Medical Talks - Paley European Institute Medical Podcast  

Medical Talks is a unique medical podcast in which specialists from the Paley European Institute share their experience in treating rare orthopedic and neurological diseases. Medical Talks podcasts not only convey expertise, but most importantly demonstrate the importance of patient partnership, empathy and comprehensive family care.

The goal of the program is to educate doctors, parents and patients, but also to inspire reflection on the fact that treatment is more than medical procedures - it's about understanding the patient's emotions, challenges and needs.

From this article you will learn:

• Patient stories - rare cases in the spotlight
• Joanna Sobolewska - host of Medical Talks
• CIPA - congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis
• Chiari syndrome - the story of Oliwia Ferdek
• Emilia and Teos - the power of family in treating rare diseases
• Paley European Institute - an innovative and comprehensive approach
• Why follow Medical Talks?
• Summary-medical podcast Paley European Institute

Patient stories - rare cases in the spotlight

Paley Europe's medical podcasts present the stories of exceptional patients: they show the daily challenges faced by children with rare diseases and the strategies that help them thrive despite their limitations. Each story highlights the importance of the medical team's personalized approach, empathy and family support in the treatment process. The stories inspire parents and professionals alike, showing that effective patient care is a combination of knowledge, experience and a full understanding of a child's needs.

Joanna Sobolewska - host of Medical Talks

Joanna Sobolewska is an author and host of the Medical Talks podcast, an expert in the area of Patient & Family Experience and an educator of the Family-Centered Care approach. For more than 18 years, she has been designing experiences for patients, families and medical teams in Poland and around the world, combining a strategic approach with empathy and clinical practice.

At the Paley European Institute in Warsaw, she is responsible for communications, the development of educational initiatives and activities in the area of empathy and collaboration with patients' families. Previously, as Global Head of Patients at Docplanner, she analyzed millions of patient reviews from around the world, creating digital solutions to support the doctor-patient relationship. Today at the Paley European Institute, she combines these experiences with her daily practice, co-creating a culture of empathy at one of Europe's most innovative orthopedic clinics.

Privately, she is a mother of a girl with orthopedic disabilities, so her perspective on patients combines professional knowledge with her personal experience as a parent. Hundreds of hours spent in offices, rehabilitation and hospitals have made Family-Centered Care for her not a theory, but a philosophy of life.

It was out of a need for conversation, support and understanding that the Medical Talks podcast was created - a space where doctors, patients and families share their experience, knowledge and emotions. Joanna Sobolewska believes that effective treatment begins with relationships, and that every conversation - even the most difficult ones - can be the beginning of positive change in the health care system.

CIPA - congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis

CIPA (Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis) is an extremely rare genetic condition in which the child does not feel pain and does not sweat properly (anhidrosis). The lack of pain signals means that the smallest injuries, fractures or burns can go unnoticed, leading to serious complications. The disease is also associated with neurological problems and difficulty regulating body temperature.

Although CIPA has no causal treatment, at the Paley European Institute patients are offered a personalized care and health monitoring program that includes:

• Systematic examination and early detection of injuries,
• specialized rehabilitation to promote motor development and coordination,
• Family education on safety and injury prevention.

In a conversation with the mother of Poland's first boy with CIPA, it was shown that, in addition to medical methods, empathy and constant support from caregivers are crucial in allowing the child to function in everyday life despite the limitations imposed by the disease. This episode of the podcast emphasizes that at the Paley European Institute, an individual approach to each patient and concern for their safety are just as important as advanced treatment and rehabilitation methods.

Chiari syndrome - the story of Oliwia Ferdek

The medical podcast features the story of Olive Ferdek. Our 18-year-old patient is struggling with a rare brain malformation, Chiari syndrome, which can cause pain, dizziness and neurological problems. The disease requires precise diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan, including both surgical interventions and specialized rehabilitation.

Since the age of 16, Olive has been actively involved in all stages of treatment - from analyzing test results to planning medical procedures. As a result, she is fully aware of her disease and can co-determine her treatment.

The medical podcast shows that in her case, it is not only modern medicine that is crucial, but also the empathy of the Paley European Institute team: doctors and therapists listen to her concerns, provide emotional support, and teach her how to cope with the daily challenges of her condition. Thanks to this, Oliwia gains independence, self-confidence, and the ability to function normally, despite the limitations of Chiari syndrome.

Emilia and Teos - the power of family in treating rare diseases

The next episode of the medical podcast features a conversation with Emilia Gorska, mother of Teos, who shows the importance of family support in the healing process. Emilia talks about:

• The non-obvious power of loving a sick child,
• Being a mother of four and a woman who puts herself off,
• Putting the treatment in the hands of experts to focus on the family.

Despite his difficulties and pain, Teos talks about his "superpowers," reminding us that children with rare diseases can inspire with their courage and perseverance. This episode perfectly illustrates that at Paley European Institute, empathy and comprehensive support for the patient and family are the foundation of care.

These stories show that, in the case of rare diseases , treatment is not limited to procedures—it also includes emotional support, building patient confidence, and caring for their families, which is the foundation of the Paley European Institute's philosophy.

Paley European Institute - an innovative and comprehensive approach

The Paley European Institute is an internationally recognized center where the treatment of conditions in children and adults is carried out in a personalized, holistic and innovative manner.

• The team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons specializes in limb lengthening and reconstruction (LLRS).
• The center also offers comprehensive diagnostics and rehabilitation for patients with neurological and orthopedic diseases.
• The orthopedic-neurology coordinated care program allows surgeons, physiotherapists and orthotists to work closely together in one place, ensuring complete and consistent patient care.

Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan for life, including surgical treatment, rehabilitation and psychological support. In this way, the Paley European Institute combines modern medical methods with empathy and understanding of the needs of the patient and family. And medical podcasts are part of our business, showing how to combine a medical approach with a great deal of empathy.

Why follow Medical Talks?

1. Rare medical cases - podcasts present stories of children and adults with unique diseases that are difficult to find in the literature.
2. Empathy and partnership approach - each episode emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs of the patient and family.
3. A comprehensive approach to treatment - from diagnosis, to surgical treatment, to rehabilitation and psychological support.
4. International experience - patients from more than 70 countries, innovative procedures and treatment programs.

Medical podcasts show that effective care of a patient with a rare disease requires a full understanding of the patient's needs, emotions and limitations, as well as a holistic collaboration of the entire medical team.

Summary-medical podcast Paley European Institute

Medical Talks – the Paley European Institute medical podcast is a platform that combines expert knowledge with the experiences of patients and their families. Stories such as that of the boy with CIPA, Olivia with Chiari syndrome, or Teoś and his mother Emilia show that empathy, innovation, and a comprehensive approach are of great importance when it comes to treating diseases in children and adults, especially rare ones. Medical podcasts teach us that treatment is not limited to procedures – it also involves understanding emotions, providing psychological support, and building a partnership with the patient.