I AM Well, MD Episode 48 - Improving Healthcare Together with Tenay Benes
This episode features Tenay Benes, speaker, author, intelligence officer, and healthcare innovator, who shares her lived experience navigating trauma, military service, psychiatric injury, chronic illness, and ultimately, systemic reform.
Together, we unpack:
- Why complex illness exposes the cracks in our healthcare system
- How information asymmetry disempowers patients
- Why physicians are experiencing moral injury at alarming rates
- The stigma surrounding behavioral health among clinicians and the military
- And how collaborative, coordinated care may be the path forward
Tenay's health collapse later forced her into a profound healing journey, one that required navigating a fragmented system, challenging evidence gatekeeping, and ultimately integrating biological, psychological, and spiritual care. In this expansive and deeply honest conversation, we examine the structural strain points of modern healthcare and what it will take to build something better.
About Tenay Benes:
Tenay Benes is a Speaker, podcaster, blogger, and author who helps people and organizations win the war on complex illness. Along with her husband, Brett Benes, she is building a movement to transform the health, wellness, and human services space by applying the lessons she learned in her own complex illness healing journey, in her career as an intelligence officer, and in her experience as an impactpreneur. She has a bachelors in Biology from Johns Hopkins University, a masters of business administration in entrepreneurship and consulting from the College of William & Mary, and an in progress masters in information science at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Tenay can be found at tenaybenes.com.
Discover her book “Heal or Die: A True Story of Trauma, Complex Illness, and Unexpected Help” at ihearthevoice.com.
Join the war against complex illness at benescompanies.com.
The article Tenay referenced during the conversation:
“Comprehensive Nutritional and Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Randomized, Controlled 12-Month Trial”
Dr. Tanikella practices General Pediatrics, Integrative Medicine, and is an expert in Mind-Body medicine. She has traveled the world to learn more about the intersection where mind, body, health, personal beliefs, and motivation meet. She is founder and CEO of Integrative Approaches to Mastering Wellness, where she brings the wisdom of mind body medicine and the power of life coaching together to help her clients break through their glass ceilings.
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Disclaimer: The information shared on the I AM Well MD Podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. All health-related decisions should be made in consultation with your personal medical provider.
The views expressed by me are my own and do not reflect those of my guests, employers, or affiliated institutions. The views of any guest do not represent my personal or professional opinions. The content shared on this podcast is intended to inspire thoughtful reflection, not to provide medical diagnosis or treatment.