This week, we’re going to highlight one of our great Community Neuroscience Neurologists! Today, we get to meet our pediatric neurologist, Dr. Christy Stine.
Dr. Stine, What inspired you to become a neurologist?
“I was inspired to become a pediatric neurologist first because I was a mother before I was a doctor and the development of the child’s nervous system is a fascinating and wondrous thing. I.was.hooked. I found a field that could incorporate the amazing dynamics of the developing nervous system in addition to supporting parents in this process.”
What do you find the most rewarding aspect of being a neurologist?
“The most rewarding part of being a neurologist is being able to help families MOVE FORWARD—whether is with difficult situations or with reassuring ones. Neurology is a field with MOSTLY unknowns and we need to be able to clarify what we can know from what we can’t know. It is rewarding to me to be able to help families sort out what we can do to help with often difficult circumstances.”
If you could have a superpower related to neurology, what would it be and why?
“If I could have a superpower in neurology it would be to have ADHD and tics. Both are EXTRA ways in which the brain soups up its abilities and have to have some pretty terrific advantages (even though they might be hard to deal with).”
What is your favorite brain fact or trivia that you like to share with patients?
“My favorite brain fact is that the brain does not. stop. developing. PERIOD! Hard stop. The capacity for ongoing network modification and modulation is lifelong. This fact alone means we are never done with learning.”
Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests?
“Outside of work my most favorite hobby is reading books (fiction and nonfiction). My favorite place to read and hang out us at home but I am equally, if not more, happy to hang trackside when my husband is racing or at a pro race.”
What is your favorite neurological disorder to study or treat, and why?
“My favorite neurological disorder to treat is epilepsy. In childhood, this is not always a disorder that will last through their lifetime so it is not at all a doom-and-gloom discussion.”
If you could give one piece of advice to patients to promote brain health, what would it be?
“My best neurological advice? SLEEP IS BRAIN FOOD WE DON’T HAVE MEDICINE TO FIX. Do your best to make sleep a routine that can feed and nourish your brain.”
What is one misconception or myth about neurology that you would like to debunk?
“One neurological myth I would love to debunk is the idea that we can SEE what is wrong with the brain by looking at a picture of it (AKA an MRI). We can SEE what is wrong with the brain by understanding what the symptoms are (the patient‘s description of what is going on) better than anything a scan could ever show us.“
If you weren’t a doctor, what other profession do you think you would have pursued?
“If I wasn’t a doctor, I would like to think I would be another type of teacher. BUT, I really love great white sharks and would love to study them.”
