Within a four-year period, Dr. Christine Cardinal personally experienced three health care fails. During a late miscarriage, she was shamed by health care providers who thought she was having an abortion. During the birth of her son, who was born with a rare genetic disorder, the nurse failed to deliver the news of his phenotype. A cancer misdiagnosis made her sub-clinically ill and kept her bedridden for nine months. These experiences led her to change careers, leaving legal practice and joining academia to research vulnerable populations and advocate for stronger patient-centered care in the medical profession. Her talk highlights the importance of moving away from patriarchal styles of healthcare where clinicians make assumptions and fail to listen, toward one that is shame-free, accounts for people’s diverse experiences, and protects patients at their most vulnerable moments.
Dr. Christine Cardinal joined the faculty at Sam Houston State University in 2016. She earned a Master of Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center and a Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M School of Law. She has been a member in good standing of the Texas Bar since 2008, specializing in health law and employment law. Dr. Cardinal serves as the Interim Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Health Sciences and teaches in the Population Health Department. Her research focuses on applying evidence-based scientific research to improve health policies, laws, and regulations to better serve and protect vulnerable populations. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at
https://www.ted.com/tedx