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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
There is nothing more motivating than to witness the passion from another human being. Dr. Katia Moritz has a remarkable health care pedigree and is inspired by her own personal medical condition. See, she is what is called an undiagnosed patient.
In August 2010, Dr. Moritz underwent a routine endoscopy and woke up with an unknown syndrome. After seeing some of the best specialists, she is currently still undiagnosed. While seeking treatment, she encountered a world of patients and families who are desperately looking for answers to their medical conditions.
We expect doctors to diagnose, but the reality is that doctors are unable to diagnose some patients. If you think about the impact of what we do know about disease in terms of individuals, their families, the community and business cost, imagine the untapped information surrounding undiagnosed conditions affecting millions of Americans every day. Undiagnosed patients cross gender and generation, affecting men, women, infants, and the elderly.
The impact on an undiagnosed patient's career can be tremendous. These people are more likely to leave or lose their jobs. It can be difficult to perform their job when dealing with symptoms or to talk to a supervisor about their condition.
With this profound experience, Dr. Moritz was inspired to make the documentary, "Undiagnosed: Medical Refugees." Now, she is starting a movement by building awareness. "Undiagnosed" was selected to receive a fiscal sponsorship from the Utah Film Center and a sponsorship from the University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. The film supports the National Institute of Health's efforts to build a database of undiagnosed patient information. The National Ability Center in Park City held the first undiagnosed camp where families battling undiagnosed diseases were celebrated.
The need for answers is important because of the total impact it has on patients. We live in a society where we have so much information that we expect answers. Dr. Moritz is a living, breathing inspiration as she treats patients daily, battles her own condition and works to expose these challenges through film and action.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Undiagnosed www.undiagnosedfilm.com
