We recently connected with Cheryl Anderson-Cermin and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cheryl, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?
As a craniofacial orthodontist working with individuals born with congenital challenges walking beside the child and the family is extremely important. There are times this is heartbreaking, however more often there is hope and a promise for a bright outcome. It can be emotionally difficult to walk with these families through the pain of the initial diagnosis, but rewarding as the family gains the knowledge and information to move forward and conquer the challenges set before them. I am always amazed by the parent’s response when the treatment plan is presented which often involves intensive daily management and frequent appointments. Parents always say, “whatever it takes”. Their resilience and dedication to their child never fails to warm my heart.
However we often are placed in a situations when encountering families in other parts of the world where exceptional care is not forthcoming. We can offer hope and care on a limited basis to provide as best we can in our short stay. Again these families are so desperately seeking the best for their child and our heart goes out to them. As a parent myself I have so much respect and empathy for what these families are going through. We all want what is best for our children and when there is not immediate access to proper care, this can be so very frustrating.
Although we offer care, compassion and hope; sadly our time and resources are limited as we travel to remote India, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, and Belize.
My empathy stems initially from being raised in full a family with an uncle (actually younger than me and whom I consider my brother) with Down Syndrome. We as a family experienced the potential of social stigma. lack of access to resources and the frustration that was felt by all in the lack of achieving milestones as others do.
However, I consider, as do the members of my family, this to be one of the greatest blessings and gifts we could have possibly received. Tim was an eternal shining light of love and compassion. We were always proud of him. This relationship taught us how to accept differences, embrace challenges and rejoice over victories, even if to others they may seem small and inconsequential. I will be forever grateful for having Timothy a part of our family and my life. Sadly he passed away 5 years ago
and leaves a hole no one can
replace, but a heart that wants to walk with others through their journey of acceptance and moving forward with a new plan and for most a promise of hope.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My family is mystified and in awe of the fact that I am an orthodontist, for you see one of my most traumatic adolescent events was being forced to under go orthodontics at the age of 15. Most of my friends were getting their braces off and and my parents were insisting I begin treatment. This was in rural Wisconsin. I cried through the whole agonizing morning of placement of the braces. The orthodontist kept giving me shots of anesthetic, as he assumed my tears were due to pain, but alas it was my horror at starting my sophomore year of high school in braces. Fast forward 15 years and I am so excited to have been chosen to begin a post graduate residency in what else but Orthodontics! While doing an internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston I was exposed to the workings of the Craniofacial team as they met to discuss the management of individuals with craniofacial conditions. I was fascinated with what the orthodontist on the team was contributing in regards to the management of these cases. Stimulating growth, restraining growth; enhancing mother nature.
I spent my Orthodontic Residency learning the basic concepts, but not how to manage these complex cases. I then learned of a Surgical Orthodontic fellowship offered at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where I would spend a year immersed in the management of this type of treatment. It was during this training I was exposed to a new and innovative method of management of the cleft lip and palate infant. I was one of several orthodontists in the country to adopt this technique and went one to teach and encourage others to adopt this method of treatment. It has now become the standard of care in clefted infants.
I was able to develop a relationship with a craniofacial surgeon with whom I will spend the rest of my career working with in the management of these extremely challenging patients. Dr. P. Craig Hobar had a vision to not only care for the patients in the Southwestern part of the US, but also to travel to other parts of the world helping the disadvantaged receive the care they deserve, but do not have access to.
This was the birth of LEAP Global Missions 32 years ago. Since that time over 10,000 surgeries have been performed, lives have been saved and changed forever. It has been an honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Hobar over all these years and strive to make a difference in the lives of others; be it Dallas, Minneapolis, remote India, war torn Ukraine, or economically devastated Zimbabwe.
I have spent the past 22 years working with the Craniofacial team at Gillette Children’s Health working with families whose child has a craniofacial condition. As it is now time for me to turn over the care of these special families to others, I have made it my mission to find the unique individual who can provide the expertise and the compassion needed for these families to thrive. I am currently training this outstanding orthodontist.
It is also critical for the Orthodontic community as a whole to understand the management of these complex cases. Therefore I am thrilled to be able to teach these concepts at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry Orthodontic Department to the Residents in training. My goal at this point in my career is to pass on my knowledge, experiences, mistakes and most importantly, try to instill the passion for empathy and compassion when walking beside these families.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Perseverance: There were so many times it just seemed too hard, too painful, too exhausting. It was years before I learned my colleague and professional partner Dr. Hobar experienced the same issues. There were many trips to other lands where at one point or another I would pronounce to myself, “I will never do this again.” But bags unpacked, sleep schedule on track, we are anxious to plan the next trip.
Dependence on a higher power. During these times of exhaustion and frustration, be it in our local hospital or a land far away the inner strength to move forward and push through was from a supreme being, Without our Lord I could not have managed to keep moving forward and doing my best. His best.
Reliance on others. So many people are involved in achieving a successful outcome for an individual and their family. From the caretaker at home managing the siblings. to the social worker making transportation arrangements, to the volunteers packing for our overseas trips, and to the generosity of those who help to fund the trip. It takes a community working together to achieve a positive outcome. I have learned to rely on the talents and skills of others in order to achieve success.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Well 6 months ago our son and his wife made my husband and I grandparents. This is a new and eagerly awaited role we are thoroughly enjoying. This coincided with the sale of my private practice, Therefore the time I spent in my office I now spend immersed in watching and caring for this precious new life. During the past 12 months I also assumed the role of Board Chair of LEAP Global Missions. It is a privilege and honor to be involved at this level in the operations and vision of this amazing organization I have been a part of since its inception. The goal at this point is to continue to work to support our missions in the countries we currently serve, and work to raise up those who will continue this work in the upcoming years.
Through my interactions teaching at the University of Minnesota a relationship with colleagues at the University in Kathmandu as been established. For the first time, two orthodontists from their University will join us in remote central India to be of assistance and learn techniques for managing the infant born with a cleft lip and palate.. They will then bring these techniques to their community. In this region of central India the infants born with this condition struggle to survive and thrive. Our goal is to give these families the opportunity to watch their precious infants grow and be a part of their community. As I once again experience the miracle of new life and the wonders of the first year in my personal life, my heart aches for those who are struggling with challenges and lack of resources for their precious infants. LEAP Global Missions will be there to help as many families as we are able.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: ckcermin
- Facebook: Cheryl Anderson-Cermin
Image Credits
Jonathan Cermin
