Kidney disease is often called a “silent illness”—but for those living with it, the reality is anything but quiet.

In this powerful episode of Amplify: Elevating Patient Voices, Ursula Mann joined by Christine Pisapia and special guest Susan McKenzie, a kidney transplant recipient and leading patient advocate. Sue shares her deeply personal journey—from delayed diagnosis and emergency dialysis to receiving a life-changing transplant from her sister-in-law.

Together, they unpack the hidden challenges within the healthcare system, including missed early detection, long donor testing timelines, and the emotional toll of dialysis. The conversation also shines a light on the transformative impact of peer support through the Transplant Ambassador Program, and why a “transplant-first” approach could improve both patient outcomes and healthcare costs.

This episode is a candid, eye-opening look at the realities of kidney disease—and a hopeful call to action for better awareness, advocacy, and patient-centered care.

🎧 Why You Should Listen

• Gain a real-life perspective on kidney disease, dialysis, and transplant
• Understand the gaps in early diagnosis and healthcare systems
• Learn why living donor transplants are often the best option
• Discover the emotional and mental health impact of dialysis
• Be inspired by powerful patient advocacy and peer support initiatives

⏱️ Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] – Introduction to Kidney Transplant Conversations
Ursula and Brent introduce the episode and welcome Christine Pia and guest Susan McKenzie.

[00:02:00] – Sue’s Personal Journey with Kidney Disease
Family history, early warning signs, and the long road to diagnosis.

[00:04:30] – Delayed Diagnosis and Missed Opportunities
How lack of early intervention led to disease progression.

[00:06:00] – Finding a Living Donor
Challenges of genetic conditions and the emotional journey of donor matching.

[00:08:30] – What Donor Testing Really Involves
A deep dive into the extensive and often lengthy donor evaluation process.

[00:12:00] – Why Preemptive Transplant Matters
The missed opportunity to avoid dialysis and why timing is critical.

[00:14:30] – The Reality of Dialysis
Breaking the myth: why dialysis is physically and emotionally exhausting.

[00:17:00] – The Hidden Struggles Patients Face
Living with illness while trying to maintain a “normal” life.

[00:18:30] – The Power of Peer Support
How the Transplant Ambassador Program is changing patient experiences.

[00:24:00] – Advocacy and the ‘Transplant First’ Movement
Why systemic change is needed to prioritize transplants over dialysis.

[00:26:00] – The Cost of Dialysis vs. Transplant
A compelling case for better healthcare investment decisions.

[00:29:00] – Barriers to Living Donation
Why willing donors sometimes don’t make it through the system.

[00:32:00] – Debunking Myths About Donor Risk
Understanding the real (and minimal) risks of kidney donation.

[00:33:30] – What People Don’t Know About Kidney Disease
Why awareness and education are still lacking.

[00:34:00] – A New Podcast to Amplify Kidney Patient Voices
Sue shares her upcoming initiative to educate and support patients.

[00:35:00] – A Heartwarming Ending
Sue reflects on life after transplant—and time with her twin granddaughters.

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In this episode of Amplify: Elevating Patient Voices, hosts Ursula Mann and Brent Korte sit down with Sandra Walker, venture capital partner at Hard Climate Venture Studio and founder of Viacern.

Sandra has spent decades working across global healthcare systems—spanning pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics, venture capital, and now climate innovation. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to tackling the kinds of complex, messy problems that require systems thinking, collaboration, and bold leadership.

The conversation explores how leaders make decisions within complex systems, why unconscious bias often shapes those decisions, and how personal experiences—like caregiving—can influence how we approach change.

Sandra also shares her journey as a remote caregiver for her father during a critical health period, highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges many caregivers face but rarely talk about.

From healthcare leadership to climate innovation, this episode examines how different systems intersect—and why solving tomorrow’s healthcare challenges requires thinking beyond traditional boundaries.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Ursula Mann is joined by Christine Pisapia for a thoughtful conversation with Sigrun Watson, a healthcare leader and entrepreneur passionate about improving women’s health and reducing stigma around mental health.

Sigrun shares her personal journey with perfectionism, an eating disorder, depression, and what it meant to seek help—and why storytelling and community can be powerful first steps toward healing. The conversation also explores gaps in women’s health education and care, including pelvic floor health and menopause, and what Sigrun is building through her work with UROSPOT to make pelvic health support more accessible and modern.

Why you should listen

Listen if you want:

• A real, compassionate conversation about mental health, perfectionism, and asking for help
• Insight into why women’s health is still under-researched and under-discussed
• A clearer understanding of pelvic floor health, menopause-related changes, and why symptoms are often normalized
• A leadership perspective grounded in empathy, lived experience, and patient-centered care
• Hopeful reminders that you’re not alone—and that support can start with hearing someone else’s story

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Introduction
Ursula and Brent welcome listeners to Amplify – Elevating Patient Voices and introduce the themes of women’s health, mental health, and leadership.

[00:03:00] Meet Sigrun Watson
Sigrun shares her Icelandic roots, career journey from dietitian to pharmaceutical executive, and her passion for healthcare transformation.

[00:06:11] Perfectionism & Eating Disorders
Sigrun opens up about her struggle with bulimia, the connection between perfectionism and eating disorders, and how mental health shaped her career path.

[00:08:54] The Impact on Young People
Christine and Sigrun discuss perfectionism in children, early warning signs for parents, and the pressures of social media.

[00:12:15] Depression & Dark Thoughts in University
Sigrun shares her experience with depression during first-year university and why early intervention and support matter.

[00:14:03] The Power of Storytelling & Unsinkable
Sigrun discusses her work with Unsinkable, the healing power of shared stories, and how vulnerability creates connection and hope.

[00:18:52] Mental Health Access & Affordability
The conversation explores barriers to accessing care and why hearing others’ lived experiences can be a powerful first step.

[00:22:45] Women’s Health Gaps
Ursula transitions the discussion to women’s health—highlighting stigma, lack of education, and systemic research gaps in menopause and midlife care.

[00:23:19] Sigrun’s Menopause Journey
Sigrun shares her personal experience with perimenopause and menopause, and how it reshaped her perspective on healthcare.

[00:27:55] Pelvic Floor Health Explained
A deep dive into pelvic floor muscle function, why issues like bladder leakage are common but under-discussed, and how hormonal changes accelerate muscle weakening.

[00:30:36] What UROSPOT Does
Sigrun explains the technology behind pelvic floor rehabilitation and how non-invasive electromagnetic therapy works.

[00:33:41] The Reward of Being Close to Patients
Sigrun reflects on moving from corporate healthcare into entrepreneurship and the profound impact of working directly with patients.

[00:34:43] Closing Reflections
Ursula and Christine thank Sigrun for her candor and leadership in advancing mental health awareness and women’s health innovation.

Want to Share Your Voice?

If you’re a patient or caregiver, you&