Season 1 · Episode 51
IFM | Nicole Malachowski: Resilience and Advocacy in Tick-Borne Illness
Inside Family Medicine · American Academy of Family Physicians
December 2, 202423m 49s
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Show Notes
Emily Holwick, host of Inside Family Medicine, interviews the retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Nicole Malachowski, the first female Thunderbirds pilot, who shares her inspiring and harrowing story of battling a debilitating tick-borne illness. In this episode, Colonel Malachowski discusses the challenges she faced in her long journey to diagnosis, her experiences with the healthcare system, and the importance of patient advocacy. She emphasizes the need for better education on tick-borne diseases among physicians and highlights her current advocacy work, including her role on a National Academies of Science Committee. Nicole also underscores the vital role of family physicians and the importance of a strong patient-doctor relationship. Topics 00:12 Nicole Malachowski's Journey Begins 00:56 The Onset of Illness 01:59 Challenges in Diagnosis 04:21 The Role of Family Physicians 05:34 Advocacy and Education 12:50 The Importance of Patient Advocacy 15:34 Nicole's Advocacy Work 19:05 Advice for Physicians and Patients Related Resources:
- National Academies of Science: The Evidence Base for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses Treatment
- LivLyme Foundation
- Nicole Malachowski's Website