We recently connected with Sallie Sarrel and have shared our conversation below.

Sallie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

With a belly full of stitches, I sat in my doctor’s office listening to what he found during the six hour surgery I had only days before. I heard a sentence that would change the course of my life: You have endometriosis. I spent 23 years going to doctors, physical therapists, anyone who might have answers for my pain. Mostly I was told I was overweight, or that cramps and bloating were normal, one told me I had pain because I was supposed to be pregnant and not be a career woman. In that moment, after a bowel resection and countless other surgical procedures were performed, I thought that if this happened to me. If I had access to everything medicine could offer as a pelvic health practitioner and I still suffered for all these years, then what was happening to everyone else. In that moment, I decided to take my medical license and my voice and do everything I could to create change for those with endometriosis. First, I created a pelvic physical therapy practice that dealt solely with endometriosis and its associated pain. Then, seeing that the system had failed both the person with the disease and the people treating the disease, I founded The Endometriosis Summit with Dr Andrea Vidali, to unite the patient and practitioner voice. Now I run the largest educational entity for endometriosis in the United States from podcasts and webinars to our three day yearly conference, The Endometriosis Summit drives endometriosis forward.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Endometriosis is a whole body, inflammatory disease that affects nearly 200 Million worldwide- 19 million in the United States alone. It is more prevalent than diabetes yet few have heard of the disease and even fewer understand the truth and facts about it. Endometriosis is not a reproductive disease, endometriosis has been found in every organ in the body and what is known as extra pelvic endometriosis is not rare. Nearly 80% with the disease will have urinary symptoms and others will have gut and bowel issues. Myths and misconceptions dominate the endometriosis community often blocking those who need it from accessing care. I use my skills and my voice to create change be it at the legislative level, community level or just by opening the conversation, it is my goal that no one will miss out on school, career, social participation, or parenthood because of pain and painful periods.
My work with endometriosis and the patient voice has lead me to help others in the medical influence realm. Social media and directing medical education programs is a staple of my current role.
When there is an injustice in the pelvic health community, in the health community in general, I am there to make good trouble.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Covid changed all of our lives. Before Covid I was commuting into New York City, seeing 16 pelvic pain patients a day as a physical therapist and then running The Endometriosis Summit on the side. I also was taking care of my medically impaired mother. Once Covid hit, it was no longer safe for me to be around patients and then take care of my mother. Also, the endometriosis community was struggling. Most of their medical care was put on hold and isolation was taking over. I started to treat online, and that was wonderful. People’s pain improved and they felt more connected. But, that was one on one. I started a webinar series to help more people at once. What was a few Zooms turned into full on seasons of medical education perfect for both the surgeon and the patient. Then I kept going and expanding The Endometriosis Summit. It is OK to let go of what you have always done, to do something a new and better way. Pivoting its your way of letting go of the cocoon and evolving.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have always stayed true to my goal: change endometriosis for all with the disease. If I do that when I am treating as a physical therapist, if I do that when I am lecturing and teaching, if I do that as I run a medical education company, then I have stayed true to my voice. We cannot be silenced even though we have a disease and are marginalized.
My reputation is that of someone who speaks up and doesn’t let injustice continue.
I believe in what I do. I speak from the heart.
Even when my voice shakes, I speak my truth, the truth of the advocacy community.
This is why people hear me, this is what I am known for.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theendometriosissummit.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endometriosissummit/
• Facebook: The Endometriosis Summit
• Youtube: The Endometriosis Summit
• Other: Tik Tok endometriosis_summit