Through the Lens of Adaptation: The Unique Insights of Visually Impaired Psychiatrists

In this episode, Dr Elizabeth Moore interviews Dr Ettore Guaia and Dr Sadaf Khan about their personal experiences with disabilities, particularly visual impairments, and the importance of disability advocacy within the field of psychiatry. They reflect on their training experiences, highlighting the challenges faced by trainees with disabilities and the need for stronger support systems.
Join us as Dr Ettore Guaia and Dr Sadaf Khan provide invaluable lessons on resilience, adaptation, and the importance of understanding different perspectives in psychiatry. Their stories are a testament to the power of determination and the positive impact that diverse experiences can bring to mental health care. 

• The Sunflower Initiative 
• Standford Medicine Alliance for Disability Inclusion and Equity 
• Doctors with Albinism Facebook group 
• Doctors with Disabilities podcast 
• Ettore’s interview for International Disability Awareness Day 

Dr Ettore Guaia is an Italian Australian child and adolescent psychiatrist. He has worked in public and private sectors in Italy, the United Kingdom and since 2012, in Australia.
He has worked in paediatric consultation-liaison and as well as in inpatient and outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry, and has a keen interest in neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disability. He is the Medical Co-director of Youth Mental Health and Eating Disorders at North Metropolitan Health Service in Western Australia. 
Ettore is a person with albinism and a visual impairment. He is a member of the Stanford Medicine Alliance for Disability Inclusion and Equity and Doctors with Albinism, and actively mentors doctors with disabilities. 

Dr Sadaf Khan is a newly fellowed consultant psychiatrist currently working in adult acute mental health at Eastern Health in Victoria. She began her psychiatry training in Ireland and is a proud member of both the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and the UK. In 2024, she completed her fellowship with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).
In this conversation, Dr Khan shares her personal experiences navigating the complexities of psychiatric training while living with visual impairment. She candidly discusses the obstacles she faced and the innovative strategies she developed to overcome them.

Dr Elizabeth Moore is the current President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), 2023 - 2025. 

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [e-mail]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.