In this episode, we sit down with author and advocate Cynthia Overton to discuss her new book, The Clear Cane Chronicles, which explores what person-centered care really looks like in practice. Cynthia explains the evolution of models of care from traditional to patient-centered to person-centered and how the last one looks beyond the medical condition to the whole individual, considering lifestyle, relationships, and beliefs. She shares her personal journey of surviving spinal cord surgery in her twenties and how her recovery shaped her passion for improving healthcare systems to be more compassionate, collaborative, and responsive.
Cynthia opens up about the critical role her family played in her healing process and the challenges she faced navigating the insurance system when coverage for her life-saving surgery was initially denied. Drawing on established frameworks such as the Picker Principles and the National Advisory Board’s six principles, she outlines how providers and patients can work together to achieve better outcomes. She also shares how modern healthcare organizations, such as One Medical, exemplify person-centered care through accessibility, convenience, and genuine collaboration between doctors and patients.
Listeners will learn how Cynthia’s experiences and research have informed her call for systemic change, empowering patients to take an active role in their own care while urging providers and payers to adopt practices rooted in empathy, dignity, and partnership. Her book, The Clear Cane Chronicles, is available on Amazon, and Cynthia will soon share excerpts and practical insights for patients on her website and Instagram.
