Patient & Researcher Blog
Here I aim to capture what I am learning as a newbie researcher from a patient perspective.
Living with a slow growing brain cancer
It is taboo for researchers to talk about their work before it is published.
I think that’s a bummer.
My favorite part about research is learning new things in real time. Here I share my observations as a learner and my n of 1 (personal) findings as a patient.
Note: I started blogging about brain cancer in 2008, at age 29.
I had no background or knowledge about healthcare when I began. Please excuse typos and other misconceptions. What you read here is me in real time, like a time capsule.
There are more than 500 posts here. Use this search to look for something specific. Good luck!
Empowering patients with a common language for palliative care
Giving people language for self-advocacy: While patients shouldn't be overwhelmed with clinical language, helping us understand what things like palliative care are and are not improves our ability to advocate for ourselves.
Liz Salmi at Stanford Medicine X
…after delivering this talk, I heard from many people who identified with my experience. These are people who don't normally connect with my brain cancer background. All I can say is, not everyone has a perfect home life. You never know what is really going on unless you express it.
Would you take a short-term opportunity in an attempt to change the world?
What would you do, if you were offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that, if accepted, would force you to leave the stability and comfort of an ‘everyday job’ BUT – might also give you the opportunity to change the world?
Rock star patient seeks primary care physician to form all-star super group
Highly engaged and empowered patient seeks new Sacramento-area primary care physician within the Sutter Health or UC Davis network.
Pushed out of the nest: Leaving Kaiser for a PPO
Changing health insurance can be scary, but especially for people with pre-existing conditions, and those who are medically complex and “expensive.”
The TED Talk that shaped my perspective on living with brain cancer
Instead of feeling like I was robbed of my health during the prime of my life, I instead choose to respond with wonder and curiosity. I recognized I was now on a journey many others would never experience.
The most misunderstood member of your health care team: the hospital chaplain
Chaplains can act a bit like social workers and therapists, but help patients explore the spiritual and/or existential hardships of a life-threatening illness.
UPDATED: I attended TEDMED
Liz Salmi goes to TEDMED on a scholarship. It has been said that the most underutilized resource in health care is the patient. Let’s break this barrier!
Transcript of my talk at Stanford Medicine X
This person who gave me almost nothing in life has given me so much more with his death. And for this, I am thankful. So there is no reason to be sorry for my loss.