C&C: Believing is Seeing - Self Advocacy and Invisible Illnesses

1617 N Franklin St,Tampa FL 33602

11 August, 2021

Description

Join the Ekhos as we discuss navigating/self-advocating the healthcare system when living with a invisible/non apparent disability/illness. Ekhos, a Tampa-based women's group, presents Conversations & Cocktails: Seeing is Believing - Self Advocacy and Invisible Illnesses Wednesday, August 11, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. Wine and small bites are included with each ticket. Ten percent of the U.S. population lives with at least one invisible illness - one that does not exhibit externally visible signs or symptoms. These illnesses and disabilities symptoms include chronic pain, fatigue, dizziness, weakness or mental disorders. Women must overcome several disparities when it comes to an accurate diagnosis or sufficient treatment. It can take an average of 4.6 years for a woman to be diagnosed with an invisible illness. Women have a 50% higher chance of receiving the wrong initial diagnosis than men, the average wait for pain relief in an ER is 49 minutes for men and 65 minutes for women, and while 70% of chronic illness patients are women, men make up 80% of medical study participants. For black women, the disparities can be even greater. A black woman is 22% more likely to die from heart disease than a white woman, 71% more likely to perish from cervical cancer, and 243% more likely to die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes. In a national study of five medical complications that are common causes of maternal death and injury, black women were two to three times more likely to die than white women who had the same condition. Join the Ekhos and our panelists as we address the issues of invisible illness and how we can advocate for ourselves and others while navigating the healthcare system. Panelists: Mandi Clay, ESQ, founder of Three Thirteen LawSharon Fekete, founder of the Doctor Whisperer and author of "The Broken Road to Mental Health, in Life and in Business"Dina Proto, RN, DE&I and LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency ConsultantFollow the Conversations & Cocktails page on Facebook for the latest news related to this event: https://www.facebook.com/EkhosTampa/. Wine and small bites are included with each ticket. **This event will be in person and follow strict protocols to ensure the safety of all attendees. We'll be serving individually packaged appetizers and following Covid precautions for bar service. Masks will be required and physical distancing will be in place.** The Ekhos were founded in 2007 around a dinner table by a group of young women looking to enhance friendships and networking opportunities among local professionals. The Ekhos are forward thinking professional women between the ages of 25 and 40 who are passionate about supporting and connecting women in the Tampa Bay. We host networking events designed to help young professional women maintain meaningful connections with peers in their community, while nurturing professional growth through conversation and informal mentoring. Our signature event, Conversation & Cocktails, provides guided conversations and networking opportunities designed for young professional women to enhance social connection and their overall professional development.  Conversation & Cocktails is a program of the Ekhos which meets the unique needs of young women to create positive change in our community.