Meet Tracie Bearden

We recently connected with Tracie Bearden and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tracie, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?

Empathy is not something that just arrives; it is built, moment by moment, through life’s trials and the choices we make in the face of adversity. My journey as a speech pathologist has been shaped by many experiences, but it wasn’t until I met Joe, a veteran and stroke survivor, that I began to understand the true depth of empathy. Joe had survived his second brain stem stroke and was left with a profoundly impaired ability to swallow. I stood beside him during a swallow study, trying every “go-to” technique, feeling the weight of his determination and the reality of his situation. When he asked about the look on my face, I told him the truth — that it could take months, even a year, to recover basic swallowing function. But Joe was persistent, wanting to enjoy a simple cup of coffee. We became a team, experimenting with techniques, spending hours researching, and celebrating the smallest of victories. Over time, Joe regained enough function to eat and drink, defying the odds. His courage and resilience stayed with me long after he was discharged, and I became his advocate, standing up for him when the system failed to listen.

That experience taught me that empathy is more than understanding; it is about standing beside someone in their most vulnerable moments. It showed me that patient care is not just about procedures and protocols — it’s about seeing the person behind the medical chart, understanding their fears, hopes, and needs. My role as a speech pathologist expanded beyond the clinical setting; I started to see my patients not just as cases but as individuals with stories and struggles.

This understanding deepened when I was on the other side of the table after surviving a traumatic brain injury from a violent attack by a male nurse. I experienced firsthand the gaps in patient care and education for brain injury survivors. The lack of compassion and communication I faced while navigating court hearings, managing a full-time job, and keeping up with medical appointments taught me what it truly feels like to be vulnerable and unsupported. I saw others in the courthouse with the same government-appointed advocate I had — lost, alone, and without guidance — and I felt a deep empathy for what they were enduring.

There were moments in my professional life when my empathy was put to the test, such as when I was asked to discharge Medicaid patients simply because of low reimbursement rates. I refused, knowing I could not betray the trust of those who needed me most. Losing my job led me to open my private speech therapy practice during COVID-19, using my savings and unemployment. Financial struggles became a constant worry — wondering how I would pay rent or put gas in my car. But during these times, I learned the importance of kindness, realizing that you never truly know what someone is going through.

These experiences eventually led me to create a nonprofit organization, TBI MedSLP, to provide accessible and affordable brain injury education to healthcare providers and free resources to the public. Every challenge and hardship I faced along the way fueled my purpose to fill a void, not for profit, but to truly make a difference in the lives of brain injury survivors. By founding this nonprofit, I realized that empathy and compassion were at the core of my work and purpose.

Ultimately, the conditions that allowed me to develop empathy were the very trials that tested my strength and resilience. From the challenges of my childhood to standing up for patients against unethical practices to navigating my trauma and recovery, each experience taught me that empathy is not a luxury but a necessity. It is what enables us to connect deeply with others, to offer genuine support, and advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Empathy became the guiding force in my life, shaping me into the speech pathologist, advocate, and person I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

TBI MedSLP is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving patient outcomes by providing brain injury education, resources, and support for healthcare providers. We also educate the public to help minimize the risk of traumatic brain injuries in the community. Our organization provides monthly, donation-based webinars for medical professionals and speech pathologists about brain injury. TBI MedSLP also provides in-person events in Denver to educate the public about brain injury prevention and resources! Visit our website to check out our upcoming events and to support our grassroots organization!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three skills and qualities that were most impactful on my journey were honesty, humor, and bravery. Honesty has always been a natural part of who I am. I’ve prioritized treating my patients and the people around me the way they want to be treated, with transparency and respect. This approach to honesty has helped me build trust and become a cornerstone of my personal and professional growth. In the darkest moments, I found humor to be my lifeline. When you’re navigating the most challenging times, humor is often the only thing that can save you because if you don’t laugh, the weight of it all might make you cry—a lot. I’ve learned to see humor as a form of resilience, a way to find light even when the world feels heavy.

Bravery, however, was something I developed more gradually. Each challenge seemed harder than the last, but I grew stronger with every hurdle I overcame. I knew that I had to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult things became. A friend once told me everything would eventually be okay, even if it didn’t feel like it in the moment. That “okay” might look different from what I had initially imagined, but it would come in its own way. Holding onto that belief helped me cultivate courage daily, finding bravery in small steps and gradual progress.

My most insightful advice for anyone starting their journey is to ask for help. It’s not always easy; it certainly wasn’t for me. But learning to reach out and seek support has made my life not just easier but also more meaningful. And remember to stand firm with your boundaries, both professionally and personally, even when it feels like you’re the only one who believes in the path you’re choosing. Lead with your head and heart, and trust that you are building a foundation of honesty, bravery, and humor that will guide you through any challenge.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

At TBI MedSLP, we believe that collaboration is key to creating a meaningful impact in the field of brain injury awareness and prevention. We are always looking to partner with businesses, individuals, and organizations who share our passion for educating the public and improving the lives of those affected by brain injuries. Whether you’re a wellness studio seeking to offer new resources, a healthcare provider dedicated to comprehensive patient care, a media outlet wanting to share impactful stories, or a neighborhood event organizer aiming to create community awareness, we would love to work with you.

Together, we can expand our reach and deepen our impact, ensuring that vital information about brain injury and prevention is accessible to everyone. If you are interested in partnering with us, we invite you to connect with TBI MedSLP directly. Reach out to us through our website or social media channels, and let’s start a conversation about how we can work together to create a safer, more informed world. We look forward to the possibility of collaborating with you and making a difference—one partnership at a time.

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Image Credits

Tiffany Maksimowicz

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