Choose to See What You Want to See

 This week, I want to start with two statements and a question. First statement: I’m a person with a physical disability. Due to my physical disability, I’m ventilator-dependent. Also, I have 24/7 care, including any time I go out. My voice is often hard to understand, but I try to

Discovering my Differences are Similar to Yours

 Over the past several months, I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery and learning about mindfulness. In my travels, I’ve realized that I am not only different physically but also think differently. While I haven’t officially been diagnosed, I wholeheartedly believe that I am neurodivergent. A few weeks ago, I

Personalized Medicine for Child Health is a Distraction

 Genetics will save the day – at least that’s the message you see pretty much everywhere in the media, and sometimes even in the academic literature.  Newspaper articles herald “breakthroughs” in finding genetic biomarkers for autism. Magazine headlines trumpet finding a biomarker for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We read in

Some of the Most Complex Needs of My Patients Stem from Poverty and not Disease Alone

 Why Canadian children need a champion. A young girl is referred to a pediatrician's office for inability to pay attention in the classroom. The child’s teacher is concerned she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and possibly, a learning disability. I am a second year medical student working in the