She survives autoimmune hepatitis, liver failure, and a transplant, then makes a choice that surprises a lot of people: she starts college at 53. I sit down with Sherry Griffith to talk about what happens when a health crisis becomes a turning point and learning becomes part of healing, not just a line on a resume.

We get real about the barriers adult learners face, including the “you’re too old” stigma, financial pressure, and even managers who flat-out tell you your degree is “not worth it.” Sherry walks through how she moved from medical billing and coding to a BS in healthcare administration, then an MHA, and now a Doctor of Health Science path and how each step deepens her voice as a patient advocate. Along the way, we talk about bias in healthcare, why women’s health and African-American health concerns can get minimized, and why community health improves when more adults have access to education and credible resources.

Then we go practical: patient portals, lab results, and the part most people miss, the visit notes. We share why reading your notes matters, how to request your medical records, and what it means to amend a record when something is wrong or unfairly labels you. If you’ve ever left an appointment confused, dismissed, or unsure what to do next, this conversation gives you language and steps you can use right away.

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