and the shocking moment he realized that even top cancer institutions don't always provide the genetic testing they claim to. This experience led him to become a fierce advocate for patient empowerment, launching initiatives like the Cancer Patient Lab and Cancer Hacker Lab to help patients take control of their healthcare decisions. The conversation dives deep into the systemic challenges that slow the adoption of life-saving innovations, the role of AI and diagnostics in reshaping treatment access, and the crucial questions every patient should ask their doctor. Brad emphasizes that disruption in healthcare won’t come from within—it must be driven by informed patients demanding better options. Key Takeaways: Patients must be their own advocates. Brad’s experience highlights how even world-class institutions can fall short in offering cutting-edge care. Precision medicine adoption is too slow. Testing and treatments exist but aren’t always accessible due to systemic barriers. Disruption will come from patients and startups. Change happens when empowered individuals challenge the status quo and demand better healthcare solutions. Tune in to hear how Brad Power is revolutionizing patient advocacy—and how you can take charge of your own medical journey. 🎧🚀
Overcoming The Delusion of Immortality: A Reporter’s Journey Through Cancer and Genetics
In the first episode of Genetics for Healthcare: A Podcast for Patients, Emmy Award-winning journalist Steve Pickett of CBS Dallas-Ft. Worth shares his experience with back-to-back cancer diagnoses that threatened his life and career. Rome and Steve discuss genetic factors and risks associated with prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of knowing your family history. Rome explains how inherited genetic mutations—especially in families with a history of prostate, breast, or ovarian cancer—can increase cancer risk. This conversation highlights the need for routine doctor visits and screenings, including PSA tests and digital rectal exams, particularly for Black men, who face higher risks of diagnosis, advanced-stage disease, and death. The episode also explores genetic counseling and how genomic testing, including circulating tumor DNA, plays a role in personalized treatment and monitoring. We’re honored to share patient stories that empower and encourage you. Excited to welcome Emmy Award-winning journalist Steve Pickett! Questions for Steve: As a kid, did you always want to be a journalist? What drew you to television? Walk us through your first diagnosis (prostate cancer). How did your family view healthcare and screenings? How long did it take from testing to diagnosis and treatment? How did you discover your second cancer (throat cancer)? Did you have any family history of cancer? Was genetic testing discussed during your treatment? How much did you learn from your doctors versus on your own? Prostate Cancer & Genetics (National Cancer Institute Stats): Prostate cancer risk is highly linked to inherited genetic factors—about 60% of risk comes from heredity. Families with a history of prostate, breast, or ovarian cancer have a higher risk than the general population. If your mother or sister had breast cancer, your risk for prostate cancer is higher. If your father or brother had prostate cancer, your risk for breast or ovarian cancer is higher. If cancer runs in your family, consider genetic counseling. Black Men & Prostate Cancer African ancestry = 70% higher risk of developing prostate cancer than white men. Start PSA testing & digital rectal exams at 40. Barriers: Lack of access to care, insurance issues, and failure to discuss family history. Solution: Get tested annually, use your insurance, and talk to your doctor about your history—this can lead to more frequent screenings that insurance may cover, helping prevent or detect cancer early. One of the biggest challenges? Not talking about it. Awareness can save lives. The Role of Genetic & Genomic Testing Some cancer drugs target genetic mutations PARP inhibitors Immunotherapy Precision-based chemotherapy Genomic testing aids survivorship Circulating tumor DNA can help monitor prostate cancer. Many doctors aren't fully aware of these resources—that’s why this podcast exists: to empower YOU to ask the right questions and get clear answers. Clinical Trials & the Future of Cancer Treatment Black and brown patients participate in clinical trials at lower rates. The future of cancer drugs is targeted therapy, based on the genetics of trial participants. Without diverse participation, disparities in treatment outcomes could grow. Why Genetics Matters to Patients What are three key questions patients or caregivers should ask their doctors? This podcast empowers patients to be partners in their care—helping you take control, advocate for yourself, and make informed decisions.