Narcolepsy at Work
Narcolepsy e-Patient Keynote to over 1,000 Healthcare Leaders at Health:Further Summit
I’m so honored to be a keynote speaker at Health:Further Summit in Nashville, TN on August 23-24, where I’ll join the stage with industry leaders to talk innovation and advanced solutions for the biggest issues facing healthcare. For this audience of healthcare executives and innovators, I’ll debut a new speech called, In Sickness or Health? Breaking Down Barriers…
Read MoreNarcolepsy in the News: CBS News Los Angeles
I’m thrilled to share CBS News Los Angeles’ awesome segment on my experience with narcolepsy. Please WATCH & SHARE (http://cbsloc.al/291UTw6): On Monday June 27, this segment aired during the 5 o’clock evening news, highlighting my sleepiness, cataplexy, and the challenges napping as an adult. The news piece also mentioned my non-profit, Project Sleep, my book “Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy”…
Read MoreA Monumental Day: Visiting the White House as a Narcolepsy Advocate
On June 2, 2016, I had the honor of attending the White House/Stanford Medicine X workshop, “Engaging Participants as Partners in Research”, as part of President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative. This event far exceeded my wildest expectations. But first, some context. It’s Gonna Be a Good Day: The day before going to the White House, on…
Read MoreReal-Life Narcolepsy Superhero Reveals Powers to Captain America’s Jeremy Renner
Recently, ‘Captain America: Civil War’ star Jeremy Renner said that he wanted to be “Captain Narcolepsy… so he could nap whenever he wanted” on Live! with Kelly and Michael. Afterward, many people with narcolepsy and their supporters took to social media to respond. One particular response caught my attention – written by Wendy Ellsworth, a 34-year-old registered nurse living…
Read MoreMy best hallucination yet! A Visit from the Phantom Foot Massager
During lunchtime today, I went to my nap room at work, cuddled up into my lovely blanket from Ireland and quickly fell asleep. Next thing, I awoke to the most AMAZING foot massage!! Oh la la. My feet were sore from intense yoga classes over the weekend, so I really appreciated the free yummy foot massage from…. um…. my phantom foot…
Read MoreA proud moment – publishing a chapter in narcolepsy clinical guide
A few nights ago, I returned home from work exhausted and found a mysterious heavy package on my doorstep. Inside was a brand new copy of Narcolepsy: A Clinical Guide (2nd ed.), edited by Dr. Meeta Goswami, Dr. Michael Thorpy and S.R. Pandi-Perumal. As a patient advocate, it was a HUGE honor to contribute the chapter…
Read MoreNap Shame. I’ve got it. Do you?
In this short audio clip, I explore my feelings of shame and embarrassment around taking a nap at work. (Also available here) Do you have nap shame or are you an empowered napper? I want to hear your thoughts!
Read MorePowerful Perspective: Becoming a Doctor with Narcolepsy
Don’t miss this highly captivating post Becoming a Doctor with Narcolepsy, now published on Project Sleep’s website. The author is a third year medical student diagnosed with narcolepsy a year and a half ago, after suffering symptoms since age 15. In this moving reflection, the medical student contemplates a tough decision: whether or not to disclose her diagnosis…
Read More2015 Reflections & Dreams for 2016 – Homer Simpson, Koalas and Marathons, Oh My!
Scariest Moment of 2015: I gave 12 presentations in 2015, but by far the most intimidating was my 5-minute ignite talk at Stanford Medicine X. My legs trembled stepping on stage in front of this prestigious group of healthcare innovators. I’d prepared for months, but still totally blanked mid-speech, making for a dramatic pause…….. But I did it and I’m…
Read MoreNarcolepsy Presentations at UCLA Med School 2015 – “A learning experience for both medical students and seasoned physicians.”
On Sept. 1 – 3, I had the extraordinary opportunity to speak at UCLA Medical school three nights in a row, sharing my inspiring narcolepsy journey with 120 first-year medical students and a dozen faculty members. The first-year students were just days into their medical education – energetic and eager to learn! I spoke as part of the students’ required…
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