HealthTree University: Becoming an Empowered Patient (Part 2 of 2)

The age of paternalistic medicine is over, and the patient is at the center of successfully navigating their own care. You need mentors, coaches and support groups. You need to decide what to do when your doctors don’t agree on treatment, or what to do when things don’t work the way you hoped. We’ve asked some real myeloma patient experts about these questions and have those answers here for you.
Below are some video excerpts from our HealthTree University curriculum to help you learn more about these important areas of your disease. By creating a HealthTree account, in HealthTree University you can:
- Save and keep track of your progress in the courses
- Get points for answering quiz questions
- Bookmark videos
- Take notes
- Earn prizes [COMING SOON]
- And get access to all the other incredible features of HealthTree!
5.06 - What are mentors and how can I find a mentor? What is the MyelomaCoach program?
Featuring:
- Jack Aieillo, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
- Rozalynn Hite, Director of the Myeloma Coach Program
5.07 - Why should I join a myeloma support group?
Featuring:
- Gary Petersen, Myeloma Patient Advocate
- Jim Omel, MD, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
- Jack Aieillo, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
5.08 - If my myeloma doctors don't agree how do I make decisions?
Featuring:
- Jenny Ahlstrom, Founder and President of the Myeloma Crowd
- Jim Omel, MD, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
- Gary Petersen, Myeloma Patient Advocate
5.09 - How should myeloma patients react to setbacks?
Featuring:
- Cynthia Chmielewski, HealthTree University Director, Patient Advocate
Want more?
We have over 200 HealthTree University videos online at university.healthtree.org! Learn the basics (and the not-so-basics) of myeloma from some of the top myeloma doctors in the world!
Other HealthTree University Classes:
- Myeloma Basics Part 1
- Myeloma Basics Part 2
- Myeloma Basics Part 3
- Building Your HealthCare Team
- Becoming an Empowered Patient
- Starting Myeloma Treatment
- Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT)
- Precursor Conditions
- Relapsed and Refractory MM Treatment
- Myeloma Bone Disease
- Testing, Monitoring MM Markers
- [BETA] Multiple Myeloma Genetics and Precision Medicine
- Classes of Myeloma Drugs
- [BETA] COVID-19 and Multiple Myeloma
The age of paternalistic medicine is over, and the patient is at the center of successfully navigating their own care. You need mentors, coaches and support groups. You need to decide what to do when your doctors don’t agree on treatment, or what to do when things don’t work the way you hoped. We’ve asked some real myeloma patient experts about these questions and have those answers here for you.
Below are some video excerpts from our HealthTree University curriculum to help you learn more about these important areas of your disease. By creating a HealthTree account, in HealthTree University you can:
- Save and keep track of your progress in the courses
- Get points for answering quiz questions
- Bookmark videos
- Take notes
- Earn prizes [COMING SOON]
- And get access to all the other incredible features of HealthTree!
5.06 - What are mentors and how can I find a mentor? What is the MyelomaCoach program?
Featuring:
- Jack Aieillo, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
- Rozalynn Hite, Director of the Myeloma Coach Program
5.07 - Why should I join a myeloma support group?
Featuring:
- Gary Petersen, Myeloma Patient Advocate
- Jim Omel, MD, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
- Jack Aieillo, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
5.08 - If my myeloma doctors don't agree how do I make decisions?
Featuring:
- Jenny Ahlstrom, Founder and President of the Myeloma Crowd
- Jim Omel, MD, Myeloma Patient Advocate, Support Group Leader
- Gary Petersen, Myeloma Patient Advocate
5.09 - How should myeloma patients react to setbacks?
Featuring:
- Cynthia Chmielewski, HealthTree University Director, Patient Advocate
Want more?
We have over 200 HealthTree University videos online at university.healthtree.org! Learn the basics (and the not-so-basics) of myeloma from some of the top myeloma doctors in the world!
Other HealthTree University Classes:
- Myeloma Basics Part 1
- Myeloma Basics Part 2
- Myeloma Basics Part 3
- Building Your HealthCare Team
- Becoming an Empowered Patient
- Starting Myeloma Treatment
- Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT)
- Precursor Conditions
- Relapsed and Refractory MM Treatment
- Myeloma Bone Disease
- Testing, Monitoring MM Markers
- [BETA] Multiple Myeloma Genetics and Precision Medicine
- Classes of Myeloma Drugs
- [BETA] COVID-19 and Multiple Myeloma

about the author
Cynthia Chmielewski
Cynthia (Cindy) Chmielewski is a professional educator and myeloma advocate. As a former teacher, she now teaches myeloma patients how to advocate for themselves as the Director of HealthTree University. You can follow her on Twitter @myelomateacher
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