In this inspiring episode of the Eyespiring Podcast, Heather Patrick sits down with Dr. Adam Martinez, Director of the Integrative Health and Well-Being Coaching Program at the University of Houston. Dr. Martinez shares how coaching can help people align their values, goals, and behaviors to create lasting change not just in their health, but in every area of life.
Together, they explore the connection between integrative health, population health, and behavior change. Dr. Martinez explains how coaching differs from therapy, why asking the right questions matters more than having the right answers, and how the University of Houston is preparing the next generation of coaches to make an impact in their communities.
With warmth and insight, Dr. Martinez reminds us that humility and greatness go hand in hand. Each of us has been created for greatness he says, and when we recognize that truth in ourselves and others, transformation becomes possible.
Key Takeaways
1. Integrative health looks at the whole person mind, body, and spirit, acknowledging that well-being extends far beyond physical health.
2. Health coaching is about listening deeply, building trust, and helping people uncover their own motivation for change.
3. The University of Houston’s program makes professional health coaching education accessible and community driven.
4. Population health connects individual well-being to community outcomes, emphasizing data, equity, and collective progress.
5. Humility is strength, it means recognizing that everyone you encounter is also created for greatness.
Resources & Links
• Learn more about the University of Houston Integrative Health and Well-Being Coaching Program: www.uh.edu/population-health/education/coaching-certificate.php
• Explore Prevent Blindness Texas initiatives: www.preventblindnesstexas.org
• Follow Prevent Blindness Texas on social media: @PreventBlindnessTexas
This episode is a powerful reminder that true health begins with connection to ourselves, to others, and to the purpose that drives us.
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In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick sits down with Leslie Nwankwo, a registered nurse, health educator, and passionate patient advocate living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Leslie shares her personal journey navigating life with progressive vision loss, the challenges she faced along the way, and how she discovered her voice as an advocate for herself and the blind and visually impaired community.
Leslie opens up about the emotional side of vision loss, the isolation, fear, and frustration, and how embracing tools, community, and self-acceptance helped her thrive personally and professionally. She also explains the profound role of advocacy in shaping care, from joining Prevent Blindness Texas’ ASPECTS Patient Engagement Program to speaking at FDA meetings and advocating on Capitol Hill.
This conversation highlights the importance of sharing your story, staying engaged, and using your voice to create change in the vision loss community. Leslie’s experiences are both inspiring and practical, offering insights for anyone navigating life with a disability or looking to make an impact through advocacy.
Key Takeaways
· Vision loss affects every aspect of life, but resilience and adaptation make it possible to stay engaged and “in the game.”
· Community support and self-advocacy are crucial for overcoming isolation and achieving personal and professional goals.
· Sharing your story is a powerful tool, it raises awareness, influences decision-makers, and connects you to advocacy opportunities.
· Patient advocacy can take many forms, from individual conversations with healthcare providers to participating in national forums and policy discussions.
· Tools, technology, and resources are vital in maintaining independence and enabling success with vision impairment.
Leslie’s story reminds us that even in the face of vision loss, using your voice, building community, and staying engaged can create real change.
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In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Dr. Janet Garza, optometrist, board member of Prevent Blindness Texas, and national advocate for vision health. Together, they explore the urgent and inspiring work of protecting sight and preventing blindness.
Dr. Garza brings forward real stories from her practice, including patients whose outcomes might have been different with earlier care, and she highlights the importance of prevention, education, and advocacy. The conversation spans from the role of nutrition in vision, to challenges in chronic diseases like diabetes and glaucoma, to the importance of mental health when facing vision loss.
Listeners will also hear about Dr. Garza’s path into optometry, her early volunteer work with Prevent Blindness, and her growing involvement with the national organization, where she helps train primary care doctors on the importance of integrating vision into overall health.
Finally, Heather and Dr. Garza discuss the future of vision care, the role of technology and access, and why collaboration across all of healthcare is the key to progress.
Key Takeaways:
Resources & Links:
If you’re passionate about making a difference in vision health, this episode will inspire you to take action.
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In this powerful conversation, Heather Patrick talks with Carol Enneking, author of The Rebalancing Act, about her personal journey through keratoconus, multiple cornea transplants, a breast cancer diagnosis, and what it means to live a balanced life. Carol shares lessons in self-advocacy, the surprising ways medications can affect vision, and why prioritizing health is essential for long-term well-being.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Carol’s journey with keratoconus and four cornea transplants
• How breast cancer treatment unexpectedly impacted her vision
• The critical role of advocacy in navigating the healthcare system
• The link between eye health and overall health
• Why women often put themselves last — and how to change that
• The inspiration behind The Rebalancing Act and its message for women everywhere
Timestamps
• 00:03:00 – Carol’s early diagnosis and journey with keratoconus
• 00:06:20 – The impact of cornea transplants and medical advances
• 00:18:45 – Eye health as a solvable problem — if we act now
• 00:24:30 – Breast cancer, tamoxifen, and unexpected vision loss
• 00:28:40 – The importance of advocacy and proactive healthcare
• 00:37:00 – Women, self-care, and the need to prioritize ourselves
• 00:43:45 – Key takeaways from The Rebalancing Act
• 00:45:45 – Reflections, lessons learned, and letting go of perfection
Resources & Links
• Get The Rebalancing Act by Carol Enneking: https://carolenneking.com/book/
• Learn more about Prevent Blindness Texas: https://texas.preventblindness.org
• Follow Eyespiring for future episodes: https://eyespiring.transistor.fm
A dialogue between Heather Patrick President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas and Jeff Todd President and CEO of Prevent Blindness. Listen in as Heather Patrick sits down to talk with Jeff Todd about their role as CEO’s, the challenges and rewards of being in the space and trends across eye health.
Dr. Segu is currently a clinical professor, director of the clinical teaching fellowship program, and clinic director for the Houston vision collaboration project-See to Succeed for the University of Houston College of Optometry. She is sharing her perspective about eye health as an optometrist.
We are sitting down with Monica Guerrero Vice-President of Programs and Community Outreach to talk about the eye health and vision programs Prevent Blindness Texas provides.
We are diving into why eye health is important with Dr. Misha Syed on this episode of Eyespiring. Dr. Syed serves as Assistant Dean for Educational Affairs, John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB, and as Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Ophthalmology. Tune in to find out what advice she is sharing about eye health and what puts you at higher risk for eye disease.
This week’s episode of Eyespiring features Jill Ames, Manager at the Alcon Foundation. Jill is a seasoned social impact professional with over a decade of experience in strategic charitable giving and partnership development. She is sharing what the landscape looks like for eye health, what has changed and what changes interest her the most.
On this episode of Eyespiring is Dr. Jane Edmond! Dr. Edmond is the Wong Family Distinguished University Chair and Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Director of the Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute, and Interim Vice Dean for Professional Practice, Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. Hear what she has to share about eye health and what drives her as an ophthalmologist!
Get to know Prevent Blindness Texas! The mission of Prevent Blindness Texas is to prevent blindness and preserve sight. Our vision, is vision, making healthy eyes a priority in Texas. We want to inspire you to be bold in taking care of your health and making vision a priority in your life. We will talk about health, challenges, best practices, vision, leaders in the space, trends, vision loss, community, support networks and the connection of vision that brings us all together. We are leaders and change agents in the eye health space here to empower you! Make sure you follow today so you don’t miss an episode.
