In this episode of Luz Musings, we welcome Dr. Jacqueline “Jacquie” Evans, a gynecologic oncologist who has spent over 26 years caring for women in the Lancaster community. Dr. Evans shares her experience in cancer care, her passion for lifestyle medicine, and why taking an active role in your health can make a meaningful difference.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Dr. Evans’ journey into gynecologic oncology and her background in cancer genetics
• Understanding the role of a gynecologic oncologist and when patients may need specialized care
• Germline and somatic genetic testing, Lynch syndrome, and hereditary cancer risks
• The role of lifestyle medicine in cancer prevention, healthy aging, and longevity
• Navigating menopause and making informed decisions about personal health
• How movement, nutrition, sleep, and daily habits impact overall wellness
• Personal accountability, self-advocacy, and taking proactive steps toward better health
• Integrating lifestyle changes, supplements, and complementary approaches with conventional cancer treatments
• Balancing honesty, hope, and compassion throughout a cancer diagnosis
• Supporting patients and healthcare providers through the emotional challenges of cancer care
• The importance of community, continued learning, and making small, sustainable changes for long-term health

About Dr. Evans:

Dr. Jacqueline “Jacquie” Evans, DO, is a gynecologic oncologist who has dedicated over 26 years to providing compassionate cancer care in Lancaster, PA. Originally from Iowa, she has been with UPMC for more than eight years and is passionate about helping patients navigate their health journeys from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

Dr. Evans believes in the importance of combining traditional medical care with healthy lifestyle habits to support long-term wellness and longevity. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years, their two children, and their dog, Nova. She also loves traveling, exercising, and continuing to learn about health and longevity.

Join us for an insightful conversation about cancer care, healthy living, and the power of taking ownership of your health journey.

Interested in renting a space at Luz Medicine Manheim Township location? Contact info@luzmedicine.com for details.

Luz Medicine is looking for a Medical Assistant to join our growing team! If you're passionate about patient-centered care and making a difference in our community, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to team@luzmedicine.com to learn more.

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In this episode of Luz Musings, Maeve sits down with registered dietitian Nikita, founder of The Wellness Grove, to explore the connection between food, culture, community, and overall well-being. From her upbringing on a farm to her journey into nutrition, Nikita shares how her personal experiences have shaped her approach to helping others build a healthier, more balanced relationship with food.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Nikita’s journey from farm girl to registered dietitian
• How family and cultural traditions shape our relationship with food
• Letting go of perfectionism and finding balance in nutrition
• How her husband’s cancer journey influenced her approach to health
• Understanding regenerative agriculture and its impact on our communities
• The importance of supporting local farmers and the Elizabethtown Farmers Market
• Practical tips for sustainable, mindful eating
• Favorite seasonal foods and simple ways to incorporate them into meals
• Making small, achievable changes toward a healthier lifestyle
• The value of morning routines and mindful moments
• Navigating food misinformation on social media
• Nikita’s favorite Filipino dish and the importance of honoring cultural food traditions

Join Maeve and Nikita for a thoughtful conversation about nourishing your body, embracing your roots, and finding a sustainable approach to healthy living.

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Interested in renting a space at Luz Medicine Manheim Township location? Contact info@luzmedicine.com for details.

Luz Medicine is looking for a Medical Assistant to join our growing team! If you're passionate about patient-centered care and making a difference in our community, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to team@luzmedicine.com to learn more.

In this episode of Luz Musings, Dr. Danielle Miller welcomes Dr. William Nolan, an OB/GYN specializing in Benign Complex Gynecologic Surgery (formerly called MIGS). Dr. Nolan brings extensive experience in treating endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian conditions, and fallopian tube disorders, with a focus on preserving and restoring reproductive function.

Together, they explore the differences between a general OB/GYN and a specialized gynecologic surgeon, how endometriosis is diagnosed, and why imaging doesn’t always tell the whole story. They discuss surgical approaches to endometriosis, fibroids, and tubal disease, as well as the importance of fertility preservation and understanding all available treatment options.

Dr. Nolan also shares valuable insight into what patients should look for when choosing a surgeon, the questions they should ask before undergoing a procedure, and why self-advocacy is so important in women’s healthcare.

In this episode:

• The difference between a general OB/GYN and a specialized gynecological surgeon
• Understanding endometriosis and how it’s diagnosed
• Imaging techniques and surgical approaches for endometriosis and fibroids
• Ovarian and fallopian tube conditions and treatment options
• Fertility preservation and reproductive surgery
• The importance of choosing an experienced surgeon and asking the right questions
• Self-advocacy and navigating reproductive healthcare
• Advances in gynecological surgery and imaging

Whether you’re navigating endometriosis, struggling with infertility, considering surgery, or simply looking to better understand your reproductive health, this conversation offers valuable education, encouragement, and guidance.

Know someone navigating endometriosis or reproductive health challenges? Share this episode with them!

To connect with Dr. William Nolan or one of his partners (Dr. Tim Deimling, Dr. Gerald Harkins, and Dr. Gretchen Makai), you can call the office at (717)988-8170.

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Interested in renting a space at Luz Medicine? Contact info@luzmedicine.com for details.

In this episode of Luz Musings, Dr. Danielle Miller sits down with Maeve Thistle, Community Liaison at Luz Medicine and founder of MAVIS Nutrition, to explore the powerful connection between nutrition, movement, mental health, and community.

Maeve shares her journey from Baltimore to Lancaster, her passion for ultramarathon running, and the physical and mental challenges that come with endurance sports. Through her experience as both an athlete and nutrition professional, she highlights the importance of properly fueling the body, prioritizing recovery, and moving away from restrictive eating habits.

The conversation also explores the unique nutritional needs of female athletes, including the effects of underfueling, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and low energy availability. Maeve opens up about her personal journey with nutrition and recovery, emphasizing the importance of embracing an abundance mindset and developing a healthier relationship with food and movement.

Beyond athletics, Maeve discusses her role at Luz Medicine and her passion for creating meaningful community connections. Together, she and Dr. Miller explore what it means to build a safe, supportive healthcare environment where individuals are heard, encouraged, and empowered to take small, achievable steps toward better health.

This episode is a reminder that true wellness isn’t about restriction or perfection. It’s about nourishing our bodies, supporting our minds, and creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

In this episode:

• Maeve’s background and journey from Baltimore to Lancaster
• The physical and mental demands of ultramarathon running
• Why proper fueling, rest, and recovery are essential
• The dangers of restrictive eating and underfueling
• Women’s health, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and low energy availability
• Building a positive relationship with food and body image
• Embracing an abundance mindset in nutrition
• Maeve’s work with MAVIS Nutrition and Luz Medicine
• Creating safe, supportive spaces for healthcare and wellness
• The power of community connection and small, sustainable health goals

About Maeve Thistle:

Maeve is an Integrative Nutrition Coach with a Master's Degree in Human Clinical Nutrition. She is the founder of MAVIS, a private practice specializing in Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (missing periods). Her clinical interests extend to disordered eating patterns, autoimmune conditions, tick-borne illness, and optimizing nutrition for longevity. ​ Outside of her practice, Maeve is an elite ultramarathon runner and a member of the 2026 ASICS Team Sound Mind, Sound Body.

Interested in renting a space at Luz Medicine? We'd love to connect! For more information about rental opportunities, please contact us at info@luzmedicine.com

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In this episode of Luz Musings, Dr. Miller sits down with Sarah Cooper to explore the evolution of Baby and Me and the importance of supporting families through pregnancy, postpartum, and the early years of childhood.

Together, they discuss the power of attachment, emotional regulation, and responsive parenting, along with how our own childhood experiences shape the way we parent. Sarah shares insights into the unique challenges of raising toddlers and preschoolers, the science behind “mom brain,” and why building a strong support system can make all the difference.

From navigating societal expectations to replacing shame with curiosity, this conversation reminds parents that they don’t have to have it all figured out. Parenting is a journey of connection, learning, and growth, and no family should have to navigate it alone.

In this episode, we explore:

• The evolution of Baby and Me and its approach to family support
• Building secure attachment during the early years
• Supporting emotional regulation in young children
• How our own upbringing influences our parenting
• The importance of community during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond
• Supporting families through birth, foster care, and adoption
• Understanding brain development and the science of “mom brain”
• Letting go of parenting guilt, shame, and unrealistic expectations

Whether you’re expecting your first child, navigating the toddler years, or simply looking for reassurance along your parenting journey, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and a reminder that connection matters more than perfection.

Interested in renting a space at Luz Medicine? We'd love to connect! For more information about rental opportunities, please contact us at info@luzmedicine.com

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In this episode of Luz Musings, Dr. Danielle Miller sits down with Isaac Etter for an honest conversation about adoption, identity, family, and the importance of creating safe spaces for adoptees to understand and share their stories.

Isaac shares his own adoption journey and discusses some of the lifelong challenges adoptees may experience, including questions surrounding identity, reconnecting with birth families, racial and cultural identity, and the fear of loss. Together, they explore how transparency, trust, and open communication can help adopted children feel supported throughout every stage of their journey.

They also discuss transracial adoption, the role community can play in developing a strong sense of identity, and practical ways parents can prepare children for their story while making room for difficult questions and emotions.

In this episode:

• Isaac’s personal adoption journey
• The lifelong impact and complexities of adoption
• Why transparency matters in adoptive families
• Identity challenges adopted children may experience
• Reconnecting with birth families
• Family dynamics, race, and cultural identity
• The unique considerations of transracial adoption
• Preparing children to understand their adoption story
• Creating a safe space for questions and difficult conversations
• Building trust through honesty and transparency
• Addressing fears surrounding connection and loss
• The importance of community and supportive resources
• Helping adoptees feel comfortable expressing their own experiences

About Isaac Etter:

Isaac Etter is a keynote speaker, trainer, and coach for entrepreneurs who've experienced early childhood trauma. He also works at the intersection of adoption, foster care, and belonging. He's also an adoptee, which means the work isn't theory to him. It's his life.

Isaac helps adoptive and foster parents, educators, child welfare professionals, and leaders understand how their kids form their sense of self long before they have the words for it, and how we respond to that shapes whether they feel safe enough to be known. He doesn't teach perfection. He teaches presence, and how to stay in the room when things get uncomfortable. His talks blend story and framework, because a good story makes an idea real, and a good framework makes it usable.

Off stage, Isaac is dad to an amazing 5-year-old, supports entrepreneurs in finding their next level, and is writing a book on grief and loss for adoptees.

Isaac Etter's Website

A Practical Guide: Transracial Adoption

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Welcome to the first episode of Luz Musings! Dr. Danielle Miller is joined by Kristi Arey, CMA, to share the story behind Luz Medicine, how Kristi joined the practice, and what makes the direct primary care model different.

They talk about personalized care, cost savings on labs and testing, in-office services, telehealth, after-hours support, women’s health and hormone care, and how removing some of the traditional insurance red tape can create a more accessible and relationship-centered patient experience.

In this episode:

The origins of Luz Medicine

Why patients choose direct primary care

Cost savings on labs and testing

Telehealth and after-hours support

Family medicine, women’s health, and hormone health

Patient experience and community impact

About Dr. Danielle Miller:

Dr. Miller is a family physician and founder of Luz Medicine, where she and her team provide family medicine and women’s health care to the Lancaster, PA community. She enjoys caring for men, women, and children through all ages and stages of life and is excited to use Luz Musings to reach even more people beyond the walls of Luz Medicine.

About Kristi Arey, CMA (AAMA):

Kristi is a Certified Medical Assistant and Clinical Supervisor, who is thrilled to bring personalized care to her patients in the welcoming environment of Luz Medicine. She is excited for this opportunity to share thoughts, information and hopefully some laughs here at home and beyond. She has three wonderful children and enjoys gardening, painting, and everything that nature has to offer. With her vast experience in health care, Kristi not only has an incredible skill set, but also strives for excellence, and provides you with the outstanding, quality health care that you deserve.

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