How I overcame my learning disabilities to become a physician | John Rhodes | TEDxCharleston

Becoming a physician is hard enough, but MUSC cardiologist John proves that overcoming dyslexia, attention deficit and other processing deficits is not an insurmountable task. John scored zero on his MCAT reading, but is now a doctor.

Dr. Rhodes is a cardiologist who performs procedures for children and adults with congenital heart conditions present at birth. He graduated with honors from North Carolina State University, received his medical degree from Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, completed his Residency in Pediatrics at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) receiving an award for outstanding senior resident for teaching and leadership, and he did his Cardiology Fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

[daniellepeterson]

I literally in tears. I'm trying so damn hard to be a doctor, and my dyscalculia keeps knocking me down. I needed to hear this ty.

[pencilhigh]

I wasn't diagnosed with anything but I find it difficult to understand simple concepts, and I always feel left behind by my peers... I realized I have to accept that I'm not as smart as others and that I have to work thrice as hard to catch up....
Thank you, my good sir for this wonderful TedTalk.

[carolynbrown]

Dr.Rhodes I am still in tears today because every job I go for when they bring up reading and spelling I freezes up like a icy I don’t even know anything, and I know I know, but this disability learning and dyslexia has kept me physically from doing the job that I want to do know I’m important and I know I can do it but as I hear and listen to your testimony I got I got over my learning disability encourage me but today I am still struggling 2024. It is heartbreaking. It makes me feel sorry for myself. I cry every day because I don’t know why, but I will not give up. I will continue to move on. I wish I had went back and got my GED but because of this, I did not make it back not as of yet, but your words have encouraged me.

[yadiraalban]

I hate having a learning disability. I just pray to god he helps me. I want to graduate college also, I quit respiratory school because I was afraid. Now I am giving myself another shot. I won’t stop this time around. I know now no one will help me I have to help myself.

[kareenodum]

This is my daughters heart doctor and he is a genuine, down to earth, super human being that is a amazing physician!!

[medytalo-desarrollopersona]

❤️Blessings to everyone here who is working on improving themselves

[lexmatthewtheurbanavenger]

I was born with a learning disability and wanted to learn about the space industry and the technology sector in the sciences.But my mom and my school counselor, and my special ed teacher told me I should work in a trade but it's not my thing all because I don't know the hard math from trigonometry, calculus, algebra 1 &2 but fifteen years later I passed the GED and I'm registering for
My bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and physics double major in city college of new York and getting my tuition assistance from the air force and us navy sta 21 and use the g.i benefits for my 3x masters in biochemistry, computer science and economics or astronomy.

[Private_Library]

Omg! I’m crying…wow… what an incredible life journey and I totally can relate ….. the only difference, I was paddling my canoe alone because I was never aware of something that’s called “learning disability “

Love and blessings to all

[rebeccabarley]

This brought me to tears I have a learning disability and I have things I want to do with my life but I feel like my learning disability is just holding me down

[evergreen]

My daughter is a superhero ❤ she's 8 overcoming barriers.

[mowheelz]

I have many learning disabilities especially when it comes to mathematics my algebra teacher asked me what 6x4 was and I couldn’t even figure it out and that’s simple 3rd grade level math. this is the motivation I was looking for out of all the Ted talks I’ve watched this is by far the best one.

[jhenukumar]

Preservanance
Resilient
Don’t give up
Adaptability - Adapt your weakness
Courage.

[occamsrazor]

Awesome speech. Thank you from someone who has ADD and dyslexia.

[hiromit]

Never heard such an eloquent speech. Disability makes your life even more courageous and inspiring.

[pattonthompson]

This is amazing. Im a physician myself in private practice now for 7 years. Medical school can be extremely lonely and depressing. Sometimes you feel like you are alone on an island for 12 hours a day - especially the first two years. I now have a son with autism. He is bright but he does clearly have learning differences. I obviously worry about his future as a parent. This talk gives me hope. Thank for sharing and being humble and willing to do so. God bless.

[adelycharles]

This video is amazing. I thought I was in the dark because I also have a learning disability but now I can’t get rid of it, but I can work really hard to get better at the things that I want in life. I just want to live somewhere far away with nobody that could bother me and I want to help other people through my process. God bless everybody.

[auditor]

Dr, my son is dyslexic and he has and facing same in details you are describing. I am supporting him daily. He never give up and I never giveup, he will become for sure with his determination and PADDLING(after ur approval as it s ur copy right), PERSEVERANCE, a big cyber security engineer. U inspire him and encourage me as parent to never never give up.

[cowgirljane]

I was unable to read until I was 13 because of dyslexia. But one day I was trying th read "The Red Pony" and struggled with each word:
The



I glanced at the picture of the red pony on the opposite page.





Looked at picture of the red pony.

The...
Red...
Pony...

My brain CLICKED.

I'm supposed to connect each word to the other one and form a picture.

The Red Pony.

A week later, I was at the library, reading 10 books a week. I've never stopped loving the written word. I even became a journalist writing words for a living.

[antonhuman]

I was in tears before you were. Dr. Rhodes.
Many thanks.
And God bless!

[DarthZevrel]

His perseverance and his commitment are admirable.