(inspiring music)
>> Let's talk about your game changing research
and what you're doing with the low vision clinic
and what your research is finding.
>> So, my research is focused on three broad areas.
One is trying to understand how vision impairment affects
long term health and functioning outcomes.
So I work with individuals and clinicians
in the low vision center to understand
how eye disease visual function
and we have vision rehabilitation can be impactful
for the long term health and quality of life
for people with vision impairment.
So across the lifespan.
And the other aspect is reducing health
and healthcare disparities for people
with vision impairments.
So again, what we just spoke about creating opportunities
for better access to care, and increased utilization
of not only vision services, but also other aspects
of health care for people with vision impairment,
who may be disadvantaged, and opportunities for a variety
of settings and situations
because of their vision impairment.
And the third area of work is this disability
inclusion piece where I'm really focused
on trying to increase the perspective of individuals
with vision impairment and other disabilities
in science and medicine.
Because I've really learned to appreciate the value
that those individuals have in driving innovation
and enhancing patient care.
It's a needed perspective that right now is really absent.
>> You also have impressed me with and I think
this is going to help in the future 'cause you know,
I know you need to really look at this
and this is in your research.
But I know what you do is by saving your vision.
I know how you because I've told you before,
I think you have a lot of true grit, and you really know how
to look at something and these challenges
and just keep moving forward.
And I think it's so important.
And that's what I'm saying, I think here at Wilmer.
And you know, you're a role model for so many things,
so many things.
So I wanna talk to you I know it's not
scientific right now.
And that's why you're not saying it, but I'm good with it.
Because I think for our listeners out there, that you know,
kind of what you do is very much how to get through a day.
In this I call it saving vision.
The saving vision concept of a person, right.
So could you elaborate on that?
>> Sure yeah.
>> And like I said, I know it's not scientifically there yet.
Go ahead.
So I get this question a lot.
Sort of how do I manage my day with less vision?
And, exactly, so my strategy is saving
the amount of good vision I have for the tasks
that I have to achieve.
And so I have strategy people that know me, well,
everything I do has strategy
and in all of my approaches.
So, for me for my vision impairment, I try and save
my good useful vision on my job primarily
during the work week.
So for example, at home my house is extremely organized.
So the milk is always where the milk is the cereals,
always where the cereal is, when I'm helping my kids
get ready in the morning I don't use my vision,
searching and scanning for those things.
So I save my vision for when I get to work and I need to do
the things that I need to do with my vision.
And I have those types of strategies really integrated
throughout the day there.
My life is really built around this concept
of saving my vision for the things that I need to achieve.
And that's really been my approach.
The other aspect of that, that I don't think people always
understand or appreciate when they start to lose vision
is I don't try and see things that I don't need to see.
>> That's right and it's so remarkable when you said that.
>> And you know, when I first was losing my vision
and was diagnosed, you spend a lot of energy and resources
trying to see everything and that's exhausting.
And at this point in my life, I don't.
So for example, I always give this example I'm a runner,
I've been a runner since I was in junior high, I still run.
And when I run if I see something coming at me
or approaching an obstacle, I don't waste my vision,
trying to figure out what it is I just know
I need to go around and maneuver around it.
So that's an example.
It takes practice and it takes skill
to not process that confusing visual information
but it helps me save my vision.
And part of that, being comfortable
with not seeing everything really is almost
this leap of faith of being a little bit uncomfortable
all the time, which is what I do sometimes talk to patients
about when they approached me about my strategy,
and that can be hard, but you have to learn to live
in that yellow, a little bit uncomfortable zone.
Being okay with not seeing everything and realizing
you're still gonna be okay.
>> Right, because you're losing control.
>> And you've got to be okay with that.
But the interesting thing I found from living in that space
is it has really interesting spillover
in the rest of your life.
You get to take strategic risks
and be a little bit uncomfortable with discomfort,
but then you start to take really interesting risks
with you know, your professional career
and you push yourself in really interesting ways
I've found so.
>> And I think that's what I'm saying.
I think you inspire so many people here at Wilmer
in more ways than just a visual disability.
That's where what I was getting to.
But I also love this idea I call it
the saving sight concept.
I think it's good going to be like I said
you'll do scientific research on this
and we'll hear about it later.