Language and identity in refugee parents

Tonight I gave a parenting workshop to Iranian refugees in our community.  Most came to the States within the past six months, and a few have been here for more than a year.  Initially hesitant, by the end of the workshop, parents didn’t want to end. One 29 year old man discussed how his world … Continue reading »

Supporting our black communities

This week I was reminded of a local community deeply in need here at home. Often I become immersed in communities abroad at the expense of local issues.  Attention was called towards the life and death of 17 year old Orlando resident, Trayvon Martin. Holding a can of skittles and iced tea, he was targeted by … Continue reading »

Needing to look afar

This has been a weekend of communities, both far and near. From the continued Kony drama with the lewd public behavior of Invisible Children’s founder, to the responses of local Ugandans to said video. Where are all the Ugandan voices? I keep asking.  How do Ugandans feel about the video and aftermath? Sometimes it’s easier … Continue reading »

The KONY Awards

The KONY Awards

   I finally had time to breathe and watched the viral KONY 2012 video. The initial reaction was two-fold:  disheartened with the    organization, and impressed at the production.  My assumption was that they would use their amazing PR, outreach, fundraising, and media skills to educate the public about a complex and disturbing issue.  Disheartening are … Continue reading »

Living in the internal vs. external worlds

I am not a writer, but am trying to come to it, as what better place to turn than internally.  If you had to write a book, would it be non-fiction or fiction?  With this blog – do I write about factual, academic research and report facts to educate?  Or more process-oriented, interpretive comments about … Continue reading »

Medicating our children

There’s a lot of hype about stimulants (like Ritalin) and prescribing medication for children, as the controversial Sunday New York Times article mentions.  Everyone has their own opinion, so I’ll just give my two cents: 1. A reminder to all that the field of child/adolescent psychiatry is itself in adolescence. There’s a ton we don’t know … Continue reading »

Food or surveys after a war?

Food or surveys after a war?

At what point is non-therapeutic research (research that doesn’t intend to give clinical benefit) unethical? When I’m working in post-conflict countries, I’m doing something immediate for the community:  treating children with severe mental illness in rural Ethiopia, helping the Minister of Health with policy to increase access to health care, working with lawyers to do … Continue reading »

Doctors need care too

Tonight I gave my first public creative writing reading, as part of the Pegasus group (a team of Stanford physician writers).   And I realized that doctors are a traumatized bunch. Doctors often put themselves in danger.   Whether it’s the surgeon who exposes herself to HIV from a stick while suturing, or the psychiatry resident … Continue reading »

Psychologists ≠ Psychiatrists

Psychologists ≠ Psychiatrists

I’m a psychiatrist, despite many friends thinking I’m a psychologist.  No harm done – I’ll use the opportunity to describe an often misunderstood difference. Most people think the only difference is that psychiatrists are M.D.s (endure medical school and residency as physicians), which means psychiatrists prescribe medication. But there can be more than just that. Both … Continue reading »