Harlem Word: Dr. Olajide Williams talks about his new book, Stroke Diaries

In addition to being a neurologist [1] at Harlem Hospital [2], the director of the Stroke Center at Harlem Hospital, and the founder of the Hip Hop Public Health Education Center [3], Dr. Olajide Williams, MD, MS is also an author. In this article he talks about his new book, Stroke Diaries.
Q: Can you tell me about your new book, Stroke Diaries?

A: The book is a collection of stories about many of the stroke [4] patients who have made the greatest impact on me. Writing this book was one of the hardest things that I've done, because I didn't write this book solely from a doctor's point of view, I wrote it as a patient and a caregiver as well by drawing from my own life experience as a patient and caregiver. I tried my best to write the book from three different perspectives. The doctor part was the easiest part of the writing, but becoming the caregiver and the patient was very difficult. But I knew that this was the only way to tell their stories as accurately and authentically as possible.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

A: Over the course of my career I've treated a number of patients who have had a great impact on me. Some patients have moved me to tears. Their stories have inspired me. I've learned so much from my patients and their families. I've seen courage and dignity in the way my patients battle illness to the very end and in the way families handle the aftermath of great tragedies or triumphs. So I decided to share their stories through this book. I wrote this book for stroke survivors and their families.

Q: Why do you think it was important to write this book from your patients' viewpoints?

A: I think that we learn best through the experiences of others. I had to understand more than the academic/medical side of their stroke experience; I had to also understand what they go through emotionally. To do this effectively, I had to somehow "become" the patient.

Q: How did you "become" the patients you write about?

A: I chose the stories of the stroke [4] patients that I believe I learned the most from and tried to tell their story through their eyes. I wanted to give life to each story, which was really hard. To be honest, I'm not sure if I did a good enough job. I'm not sure that anyone can do a good enough job and truly capture the experiences that another person has unless you're that person. But I worked hard at it. I dug deep, exposed my own vulnerability, and let my pen do the rest.

Q: Where can people in Harlem find this book?

A: It's in every Barnes and NobleTM in the city. You can either pick it up at Barnes and Noble or buy it online on AmazonTM or Barnes and NobleTM or BordersTM. It's in all of the mainstream bookstores.

Click here to listen to Dr. William's interview with NPR (National Public Radio) about his book Stroke Diaries.
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Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Harlem health experts, written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board