The Path Forward

This episode features Dr. Jonathan Kohler, MD, MA, chief of pediatric surgery at UC Davis Health and co-founder of the PATH (Promoting Accessibility to Healthcare) program, which focuses on improving care for neurodiverse patients. Inspired by his clinical work and personal experience as a parent of an autistic child, Dr. Kohler shares how PATH uses tools like social stories, pre-registration, and personalized care environments to reduce anxiety and improve medical outcomes. He emphasizes the value of patient and family input, showing how even small adjustments can ease challenging procedures like vaccinations and blood draws. The episode also explores the guiding principle of the program - “nothing about us without us” - and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from both patients and staff.