Dr. Kate Pate: The Neurophysiology of Brain Injury and Burnout - Ep. 70

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May 15, 2024

Neurophysiologist Dr. Kate Pate discusses stress management in special operations, rewiring the nervous system through body work, and the physiological impact of stress on injuries and toxins. She also explores psychedelics in therapy, spirituality in healing from moral injury, and her journey from academia to founding a medical devices company.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Transitioning from Montana to Boston for Career and Educational Pursuits

01:38 • 2min

Journey of Special Operators and Stress Management

03:22 • 15min

Navigating Stress in Special Operations and Finding Your Baseline

18:25 • 4min

Managing Feedback Loops and Rewiring the Nervous System through Body Work

22:13 • 4min

Exploring the Physiological Impact of Stress and Inflammation on the Body's Response to Injuries and Toxins

25:50 • 5min

Navigating the Psychedelic Landscape

30:45 • 18min

Exploring Spirituality and Healing from Moral Injury in Veterans

48:30 • 22min

Dr. Kate Pate is a PhD neurophysiologist, coach, and entrepreneur with extensive experience in scientific research and practical applications in the military and SOF community. Her doctoral work focused on respiratory neurophysiology, exploring the brain-breath-body connection, and later expanded to include trauma-informed yoga and meditation for the military.

Kate's postdoctoral research centered on redox biology related to inflammatory diseases, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), a personal and professional interest due to her own experiences with head injuries. She transitioned from academia to industry, becoming a program director for combat casualty care research, driven by her connection to the Special Operations community through her brother.

As the founder and CEO of Coruna Medical, she develops innovative medical devices for austere environments, with funding from the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. Kate's passion for helping service members and veterans with complex health issues led her to pursue training in transformational recovery, psychedelic integration, and functional medicine.

In addition to her medical work, Kate is dedicated to environmental conservation, hunting, mountain sports, and helping the underserved. She is pursuing a graduate degree in theology to further support the spiritual health of those she helps.

Kate's Social Media:
LinkedIn
Instagram

Timestamps:

00:00:22 - Intro to Dr. Kate Pate

00:01:45 - “Where Are You Living Now?”

00:03:22 - Working With Special Operators

00:05:37 - Primary Themes with Special Operators

00:08:02 - TBI and Lower Grade Blast Injuries

00:11:12 - Burnout in the Corporate World

00:18:24 - Quick Note: BTE’s Book, Chapter 10 - Stress

00:19:04 - Knowing a Restful, Recovered Baseline

00:22:11 - Navigating Healthy Body Work

00:25:50 - Mechanisms of TBI or Toxic Exposure

00:30:42 - Role of Psychedelics in Dr. Pate’s Work

00:36:22 - Downsides of Using Psychedelic Tools

00:41:56 - Monitored Use of Psychedelic Practices

00:46:00 - Psychedelic Retreat Industry Regulation

00:48:25 - Vetting Legitimacy of Retreats

00:50:05 - Difference Between PTSD and Secondary PTSD

00:54:24 - What is Moral Injury?

00:58:22 - What Does Spiritual Health Mean?

01:06:24 - Purpose Driven People

01:08:52 - Where to Learn More About Dr. Kate Pate

01:10:09 - Outro