Dr. Mamak: treating the whole patient
Kids with complex conditions are at higher risk for mental health challenges as they grow. So early intervention is critical. Which is why Dr. Mamak often meets youngsters at floor level. This is how she describes an assessment: “There’s no ego; you’re on the child’s schedule. You work wherever they happen to be. It’s fun to immerse yourself in the world of that baby or toddler – that’s the only way you’re going to get any kind of reasonable data.”
“What makes working at SickKids really exciting is that there’s always a story to figure out. Kids who come to SickKids are really complex, and there’s rarely an easy answer.”
Early intervention is a window of opportunity for clinicians like Dr. Mamak. They can identify both risks and deficits, and anticipate the supports kids will need from parents, care providers and teachers in order to thrive. When they see children early, they can make the most difference in their lives.
Anisa was the first patient Dr. Mamak assessed at SickKids, and their relationship has encompassed Anisa’s whole life. Regular ‘check-ins’ are especially important for kids with serious health issues – more than 40% of children and youth with physical illness face mental health challenges. Neuropsychological assessments provide data that helps influence outcomes.
Dr. Mamak’s work with all her patients is fundamentally about maintaining their emotional health and mental health, particularly around school and learning.
Something as simple as missing a few days of school for treatment can have an impact. Says Dr. Mamak, “We know there are many secondary impacts when a child has challenges or barriers at school with learning, memory, or attention. So understanding how a child learns and thinks is vital to understanding their emotional health and quality of life. We’re here to prevent the secondary mental health impacts we know are more prevalent with complex medical conditions.”
This is especially important as kids move to middle and high school, a time of increased risk for mental health challenges. That’s one reason Anisa has kept returning to SickKids for neuropsychological assessments. Which she loves to do, because of Dr. Mamak. “She makes tests fun. I’m tired at the end, but it’s not intimidating,” says Anisa. “I high-five her, I call her Eva. She’s part of our family I’ve always known.”
