# 14 - "Chronic Pains and Academic Gains: Caitlin's Tale" - With Dr. Caitlin Amit

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The podcast episode features an interview with Dr Caitlin Amit, a postdoctoral researcher whose story exemplifies the power of self-advocacy, scientific curiosity, and personal resilience. Diagnosed with lupus only after years of medical dismissal and misdiagnosis, Caitlin opens up about navigating the isolating journey of living with an invisible chronic illness—and how it ultimately fueled her path into neuroscience and bioinformatics.

Growing up in an academic family, Caitlin didn’t initially see herself as a scientist. Struggling with mysterious health issues and mental health challenges throughout high school, she turned to creative writing as her lifeline. But it was her determination to understand her own body—and the profound lack of answers from the medical system—that inspired her to pursue science. Caitlin speaks candidly about how living with lupus and ADHD has shaped her approach to research, work-life balance, and self-care in an academic culture that often celebrates endurance over wellbeing.

In this episode, Caitlin shares how being scientifically literate became a superpower in managing her health, and how advocating for herself—both in the healthcare system and within academia—led to meaningful change. She reflects on the moment she decided to disclose her disability publicly and how representation became a driving force in her mentorship and advocacy work. Caitlin also offers tangible strategies for navigating academia with chronic illness, from productivity hacks to mental health tools, emphasizing that success is not about pushing through pain, but about finding systems that work for you.

Caitlin challenges the narrow definition of resilience so often upheld in academic culture and calls for a more compassionate, inclusive framework—one that honors rest, recognizes complexity, and values each scientist’s lived experience. Her story is a powerful reminder that success in science doesn’t require sacrificing your health, and that visibility and vulnerability can be catalysts for change.

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