Peer Advocates from NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome Deliver Rousing Medical Education Message to Yale University Doctors
Teenagers Grace Hawruk, Tommy Licato and Tess Kowalski were portraits of confidence as they discussed how their lives and those of their families have been affected by Tourette Syndrome.
New Haven, CT, October 22, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Between them, teenagers Grace Hawruk, Tommy Licato and Tess Kowalski have delivered more than a dozen presentations on behalf of the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS). They’ve spoken to students, teachers, doctors and residents about what it’s like to live with TS – an inherited, misdiagnosed, misunderstood neurological disorder that affects 1 in 100 kids.
But prior to October 8, each of their presentations had taken place at hospitals across New Jersey. On this particular Tuesday, however, the trio was invited to speak at one of America’s leading institutions of higher learning – Yale University. Their talk about Patient-Centered Medical Education at the Yale Child Study Center not only was well-received by the nearly 120 faculty and trainees of the Yale School of Medicine, it was lauded and encouraged to be replicated – nationwide.
“In an academic clinical research center – one that is the birthplace of much of the important work into the causes and treatment of TS over the past 40 years – it was very important for clinicians and researchers to hear from the teenagers themselves,” said Dr. Robert King, a Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center and a key partner of NJCTS. “There is a lot of excitement here about the thought of the NJCTS Patient-Centered Medical Education program being used as a model with children and families affected by other clinical disorders.”
Patient-Centered Medical Education is a unique education program that provides doctors and physicians in training an opportunity to hear directly from adolescents/young adults with Tourette Syndrome and their families. It fosters an understanding of the perspectives, stresses and needs of families living with TS and associated disorders such as OCD, ADHD and anxiety.
Tommy Licato, 14, has done six Patient-Centered Medical Education trainings, and his experience and resulting confidence was clearly on display as he highlighted how answering doctors’ questions make him feel like what he’s been through – all of his experiences, even the most negative ones – are important and worthy of discussion.
“The most frequent comment I get from doing Patient-Centered Medical Education is that doctors always read about Tourette Syndrome in textbooks, but that hearing from patients in person is a treat and very helpful,” Licato said. “And if I can help someone be diagnosed sooner through talking to doctors, somehow, everything I have gone through will become worth it.”
Most of Tess Kowalski’s experience has been derived from speaking at schools and hospitals in Central Jersey. Educating doctors has been an “amazing” experience for her, too.
“TS has really changed my life,” said Kowalski, 14, whose father, Tim, also spoke to the Yale audience about the parent perspective of having an adolescent with Tourette. “Even though my tics are painful and stressful, and people stare at me all the time, I’m now this confident girl who can speak in front of people and tell them I have TS without being shy or cowering in front of them. It’s amazing.”
Grace Hawruk, meanwhile, is intent on showing that TS has not and never will slow her down. At 17, Hawruk has been a part of the Patient-Centered Medical Education program for two years, is captain of her high school tennis team and has become quite good at suppressing her tics. Diagnosed with TS at age 8, Hawruk had a simple yet powerful message for the faculty and trainees:
“Telling my story is rewarding because I get to teach people and know that I’m bringing everyone one step closer to tolerance and understanding,” said Hawruk, who was introduced to NJCTS after nominating one of her teachers for an Educator of the Year Award in 2011. “I have a lot of memorable moments because of TS. At past grand rounds, I’ve gotten a standing ovation from the doctors. It was shocking to see how my words moved doctors. So I’m grateful to have TS. Without it, I would not be me.”
For more information about the Patient-Centered Medical Education program, or to schedule it at your location, please call 908-575-7350 or visit www.njcts.org.
But prior to October 8, each of their presentations had taken place at hospitals across New Jersey. On this particular Tuesday, however, the trio was invited to speak at one of America’s leading institutions of higher learning – Yale University. Their talk about Patient-Centered Medical Education at the Yale Child Study Center not only was well-received by the nearly 120 faculty and trainees of the Yale School of Medicine, it was lauded and encouraged to be replicated – nationwide.
“In an academic clinical research center – one that is the birthplace of much of the important work into the causes and treatment of TS over the past 40 years – it was very important for clinicians and researchers to hear from the teenagers themselves,” said Dr. Robert King, a Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center and a key partner of NJCTS. “There is a lot of excitement here about the thought of the NJCTS Patient-Centered Medical Education program being used as a model with children and families affected by other clinical disorders.”
Patient-Centered Medical Education is a unique education program that provides doctors and physicians in training an opportunity to hear directly from adolescents/young adults with Tourette Syndrome and their families. It fosters an understanding of the perspectives, stresses and needs of families living with TS and associated disorders such as OCD, ADHD and anxiety.
Tommy Licato, 14, has done six Patient-Centered Medical Education trainings, and his experience and resulting confidence was clearly on display as he highlighted how answering doctors’ questions make him feel like what he’s been through – all of his experiences, even the most negative ones – are important and worthy of discussion.
“The most frequent comment I get from doing Patient-Centered Medical Education is that doctors always read about Tourette Syndrome in textbooks, but that hearing from patients in person is a treat and very helpful,” Licato said. “And if I can help someone be diagnosed sooner through talking to doctors, somehow, everything I have gone through will become worth it.”
Most of Tess Kowalski’s experience has been derived from speaking at schools and hospitals in Central Jersey. Educating doctors has been an “amazing” experience for her, too.
“TS has really changed my life,” said Kowalski, 14, whose father, Tim, also spoke to the Yale audience about the parent perspective of having an adolescent with Tourette. “Even though my tics are painful and stressful, and people stare at me all the time, I’m now this confident girl who can speak in front of people and tell them I have TS without being shy or cowering in front of them. It’s amazing.”
Grace Hawruk, meanwhile, is intent on showing that TS has not and never will slow her down. At 17, Hawruk has been a part of the Patient-Centered Medical Education program for two years, is captain of her high school tennis team and has become quite good at suppressing her tics. Diagnosed with TS at age 8, Hawruk had a simple yet powerful message for the faculty and trainees:
“Telling my story is rewarding because I get to teach people and know that I’m bringing everyone one step closer to tolerance and understanding,” said Hawruk, who was introduced to NJCTS after nominating one of her teachers for an Educator of the Year Award in 2011. “I have a lot of memorable moments because of TS. At past grand rounds, I’ve gotten a standing ovation from the doctors. It was shocking to see how my words moved doctors. So I’m grateful to have TS. Without it, I would not be me.”
For more information about the Patient-Centered Medical Education program, or to schedule it at your location, please call 908-575-7350 or visit www.njcts.org.
Contact
New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome
Jeff Weber
908-575-7350
www.njcts.org
Jeff Weber
908-575-7350
www.njcts.org
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