Douglas Dieterich, MD, and Leigh Blake
In 1977, Doug Dieterich contracted a mysterious virus that attacked his liver and left him unable to work. Four decades later, Dr. Dieterich, Director of the Institute for Liver Medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital, reflects on his journey from patient to caregiver with the help of an unlikely ally—AIDS activist and “Cockney Rebel” Leigh Blake—and explains why Hepatitis C isn’t the terrifying diagnosis it once was.
Dr. Dieterich and Leigh explain how they turned their diagnosis into positive action. “I’ve always felt that when pain comes, you have to use it,” Leigh says, “That’s what it’s designed for.” Leigh’s Hepatitis C diagnosis inspired her to expand her humanitarian work, thereby saving thousands of lives affected by HIV/AIDS, while Dr. Dieterich’s diagnosis inspired him to become a renowned liver specialist.
Road to Resilience brings you stories and insights to help you thrive in a challenging world. From fighting burnout and trauma, to building resilient families and communities, we explore what’s possible when science meets the human spirit. Powered by the best experts in the world. The series is based on the well-received book Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges, co-authored by Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Steven Southwick, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University.
Road to Resilience is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play (link works best in Chrome). New episodes of the series are released on the last Wednesday of each month. You can find more information on the Icahn School of Medicine website or on the Road to Resilience website.