2023 Patient-Focused Drug Development Meeting In collaboration with the FDA Dr. Brianna Cardenas, DMSc, PA-C, ATC discusses challenges faced during diagnosis and treatment despite being a healthcare provider, including topics such as racism in medicine. Dr. Cardenas is the CEO of Healed and Empowered, a medical practice for people with hypermobility, EDS, and related conditions. She is a physician assistant and certified athletic trainer with an additional doctorate in Medical Sciences. She has a clinical background in pain management and focuses on providing a holistic care plan for her patients, including Fascial Counterstrain manual therapy. As a patient with hypermobile EDS, she uses her lived experience to ensure a safe, welcoming environment for her patients.