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Season 7 Episode 951

Doctors Can Have Hydrocephalus, Too... S1E21

Dr. Jamie Wright is a neurology resident at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. She grew up in north Texas where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Texas in Dallas. She went on to do a combined MD and PhD program at the University of Texas at Houston McGovern Medical School. She was inspired to pursue a career in both neurology and research by her own experiences growing up with a life-threatening, invisible illness, congenital hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is caused by an abnormal build-up of fluid in the brain. The only current treatments for hydrocephalus are brain surgery, including placing a shunt to drain the fluid from the brain or making a new opening for the fluid through an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). Dr. Wright has undergone 18 neurologic surgeries to treat her hydrocephalus, including shunt surgeries, an ETV, and intracranial pressure monitoring. In addition to hydrocephalus, she also lives with multiple other invisible conditions, including corneal dystrophy, autonomic dysfunction, and gastroparesis. Despite these challenges, she is dedicated to helping others living with chronic illness, through her work as a doctor, research, and advocacy work.

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