Suzanne Makarem talks women’s shift to alternative medicine, frustrations on With Good Reason podcast
By Megan Nash
“Women feel brushed off…like we’re one in 1,000 patients,” said Suzanne Makarem, Ph.D., an associate professor of marketing at the VCU School of Business.
In a recent episode of With Good Reason, a podcast produced by Virginia Humanities that features conversations with higher education institutions, Makarem discussed her research on why women are increasingly seeking alternative medicine. Sparked by her own experience of feeling unheard by a doctor, Makarem conducted interviews with 40 women who turned to complementary care, such as acupuncture and chiropractic services, after feeling overlooked in conventional medical settings.
In her conversation with host Sarah McConnell, Makarem highlighted the recurring frustrations women face—long waits, brief appointments and a sense of being rushed out the door. She shares that many of the women reported feeling more empowered and satisfied after transitioning to alternative treatments, even if those options are often dismissed by traditional providers.
Makarem’s message: women want to be heard, and they are finding new ways to ensure they are.
Catch the full episode for more: https://www.withgoodreasonradio.org/episode/unheard/
Categories News