Caring for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Doctor's Perspective

In this episode, host Erin Croyle and guest Dr. Kathryn Rooth talk about just how much, or how little, medical professionals know about treating patients with disabilities.  Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Something you want to ask Dr. Rooth? Feel free to contact Erin via email.  

The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. 

The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know how hard this can be because we're in it with you. 

 

 

 

TRANSCRIPT:

01:00:07:20 - 01:00:37:15

Erin Croyle

Welcome to The Odyssey. Parenting, Caregiving, Disability. I'm Erin Croyle. The creator and host of The Odyssey podcast explores the unique journey were sent on when a loved one has a disability. I started down this path more than a decade ago when my first child was born with Down's Syndrome. My journey weaved its way here, working with the Center for Family Involvement at VCU's, Partnership for People with Disabilities.

 

01:00:37:17 - 01:01:10:09

Erin Croyle

This podcast does a deep dive into the joys and hardships we face. We celebrate how amazing the odyssey of parenting, caregiving and disability is. While tackling the tough stuff to an unfortunate truth, many of us learn early on is how antiquated and ablest our health care systems can be when it comes to treating people with disabilities. Joining me today is Dr. Kathryn Rooth, board certified internist and pediatrician.

 

01:01:10:11 - 01:01:19:17

Erin Croyle

She's also a strong advocate for people with disabilities and a mother of three.

 

01:01:19:19 - 01:01:25:06

Erin Croyle

Kathryn, thank you so much for coming on. Can I call you Kathryn or should I call you Dr. Rooth?

 

01:01:25:08 - 01:01:29:20

Dr. Kathryn Rooth

ERIN Of course you can call me Kathryn. We're friends. Thank you for having me.

 

01:01:29:21 - 01:01:43:04

Erin Croyle

Thanks. Yes. Full disclosure, we're friends. But Kathryn is also just an authority on this, so I'm very excited to finally have you here. I want to start with your own journey. What made you want to become a doctor?

 

01:01:43:06 - 01:02:06:24

Dr. Kathryn Rooth

It's kind of cliche, but I wanted to help people. As I got older and was in college, I took an interest in children with developmental disabilities and really wanted to advocate for them. I had this job where I worked for an organization that tried to integrate kids into the Boys and Girls Club who had developmental disabilities. That was my job.

 

01:02:06:24 - 01:02:23:02

Dr. Kathryn Rooth

I really had no training, didn't know what I was doing as a college student, but I really recognized the need then and I took an interest then it kind of took off from there, like wanting to pursue so