In the latest episode of the Disruption Interruption Podcast, host Karla Jo Helms and Pamela Ryckman, an Emmy-winning producer and writer with a focus on women in the workforce, discuss her new book, a biography of Dr. Candace Pert, a pioneering scientist whose work revolutionized pharmacology and healthcare. This biography highlights Dr. Pert’s scientific achievements and the systemic challenges she faced, offering a compelling testament to her enduring impact on science and health.
(Tampa Bay, FL), May 28, 2024 - Women have made remarkable strides in science, breaking through traditional barriers, and leading in fields once dominated by men. Their contributions, from Marie Curie's pioneering work on radioactivity to modern successes in STEM, are invaluable. (1) This informative conversation with Karla Jo Helms (KJ), host of the Disruption Interruption podcast, and Pamela Ryckman, producer and author of “Candace Pert: Genius, Greed, and Madness in the World of Science”, delves into the life and contributions of Dr. Pert, an internationally recognized neuroscientist, pharmacologist, and activist who published over 250 research articles and was a significant contributor to the emergence of “mind-body” medicine as an area of legitimate scientific research in the 1980s. “Candace Pert’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and relentless curiosity”, Ryckman expresses. “Her contributions to science, particularly during the opioid crisis and the AIDS epidemic, were revolutionary and deeply human.”
Ryckman highlights systemic issues within the healthcare system, noting, “Funding cuts in the 1980s led academic institutions to seek support from Big Pharma, resulting in compromised research and widespread misinformation. This is how the opioid crisis began. Pharmaceutical companies controlled the data and manipulated research outcomes, leading doctors to unknowingly prescribe dangerous medications.
Dr. Candace Pert’s Scientific Revolution and Legacy
Pamela Ryckman's biography explores three pivotal movements in American science involving Dr. Pert. At the age of twenty-six, Pert's groundbreaking discovery of the opiate receptor reshaped our understanding of drug effects on the brain. Amid the AIDS crisis, she not only developed but also distributed Peptide T, challenging prevailing medical norms. Additionally, her pioneering work on the mind-body connection marked a significant shift in holistic health practices. Unlike ancient healing traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, which emphasize the interconnectedness of mind and body, Western medicine historically treated the mind and body as distinct entities. (2)
Ryckman’s biography meticulously charts Pert’s journey from a passionate young scientist to a trailblazer in mind-body research. She delves into Pert’s radical interdisciplinary work that challenged the entrenched paradigms of Western medicine, exploring how her holistic approach to health continues to influence contemporary practices.
The biography also reflects on Pert’s influence in laying the foundation for integrative and functional medicine, advocating for holistic approaches long before they became mainstream.
“This biography is not just about her scientific achievements, but also about the systemic challenges she faced and the trailblazing path she carved out for future generations,” Ryckman states. “Her story is an inspiring reminder of the need for integrity and innovation in science.”
Ryckman’s book captures the essence of what it means to be a true pioneer and Pert’s story is a testament to the power of questioning the status quo and pushing boundaries.
Links:
Disruption Behind the Scenes: Unveiling the Power Dynamics in Science with Pamela Ryckman: https://omny.fm/shows/disruption-interruption/disruption-behind-the-scenes-unveiling-the-power-d
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-balbach-ryckman-551108/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamelaryckman?lang=en
Company Website: https://pamelaryckman.com/
Disruption Interruption is the podcast where you will hear from today's biggest Industry Disruptors. Learn what motivated them to bring about innovation and how they overcame opposition to adoption.
Disruption Interruption can be listened to in Apple's App Store and Spotify.
About Disruption InterruptionTM: Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries— MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping, logistics, and more—and COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors and when did they say, “THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT!”? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo “KJ” Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews badasses who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traits—and not-so-common—that are changing our economic markets… and lives. Visit the world’s key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at www.disruption-interruption.com.
About Pamela Ryckman:Pamela Ryckman is an accomplished Emmy-winning producer and writer, notable for her focus on women's issues in the workforce. Her latest book, "CANDACE PERT: Genius, Greed, and Madness in the World of Science," delves into the life of the pioneering scientist whose research shaped both the opioid crisis and the mind-body revolution, sparking discussions on contemporary healthcare and scientific challenges. Ryckman's debut work, "STILETTO NETWORK: Inside the Women’s Power Circles That Are Changing the Face of Business," explored influential women's networks, foreshadowing movements like #MeToo. Apart from her literary pursuits, Ryckman has contributed to prestigious publications like The New York Times, Financial Times, and Washington Post, and has made appearances on major media platforms. She also engages in corporate consultancy, collaborating with organizations like Credit Suisse on initiatives addressing women's issues and economic empowerment in minority communities. Ryckman's diverse background includes strategic roles in finance, holding degrees from Princeton University and NYU in Comparative Literature and Journalism, respectively.
About Karla Jo Helms:
Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR® Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™. Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line — and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill into the good graces of public opinion — Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way, and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.
Resources
- Hazen, Robinet. “22 Facts about Women in Science.” Facts.Net, Facts.net, 16 May 2024, facts.net/science/22-facts-about-women-in-science/.
- “Mind-Body Medicine.” Mount Sinai Health System, 2024, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/treatment/mind-body-medicine.
###
Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4619
jotopr.com
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think