Meet: Dr. Emily Gianetti/Sibling

Photo courtesy: Dr. Emily Gianetti

Dr. Emily Gianetti

Next is Dr. Emily Gianetti, whose journey began when her little sister was diagnosed with dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder when she was two-and-a-half years old.

Tell us about yourself

I am Emily Gianetti, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) resident at the University of Colorado, and I graduated from medical school at NEOMED in Ravenna, Ohio. I began my residency with my intern year in Columbus, Ohio, and am completing my residency in PM&R at the University of Colorado.

Can you share how special needs impacted your decision to pick the specialty of PM&R?

Special needs is a part of my life because my little sister was diagnosed with dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder when she was two-and-a-half years old.

I was about four years old then, and I remember being a part of her therapies and appointments throughout my childhood. I watched her grow and change and saw how big of an impact caring therapists and doctors made in my sister’s life and, consequently, my family’s lives. I was interested in medicine from an early age, but the dream of having that same impact on someone else’s life has kept me going on this journey.

Do you feel a certain empathy with families because you “get it” better than they know?

I think it has certainly helped me to empathize with patients and their families. I think there are a lot of societal barriers for families with a child with disabilities, like a lack of resources, the cost of treatment, and so on. Dealing with others can be a tremendous stress, from appointments to IEP meetings to explaining your loved one’s disability to a curious stranger. I don’t think having a personal experience like mine is a prerequisite to being a good physiatrist. Still, I think it really helps me to understand the big picture of what a family is going through rather than just looking at the medical side of things.

What is your most impacting moment so far in your training/career?

I think the most impactful moment for me so far was when my attending gave one of our patients in the brain injury clinic a big hug and told her how proud he was of her! He had seen her in the inpatient unit for a brain injury when she was just a toddler and had watched her grow and progress over the years. It was so cool to see the relationships you can build with patients in PM&R and to see the impact that we have.

I am sure you have helped more people than you can ever know with both your knowledge and personal experience. But is there one time that stands out from the rest? Something you just know you are grateful you were a part of?

There are too many to count! I’ve loved meeting patients and their families and being part of their stories, even if it is just for a day.

Photo courtesy: Dr. Emily Gianetti

This article’s goal is to let families know that the very people taking care of their families are doing it from or with personal experience. With that in mind, what advice can you offer to families as they begin their journey with PM&R and therapies, from either the personal side or the professional side?

I would say to make sure to cherish the small victories. I tend to focus more on the negatives and things that I think could be better in any situation. Our patients and families go through so much that it’s all the more important to take a moment to appreciate the wins. Our work is very emotional as providers, and I think we all can benefit from taking that moment to see how far someone has come and how much good has happened in someone’s life.

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This post originally appeared on our March/April 2023 Magazine