Invisible Illness and Incommunicable Diseases: Emily Reach White at TEDxGreenville

Emily watched in silence and shame as her dad struggled with Chronic Lyme Disease for over ten years. After his death in 2007, she began to question: What makes some diseases more culturally visible, and more culturally acceptable, than others? In her talk, she explains that not all diseases are created equal and how narrative medicine can help right these inequalities. Emily Reach White is the co-founder of Paris MTN Scout, a production company dedicated to bringing micro-budget, artistically ambitious, non-cynical films to market. In this role, she has worked as the story editor on one feature film, TAKEN IN, and two short films, GOOD LIFE (2010) and DOBRA OJCA (2012). She is the co-writer and co-director of GET BETTER (2012), which is loosely based on writing from her blog (www.GetBetterTheMovie.com / www.emilyreachwhite.com) and her dad's fight with late-stage Lyme disease. Emily has an M.A. in English Literature from Miami University of Ohio, half of a PhD in English Literature from the University of South Carolina, and has recently started a Creative Nonfiction M.F.A. program at Goucher College. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband and writing partner, Chris White Emily Reach White is the co-founder of Paris MTN Scout, a production company dedicated to bringing micro-budget, artistically ambitious, non-cynical films to market. In this role, she has worked as the story editor on one feature film, TAKEN IN, and two short films, GOOD LIFE (2010) and DOBRA OJCA (2012). She is the co-writer and co-director of GET BETTER (2012), which is loosely based on writing from her blog and her dad's fight with late-stage Lyme disease. Emily has an M.A. in English Literature from Miami University of Ohio, half of a PhD in English Literature from the University of South Carolina, and has recently started a Creative Nonfiction M.F.A. program at Goucher College. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband and writing partner, Chris White. You can connect with Emily on the internet via her facebook page, twitter and LinkedIn or her website at EmilyReachWhite.com In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)