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September 30, 2024 / 2024 Connecticut's Healthcare Heroes Awards

2024 Healthcare Hero: Tricia McDonough Ryan

Dr. Tricia McDonough Ryan Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Center for Brain Health Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Return to the honorees homepage
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Winner Category | Volunteer

Dr. Tricia McDonough Ryan specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of the acute and long-term effects of brain injury, disease and toxicity in children and young adults.

Outside of Gaylord, she partners with regional and international refugee stakeholders to develop pediatric brain health initiatives and conducts training on the neuropsychological effects of pediatric brain injury.

She is also the co-founder of a volunteer initiative called EMPOWER — the EMotions Program Outside clinic & Wellness Education for Refugees and arrivals.

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What have been your significant contributions?

Millions of forcibly displaced refugee and migrant children around the globe are at risk of immediate and long-term neuropsychosocial effects due to the circumstances of migration.

In 2020, along with a multidisciplinary team of refugee healthcare and resettlement stakeholders, I co-created EMPOWER, a trauma-informed, culture and strengths-driven intervention aimed at social-emotional adjustment and brain health development for refugee children living in Connecticut and isolated by COVID-19.

EMPOWER has since been delivered to hundreds of refugee children living in New Haven County and modified for Ukraine to support the neurodevelopment of children impacted by the war.

Refugees and displaced migrants face significant barriers accessing care (language, cultural, institutional practices). Our EMPOWER team works with community partners such as IRIS, Elena’s Light and the Ukraine Ministry of Education, to design interventions for outside the traditional clinic setting to meet children where they’re at: neighborhoods, classrooms, migration centers, etc.

What’s your next major goal and/or challenge?

The greatest challenge we face is scaling the program to meet the needs of diverse refugee and migrant communities.

Our engagement initiatives are in constant motion to be culturally, linguistically and trauma-informed. We welcome refugees, students and next-generation providers to co-create train-the-trainer tools and advance our digital platform.

Personal side:

Favorite way to relax: Hiking, baking

Hobbies: Having tea/coffee with students and next-generation providers

Currently reading: “The Covenant of Water,” by Abraham Verghese

Favorite cause: CT refugee stakeholders: Elena’s Light and IRIS

Fun fact: Spent my early scientific career comparing the neurocognitive development of infant monkeys with children. It was extremely fun!

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