Dr. Emma Westermann on Cracks in the System, PANDAS, and the Shift to Direct Care

Rethinking Healthcare: Direct Care, PANDAS & Patient Support

In this episode of the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast, Dr. Kerry Reller welcomes back Dr. Emma Westermann, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, to share her unique journey from Harvard health policy training to founding a direct care practice.

They discuss how the current healthcare system often fails complex patients, why time and connection matter, and how Emma’s personal experience with her son’s PANDAS diagnosis led her to create a coaching model to support families navigating chronic illness and medical trauma.

Key Takeaways:

• Only 8% of U.S. healthcare spending goes to physicians—most goes to insurance and admin costs.

• Direct care can offer more personalized, time-rich care outside of insurance constraints.

• Families dealing with complex conditions like PANDAS often need advocacy, education, and emotional support.

• Coaching can help bridge gaps in mental health and chronic care.

About Our Guest:
Dr. Emma Westermann is a board-certified allergist/immunologist and founder of Healthspan Immunology, a direct care practice. She is also launching a coaching service to help families navigate neuroimmune conditions and chronic illness.

🌐 healthspanimmunology.com
📱 Instagram: @healthspanimmunology