Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD FACP

Virtual Consultant, Patient Advocate, Menopause Blogger

About

Specialties: Internal Medicine | Lifestyle Medicine | SoMeDocs Databank

Dr. Susan Baumgaertel has hung up her stethoscope after 25 years of clinical practice in internal medicine and now owns a novel medical consultation business, myMDadvocate. She serves patients in WA state as their virtual physician advocate, guide, partner, coach, resource, navigator and educator. Common topics include aging with intent, preventive care, menopause, chronic diseases, autoimmune conditions, weight management, behavioral health, cancer and survivorship support, caregiver stress, coping with chronic pain, and referral advocacy. Dr. Baumgaertel also serves as an ally to primary care and specialty physicians and surgeons by helping to “offload” more thorough and deep-dive discussions with patients on medical issues and navigational concerns, a service that our current strained healthcare system often cannot support in a timely manner.

Parallel to her professional services she maintains her passion project website MenopauseMenu which offers nourishing support for menopause and beyond. This free site offers science-based health information, balanced with a holistic focus on personal well-being. All are invited to improve individual empowerment, reinforce sustainable life balance, and build nourishing paths to feeling healthy and well.

Her upcoming book The Menopause Menu will be a great resource for everyone interested in all things menopause!

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Advocate for Patients, Ally to Colleagues.

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD FACP

Advocate for Patients, Ally to Colleagues.

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Insurance Accepted

Patient-pay, but able to generate a “superbill” for patients to self-submit to non-Medicare insurance (out of network) for potential reimbursement.

Lecture/Event

What I’ve learned From Running a Weight Management & Wellness Program for 7 Years

Susan Baumgaertel, MD shares a personalized approach to weight management & how weight loss can be a “side effect” of improved wellness!

Book/Blog

Blog: MenopauseMenu

MenopauseMenu is a community hub for all people to find physical and emotional support on the journey toward, into and beyond menopause.

My SoMeDocs Articles

Harmed by the Electronic Medical Record

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD shares an anecdotal personal story (she’s a physician patient) about harmful aspects of the Electronic Medical Record.

Dr. Susan Baumgaertel's series: Navigating Your Health

Episode 7: I Need Help With Weight Management

Dr. Baumgaertel gives an introduction to the full lecture she gave in December 2022 entitled “What I’ve Learned from Running a Weight Management & Wellness Program for 7 Years.”

Episode 6: Am I in Menopause?

Dr. Baumgaertel reviews definitions for different menopausal stages, clarifies how to understand the early signs of menopause, and gives some great tips on things to pay attention to.

Episode 5: I Have Cancer, Now What?

Dr. Baumgaertel talks about identifying personal needs early, having a multidisciplinary team, and shares a poignant poem from a cancer survivor.

A Personal Retrospective in Three Parts

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD shares a series of three short vignettes involving emotions and circumstance, fitting for the changing of seasons and passing of time.

Episode 4: I Want to Age With Intent

Dr. Baumgaertel reviews the various types of aging, and shares her Top Ten ways to age with intent.

Episode 3: I Need Caregiver Support

Dr. Baumgaertel dives deep into the layers of support for caregivers, and explains her new acronym DAIS: Delegate, Ask, Identify, and Set boundaries.

How to Swallow a Pill

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD FACP shares tips & tricks for how to swallow prescription medications, over-the-counter pills, vitamins and supplements.

Episode 2: What is My Diagnosis?

There are many complexities in securing a medical diagnosis, a journey that is too often compounded by our current healthcare climate.

Episode 1: I Can’t Find a PCP!

Finding quality primary medical care can often be a daunting process, but it is of vital importance to our physical and mental well-being.

Theresa Has Grit!

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD explains that October is World Menopause Month, and this story contributes to the celebration of all who have gone through menopause.

The Power of a Diagnosis

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD writes that in a world of social media campaigns, having a diagnosis matters. Unfortunately, the impact of a lack of diagnosis reaches far and wide too.

The Hidden World of Chronic Disease

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD explains how chronic disease can often manifest without any external visual signs – an analogy to the menopausal journey!

Connectivity

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD: We are all connected – let’s use this power to rise above the individual and collective challenges of our current times.

Throwing

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD, shares a personal story about trying new things, taught by three professional athletes in baseball, football and ultimate frisbee.

The True Art of Medicine

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD shares special and unexpected personal story about the art of medicine, our human connections, and the art all around us in nature.

Opportunity Knocks

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD shares a story that helps us redefine “exercise” and think about it more as “movement” that can be a valuable experience, fun, and even inspiring.

COVID Kindness

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD knows it’s rare to see the words “COVID” and “kindness” next to each other. Her story is less a story about COVID and more one about the human touch.

Please Stop Saying ‘Provider’!

Susan J Baumgaertel, MD, writes that patients deserve to know who’s caring for them, because today, they may not actually know.

My Own Online Space

You can find more of me here in my own online space.

Find it here

Inquiries

Business inquiries only please: journalists looking for quotes, businesses looking for advisors/consultants, or events looking for speakers. Be sure to include your best contact details so they may easily get back to you.

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Coming Up Live

03/23: What’s in a Word? The Evolving Language of Gender Affirming Care.

Join Dr. Crystal Beal (they/them) to learn the lingo and feel confident caring for a marginalized community whose lexicon can sometimes be challenging.

03/28: Weight Gain: It’s Not Your Fault, it’s Your Brain.

Franchell Hamilton MD, FACS, FASMBS, Dipl ABOM shares facts behind weight gain and obesity, including the concepts of will power, habit formation, culture and the brain.

04/01: (CONFERENCE) 2nd Annual Virtual Sjogren’s Summit

Setting Your Path to Success with Sjogren’s: Experience two days of human connection, empowering education, and fellowship in the comfort of your own home.

04/13: Narrative Matters: How Stories can Transform Medicine

Claire Unis MD MFA claims that creative writing and literature offer physicians infinite opportunities to reconnect with purpose and inspiration. Come learn how narrative medicine can revolutionize how we practice.