What happens when the healthcare system isn't designed for the kind of health problems we're facing today?
In this episode of The Curious Cardiologist, Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj sits down with Dr. Efrat LaMandre, a nurse practitioner with a PhD and a voice in the conversation around healthcare disruption, functional medicine, patient advocacy, and medical gaslighting.
Together, they explore the tension between conventional medicine and emerging approaches to chronic disease—and why the goal shouldn't necessarily be to reject conventional medicine, but to understand where different approaches may be useful.
They discuss what medical gaslighting can look like, why patients sometimes stop questioning their healthcare providers, and how patients can become more informed advocates for themselves and their families.
Dr. Efrat also shares personal and professional experiences that shaped the way she thinks about diagnosis, chronic illness, nutrition, and the doctor-patient relationship, while Dr. Sanjay reflects on a patient experience that fundamentally changed how he approached symptoms in women.
The conversation also moves beyond the exam room into the economics of healthcare, including insurance, prior authorization, and the financial pressures that can influence how care is delivered.
In this episode, we discuss:
• How medical training has shaped modern healthcare
• Where conventional medicine works—and where patients may experience gaps
• Acute care vs. chronic disease management
• What medical gaslighting can look like in practice
• Why patients sometimes struggle to advocate for themselves
• The importance of asking questions and seeking second opinions
• The difference between information and wisdom
• Why clinicians need to keep learning and evolving
• Dr. Efrat's personal experiences with diagnosis and nutrition
• The patient stories that changed how both doctors practice
• How healthcare hierarchy can affect patient behavior
• Why trusting your instincts can matter when something doesn't feel right
• How insurance and financial incentives can influence patient care
• The importance of finding a healthcare professional you trust
About Dr. Efrat LaMandre
Dr. Efrat LaMandre is a nurse practitioner with a PhD who works at the intersection of healthcare, education, patient advocacy, and medical disruption. She is also the author of It's Not In Your Head, which she discusses during the episode.
What is The Curious Cardiologist?
Rethinking heart health, one question at a time.
I’m Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj—interventional cardiologist, functional medicine expert, and lifelong student of what really keeps us well. In this podcast, we go beyond prescriptions and procedures to explore the deeper drivers of health, disease, and healing.
From inflammation to intuition, cholesterol to consciousness, I sit down with doctors, researchers, and changemakers who are reshaping how we think about the heart—and the whole human behind it.
Whether you're a fellow clinician, a health seeker, or someone navigating your own transformation, this show will challenge what you thought you knew—and invite you to stay curious.