From Settling to Small Wins: 3 Perspectives on Redefining Progress in Migraine Care

Day 3 (2026)

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Key Questions

What does a good doctor–patient relationship look like in migraine care?
What is the “layering approach” to migraine treatment?
What would a meaningful step toward better migraine control look like?
What if instead of noting how many days per month you have a headache, you noted how many days are headache-free?
Why should we stop normalizing headaches?
Why is it important to treat every migraine attack, and not just the more severe ones?
What is the threshold concept in migraine management?
What does it feel like to try multiple treatments that don’t meet your expectations or goals?
Have you experienced any small wins recently in managing your migraine?
Can you recall a moment that felt different, even if it was only a small improvement?
What does hope look like to you in the context of migraine care?

Featured patient advocates:

Sarah Rathsack
Patient Advocate | Founder
My Migraine Life

Sarah Rathsack has lived with migraine since the age of 5 and has spent more than a decade as a dedicated patient advocate. Through her platform, My Migraine Life, she shares her personal journey while collaborating with migraine and headache disorder organizations to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Sarah serves as director of the Miles for Migraine advocacy training and family programs and is actively involved in fundraising efforts in Cleveland. Living with chronic migraine has shaped both her resilience and her perspective, and she uses her experience to empower others navigating life with an often invisible condition. Outside of advocacy, she enjoys cheering on her two children at sporting events, walking her dogs with her husband, traveling, and prioritizing self-care.

Melissa Farmer-Hill
Veteran Advocate | Author | Founder
Shero Coffee Club

Melissa Farmer-Hill is a retired U.S. Army combat veteran, advocate for women veterans, and migraine awareness champion. As founder of Shero Coffee Club and author of Army Strong Women, she leads a purpose-driven initiative that uplifts women veterans through storytelling, connection, and community engagement. She hosts Shero Coffee Chat, a weekly livestream for the veteran community, and founded Shero Uncorked, an annual gathering focused on empowerment and meaningful connection. Melissa partners with the National Headache Foundation to educate military veterans about headache disorders, treatment options, and self-advocacy in healthcare settings. A lifetime member of VFW Post 311, she serves as resource coordinator for the annual Veteran and Family Resource Fair, and chairs the Mental Health Consumer Advocacy Council at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, advocating for veteran-centered improvements in care and access.

Ronetta Stokes
Patient Advocate | Community Leader

Ronetta Stokes is a 53-year-old African American woman living with chronic migraine, a condition she has navigated for decades while working full time and raising a family. Through her journey she has become a passionate advocate, using her voice to educate others, reduce stigma, and empower those affected by migraine with encouragement and engagement. Her resilience has been shaped by personal and systemic challenges in migraine care, and she shares her story to remind others they are not alone. Ronetta’s experience is defined by strength in adversity, a commitment to community, and a steadfast belief that even small wins matter in the face of invisible illness.

Interview Notes

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Disclaimer: The Migraine World Summit aims to bring you a variety of perspectives and expertise, free from bias or judgment. Alternative theories presented in this video have not been medically reviewed. Views expressed in this interview do not necessarily represent the views of the Migraine World Summit. Please always consult your health care professional and do your own research before making changes to your treatment plan. Captions are auto-generated and may contain errors.

Expert

Andrew Blumenfeld, MD

Neurologist | Founder
Cedars-Sinai | Haven Headache & Migraine Center

Dr. Andrew Blumenfeld is a faculty neurologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and a director at Haven Headache & Migraine Center in San Diego.

He is board certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is also certified in headache medicine. He has been an active researcher in headache with 27 patents issued for various treatments. His research interests have focused on the use of Botox for migraine, and he helped to develop the injection protocol used in the pivotal migraine trials.

He has been widely published, with over 100 publications. One of his manuscripts was voted the top publication in the journal Headache.

Dr. Blumenfeld is a member and fellow of both the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. He is the founding chair of the American Headache Society special interest section on Interventional Procedures for Headache.