TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series

When Diabetes Meets Depression - Lessons from the Bronx with Dr. Alyson Myers

What happens when you treat diabetes without addressing depression? Or prescribe insulin to a patient with no refrigerator? Dr. Alyson Myers has spent her career answering questions like these — and her answers challenge how most clinicians were trained to think. Triple board-certified in internal medicine, psychiatry, and endocrinology, Dr. Myers practices in the Bronx, where the gap between clinical guidelines and patients' lived reality is impossible to ignore. In this conversation, she breaks down the bidirectional relationship between metabolic and mental health, reframes what "non-compliant" actually means, and shares how a five-year chart review revealing a 44% amputation rate led her to co-found a multidisciplinary limb preservation clinic. This is whole-patient care in practice — not as a concept, but as a necessity. In this episode: Why treating diabetes without addressing mental health guarantees worse outcomes for both The real meaning of "non-compliant" in underserved communities How inaction violates the oath to do no harm A data-driven response to a 44% amputation rate in the Bronx The cost of diabetic foot ulcers to patients, families, and the healthcare system What telehealth rollbacks mean for urban populations How Dr. Myers protects her own mental health while carrying the weight of this work ⏱ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:01 Why diabetes became personal — and professional 3:20 Listening as a clinical tool 4:27 The whole-patient model: why silos fail 5:38 Food insecurity and glycemic control 6:49 No refrigerator? Getting creative with insulin storage 8:02 Reframing "do no harm" — inaction is harm too 8:47 Diabetes and depression: the bidirectional relationship 12:39 Med-psych training and what most physicians are missing 14:02 Women's health, menopause, and the data gaps 15:05 Social drivers of health and what "non-compliant" really means 17:48 Telehealth rollbacks and the CMS policy gap 18:28 Health equity, DEIB, and the Albert Einstein legacy 20:55 A 44% amputation rate and the clinic built to change it 23:50 The true cost of diabetic foot ulcers 26:06 Physician wellness: how Dr. Myers stays grounded 28:36 Reasons for hope 32:26 Connect with Dr. Myers 🔗 Hear more insightful interviews :🌐 tntopenmind.org 📸 Follow Dr. Myers on Instagram: @dr.savalimb Tags: diabetes and mental health, health equity, behavioral health, integrated care, diabetic foot ulcer, limb preservation, Bronx healthcare, health disparities, endocrinology, diabetes depression, social determinants of health, whole patient care, telehealth policy, physician wellness, TNT Open Mind Insights, healthcare leadership, diabetes care, underserved communities, non-compliant patients, biopsychosocial model Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s]

When Diabetes Meets Depression - Lessons from the Bronx with Dr. Alyson Myers

What happens when you treat diabetes without addressing depression? Or prescribe insulin to a patient with no refrigerator? Dr. Alyson Myers has spent her career answering questions like these — and her answers challenge how most clinicians were trained to think. Triple board-certified in internal medicine, psychiatry, and endocrinology, Dr. Myers practices in the Bronx, where the gap between clinical guidelines and patients' lived reality is impossible to ignore. In this conversation, she breaks down the bidirectional relationship between metabolic and mental health, reframes what "non-compliant" actually means, and shares how a five-year chart review revealing a 44% amputation rate led her to co-found a multidisciplinary limb preservation clinic. This is whole-patient care in practice — not as a concept, but as a necessity. In this episode: Why treating diabetes without addressing mental health guarantees worse outcomes for both The real meaning of "non-compliant" in underserved communities How inaction violates the oath to do no harm A data-driven response to a 44% amputation rate in the Bronx The cost of diabetic foot ulcers to patients, families, and the healthcare system What telehealth rollbacks mean for urban populations How Dr. Myers protects her own mental health while carrying the weight of this work ⏱ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:01 Why diabetes became personal — and professional 3:20 Listening as a clinical tool 4:27 The whole-patient model: why silos fail 5:38 Food insecurity and glycemic control 6:49 No refrigerator? Getting creative with insulin storage 8:02 Reframing "do no harm" — inaction is harm too 8:47 Diabetes and depression: the bidirectional relationship 12:39 Med-psych training and what most physicians are missing 14:02 Women's health, menopause, and the data gaps 15:05 Social drivers of health and what "non-compliant" really means 17:48 Telehealth rollbacks and the CMS policy gap 18:28 Health equity, DEIB, and the Albert Einstein legacy 20:55 A 44% amputation rate and the clinic built to change it 23:50 The true cost of diabetic foot ulcers 26:06 Physician wellness: how Dr. Myers stays grounded 28:36 Reasons for hope 32:26 Connect with Dr. Myers 🔗 Hear more insightful interviews :🌐 tntopenmind.org 📸 Follow Dr. Myers on Instagram: @dr.savalimb Tags: diabetes and mental health, health equity, behavioral health, integrated care, diabetic foot ulcer, limb preservation, Bronx healthcare, health disparities, endocrinology, diabetes depression, social determinants of health, whole patient care, telehealth policy, physician wellness, TNT Open Mind Insights, healthcare leadership, diabetes care, underserved communities, non-compliant patients, biopsychosocial model Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s]

Bilingual Providers: Building Trust With Kids with Marcos Cota

What happens when a provider speaks your language? Bilingual pediatric physician assistant Marcos Cota knows firsthand. Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household in Truckee, California, he watched families struggle to be heard in a system that wasn't built for them. Now practicing at Community Health Alliance in Reno, Nevada, Marcos is doing something about it. In this conversation, Marcos shares what it really takes to build trust with Latino families, why kids should never have to translate for their own healthcare, and the very real gaps in pediatric mental health access that are leaving families with nowhere to turn. As a TNT Fellow training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UC Irvine, he's expanding what's possible for the communities he serves. If you work in healthcare, advocate for mental health access, or care about equitable care for kids — this conversation is for you. Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction: Meet Marcos Cota, PA-C 01:26 — From Family Medicine to Pediatrics 02:20 — Why Language Barriers Fall on Kids 03:43 — Culture, Trust, and Better Patient Outcomes 06:01 — The Limits of Interpreters 07:20 — Marcos's Personal Connection to the Work 09:08 — Community Health Alliance: Filling the Gaps 10:38 — Barriers Facing Underserved Families 12:51 — Why Marcos Joined the TNT PC-CAP Fellowship 14:41 — Seeing the Whole Patient: A Pattern of Purpose 17:07 — Pilates, Wellness, and the Mind-Body Connection 20:55 — The Real Barriers to Wellness Recommendations 22:19 — Magic Wand: What Pediatric Care in Reno Really Needs 24:20 — What Gives Marcos Hope 25:25 — How to Connect with Community Health Alliance Interview Recorded On: Jan 17, 2026 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health, equity, and the people closing the gaps in care. 🔗 Watch more interviews in the series: www.tntopenmind.org bilingual healthcare, pediatric mental health, language access, mental health equity, bilingual providers, Latino health, child adolescent psychiatry, pediatric care, community health, TNT fellowship, health equity, Spanish speaking provider, underserved communities, mental health advocacy, cultural competency, physician assistant, bilingual PA, kids mental health, healthcare access, Community Health Alliance, Reno Nevada healthcare, pediatric psychiatry, language barriers healthcare, Latino families, behavioral health Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s]

Educating Providers - The Key to Perinatal Mental Health with Kelly O'Connor

The biggest challenge in perinatal mental health is that providers aren't trained to recognize it. Kelly O'Connor, Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health NOW, shares how one mother's dismissed symptoms sparked an 18-year mission to transform perinatal mental healthcare. From training OB-GYNs to children's librarians, the organization has worked to close the provider knowledge gap that leaves too many families struggling in silence. Topics Covered: Why "postpartum depression" is actually a range of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. How provider training changes outcomes for entire families. California's groundbreaking legislation requiring provider education. Why a simple "How are you doing?" can be life-changing. Founded in 2007, Maternal Mental Health NOW transforms perinatal mental healthcare by training providers, supporting families, and advocating for policy change across Los Angeles County. Their mission is to ensure all new and expectant parents have access to culturally responsive mental health support. Learn more at https://maternalmentalhealthnow.org/ The Impact: Untreated perinatal mental health conditions don't just affect parents— they impact bonding, child development, family stability, and multi-generational outcomes. But when providers are equipped to recognize and respond, early intervention becomes possible. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 2:58 - The Founding Story: When Care Failed 4:36 - Lack of Informed Providers: The Number One Barrier 6:28 - Kelly's Personal Journey into This Work 8:43 - Misconceptions About Perinatal Mental Health 9:13 - Beyond "Postpartum Depression": Understanding the Full Spectrum 10:14 - How Common Is It Really? The 1 in 5 Statistic 10:45 - Why the Stigma Exists: Social Media vs. Reality 11:19 - Provider Fear and Lack of Resources 17:24 - The Training Work: From OB-GYNs to Librarians 19:09 - Integrating Care into Primary Settings 20:50 - Home Visitors vs. Clinical Settings: Screening Rate Comparison 24:03 - Whose Responsibility Is Screening? 25:00 - The Power of "How Are You Doing?" 26:09 - A Pediatrician's Question That Changed Everything 26:38 - Advice for Providers Watching This 26:59 - California's Groundbreaking Legislation (AB 2193 & AB 3032) 29:15 - The Accountability Gap in Current Laws 31:15 - Multi-Generational Impact of Untreated Conditions 33:45 - Social Media's Role in Unrealistic Expectations 37:27 - Success Story: The Power of Storytelling 41:01 - How to Support This Work Interview Recorded On: March 20, 2026 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of mental health and policy. 🔗 Watch more interviews in the series: [tntopenmind.org] YouTube Tags (under 500 characters): perinatal mental health, postpartum depression, provider education, maternal mental health, healthcare training, OB-GYN training, perinatal anxiety, mental health advocacy, postpartum support, pregnancy mental health, provider screening, community health, California healthcare, maternal health policy, perinatal care, mental health stigma, healthcare professionals, clinical training, home visiting programs Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s]

Foster Youth & Mental Health Access - With Angelina Medina

Providers often see a foster youth who survived and think they're resilient, strong, and got-it-handled. But surviving doesn't always mean thriving. And having one’s basic needs met doesn't mean all their needs are met. Angelina Medina, Regional Lead at iFoster, discusses the critical gap between survival and healing for foster youth. Resources exist, but young people often don't learn about them until adulthood when they're struggling. Now, Angelina is working to change that. What You'll Learn: Why the "basic needs checklist" fails foster youth’s mental health. Concrete practices to build trust: go slow, ask permission, don't assume resilience. How lived experience creates peer connections traditional models miss. Why mental health is a policy issue and what providers can do now. Guest Bio: Angelina Medina is a Regional Lead at iFoster, where she provides support to current and former foster youth and leads groups of foster youth as they gain employment skills. Having entered the foster care system at age six, Angelina completed iFoster's internship program and is committed to utilizing her lived experience to aid others navigating similar challenges. She graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in environmental occupational health and has been advocating for foster youth since joining iFoster at age 21. Her lived experience informs her work connecting foster youth with the resources they need, from mental health and wellness support to education and employment opportunities. About iFoster: iFoster is a national nonprofit employing former foster youth to bridge the resource gap. Medical professionals, caregivers, and anyone supporting foster youth can access their free resources at iFoster.org Mental health is a policy issue. Who gets resources and what those resources are shapes whether foster youth can heal or just get by. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:55 Angelina's Background & iFoster's Mission 3:17 What is iFoster? Services & Resources 5:58 The Gap: When Basic Needs Aren't Enough 7:28 Policy Changes Needed for Mental Health Access 9:34 The Power of Peer Support & Lived Experience 12:29 Technology & Housing Resources for Foster Youth 15:59 iFoster Jobs Program: Training Peer Specialists 19:28 Enhanced Care Management & Social Determinants 22:06 Advocacy & Hope for Current Foster Youth 25:29 Advice for Healthcare Providers: Go Slow & Ask Permission 27:11 Don't Assume Resilience 28:44 The Importance of Consistency in Care 31:19 Mental Health is a Policy Issue 32:26 How to Connect with iFoster Interview Recorded On: Jan 17, 2026 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of mental health and policy. 🔗 Watch more interviews in the series: www.tntopenmind.org YouTube Tags: trauma informed care, peer support, foster youth, mental health policy, social determinants of health, iFoster, behavioral health, youth advocacy, child welfare, pediatric care, health equity, lived experience, community mental health, child psychiatry, social work, case management, transition age youth Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1777417681925s]