Medical students at Rosalind Franklin University conducted three events in April to observe National Autism Awareness Month and increase disability awareness among health care students.
The events included a workshop with a panel of parents, team participation in the North Shore Walk Now for Autism Speaks and lunch discussion with a developmental pediatrician. The events were co-sponsored by the Pediatric Interest Group and the Student Interest Group in Neurology.
Noting that medical students don’t often encounter patients with disabilities in their curriculum, the sponsors developed a panel of local parents to discuss their experiences. The parent panel included several parents who currently serve on the SEDOL Parent Advisory Board. One of the panel members was a medical student with a child with a disability.
Parents and students felt positively about the experience according to Eva Schwartz, medical student and event organizer. “Overall, the panel was a good reminder about some of the basics of patient care — treat the patient not the disease, be involved with your patients and their families, listen, and show compassion.”, Schwartz continued.
There is interest in repeating the event, although It has not been determined if this will be repeated next year. For more information contact Eva Schwartz at eva.schwartz@my.rfums.org.
The Nemo News salutes the medical students for reaching out to learn more about our families and autism.
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