Meet the 2020 Scholars

"What do you believe is the greatest unaddressed patient need in the CF community, and if you could, how would you try to fix it? Who would you partner with (e.g. public figure, organization) to help fix the issue and why?"

I believe the greatest unaddressed patient need in the CF community is making mental health a priority. I believe that people with Cystic Fibrosis need more people supporting them and helping them make the framework of their mind include positive and loving thoughts about themselves, not in spite of their disease but including their disability. I would start by partnering with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and the American Psychology Association (APA). Once we received the necessary funding, I would recommend that a psychologist be added on staff to every CF clinic, which would give the patients access to a professional to talk to, whether that be online or during a CF check-up. I think it should be required that patients check-in with the psychologist every time they have a CF appointment, but this could just be them filling out a mental health survey. They should have the option to decline an actual session with the psychologist if needed that day because we all know those appointments are exhausting enough as it is. I also believe that this privilege of meeting with a counselor or psychologist could be extended to caregivers, siblings of those with CF, and anyone else affected so that the entire CF community is making strides to better themselves and how they see others. The CFF would be able to promote funding for psychological health, publish articles promoting mental health, and in correspondence with the APA, research mental health for individuals with this chronic illness.