What made you want to work in preventative health?
My desire to work in preventative health come from the fact that when I was a primary care physician – I only had 10-15 minutes to see my patients, addressing their acute concerns, refilling medications, placing specialist referrals. There was bandwidth to discuss preventive care. After retiring from primary care work, I’ve dedicated my time to educate patients in wellness and prevention.
What keeps you motivated working with preventative health?
Working in preventative care can be motivating because it offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on individuals’ health outcomes. By teaching patients actionable lifestyle changes, healthcare professionals in preventative care can empower patients to take control of their health and reduce their risk of developing chronic illnesses.
Preventative care involves not only identifying risk factors for disease but also providing patients with the knowledge and tools they need to make positive changes in their daily lives.
What is the inspiration behind your research?
As a physician who has cared for many patients with Alzheimer’s disease, I have had firsthand experience with the devastating impact of this illness. Witnessing the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on my own patients and their families can be a powerful motivator to work towards finding new treatments, preventative measures, and ultimately, a cure for this disease.
Working in Alzheimer’s research can provide an opportunity to collaborate with other researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates, all working towards a common goal. By combining expertise and resources, I believe we can make progress towards finding solutions and developing effective treatments.
Ultimately, caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease can inspire a deep commitment to making a difference in their lives, and pursuing Alzheimer’s research is one way to do that. While a cure may not be possible yet, every advancement in research brings us closer to the ultimate goal of ending Alzheimer’s disease.
What advice wold you give to yourself at the start of your career?
One piece of advice for someone starting their career in preventative health would be to stay up to date on the latest research and developments in the field. It’s also important to cultivate strong communication and collaboration skills, as working with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders is crucial in preventative health.
Have you had any setbacks in your time working with preventative health, if so how did you deal with them?
Working in preventative health can be rewarding, but it also presents its own unique challenges and setbacks. Some common setbacks that healthcare professionals in preventative health may encounter include:
- Lack of patient engagement: Patients may not be motivated to make lifestyle changes or may not fully understand the benefits of preventative care. This can make it challenging to achieve positive health outcomes.
- Limited resources: Healthcare organisations may not have the necessary resources or funding to implement effective preventative care programs or to provide patients with the tools they need to make positive changes.
- Adherence to treatment: Patients may struggle to adhere to treatment plans or lifestyle changes over the long term, which can hinder their progress and lead to poor health outcomes.
To deal with these setbacks, healthcare professionals in preventative care can take several steps:
- Improve patient engagement: Healthcare professionals can improve patient engagement by taking a patient-centred approach and focusing on building strong relationships with patients. This may involve providing education, support, and resources that are tailored to patients’ needs and preferences.
- Advocate for resources: Healthcare professionals can advocate for additional resources and funding to support preventative care programs. This may involve working with healthcare organisations, policymakers, and other stakeholders to promote the importance of preventative care and secure the necessary resources to support it.
- Address adherence issues: Healthcare professionals can address adherence issues by working collaboratively with patients to develop realistic treatment plans and lifestyle changes. This may involve providing ongoing support and monitoring to help patients stay on track and overcome any challenges they may encounter.
Overall, setbacks in preventative health can be overcome through a collaborative and patient-centred approach, coupled with ongoing education, support, and advocacy for necessary resources.
What is something you have done in the field of preventative health, that you are most proud of?
There is a misconception that nothing can be done for Alzheimer’s disease for prevention and risk reduction. I Teach patients about the 12 modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease to empower them to take control of their health and reduce their risk of developing the disease. By understanding the factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, patients can make positive lifestyle changes that may help to delay the onset of symptoms or prevent the disease altogether. I’m proud to be able to empower patients and not feel helpless when it comes to addressing Alzheimer’s disease.
