To recognize National Pain Awareness Week (November 2 – 8), we’re highlighting the work of headache scientist, Dr. Ioana Medrea.
Name: Ioana Medrea
Pronouns: She/her
Title & Department: Assistant Professor of Neurology and Clinician Investigator in Neurology
On the WCH team for: 1 year
1. What does your typical day look like?
I spend half of my time immersed in clinical work, attending to patients affected by headache disorders. The other half of my time is spent integrating the observations from my clinical work into my research, whether sitting at my computer analyzing data, or on meetings with other researchers designing clinical trials to help move our field forward. My goal is to seamlessly integrate the voice of my patients into shaping the future of research in headache disorders.
2. What excites you the most about working at WCH?
My work is in headache disorders and women tend to be disproportionately affected. I think it is quite important to be at an institution that tries to apply the lens of equity to our care and research models. I am learning from my colleagues here and taking these lessons into the work we do in headache clinical care and research.
3. How does your work contribute to making a positive patient experience?
I believe that by listening to the questions and concerns of my patients, and bringing their experiences into the research I take part in, this improves care.
4. Tell us one to three things that your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you.
1) I grew up not wearing shoes, this was for practical purposes as a child in rural Romania 2) I own too many cook books, my favorite past time is planning fun meals I can make at home. 3) I have a small vegetable garden, to plan for homegrown ingredients in my fun meals.