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The UConn Health Pulse Podcast has recently launched a new resource aimed at providing expertise on health topics for the general public. Dr. Jaime Imitola, chief of UConn Health’s Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Translational Neuroimmunology, has collaborated with UConn medical students and other institutions to create a bilingual resource that aims to help patients, their providers, and future providers overcome cultural barriers to recognize the signs of MS early enough to intervene and avoid or delay the onset of disability and progression.
Dr. Imitola emphasizes the importance of the first 15 months of the disease, stating that whatever happens during this period can have a significant impact 15 years later. In his latest podcast episode, he introduces his “VISIBL-MS” tool, which focuses on making MS more visible to those affected. The tool is designed to help improve patients’ trajectory by addressing cultural barriers that may hinder early detection and intervention.
As someone who has worked with individuals with MS for many years, Dr. Imitola understands the importance of raising awareness about the disease and providing resources to support patients, providers, and future providers in identifying its signs early on. In an interview with UConn Today, he emphasized that overcoming cultural barriers is crucial in improving outcomes for individuals with MS: “We need to work together as healthcare professionals and community members to make sure everyone has access to the information they need to detect and manage multiple sclerosis.”
The VISIBL-MS tool is just one example of how Dr. Imitola is working towards this goal. It provides resources in both Spanish and English, including videos featuring real patients sharing their experiences with MS, educational materials on the disease’s symptoms and diagnosis, and tips for managing symptoms effectively. By making these resources available in multiple languages and formats, Dr. Imitola hopes that more people will be able to take advantage of them
