The importance of storytelling

In today's Episode, Janice Brown tells her own story.

I knew from an early age I wanted to be a doctor. My path to medical school was the road less traveled have taken 6 years off between undergraduate and medical school. Growing up on the island of St. Croix, I had access to fresh air, outside activities, organic food, and unlimited imagination. One day when I was a teenager, my mom became bedridden from back pain. I instinctively thought to massage her back. The results were immediate, she was able to get out of bed.

My experiences as a child followed me to adulthood. After I earned an undergraduate degree in Spanish at Columbia University, I pursued Massage Therapy at the former Swedish Institute in New York City. My fluency in Spanish led to my first job out of college as a Research Assistant at Columbia University Medical Center. All the while, I practiced massage therapy, learning various tools that would later serve me.

In 2004, I started medical school at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. I remained true to myself and applied for residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). It was the one specialty that allowed me to see patients get better and back on their feet.

Since then, my goal has been to guide my patients to better health and a better quality of life.

Conversation Highlights:

{2:00} Childhood

{4:42} My college journey

{6:23} How being a massage therapist has helped my practice

{10:24} Story of a Doctor who took the time to get the story of her patient

{11:37} Story of surviving Hurricane Hugo in 1989

{14:13} How storytelling helps "Frequent flyer" patients

{17:48} More about my life today

{19:15} Why I named my company Better Health and Rehab.

 

Resources:

betterhealthandrehab.com