There is a wonderful story in today’s Capital Times about UW Hospital resident, Dipesh Navsaria, who measures his young patients’ development by putting a book in their hands and watching their reaction.
From the article:
Navsaria… says the child’s response speaks volumes. If the patient shows interest and curiosity, he can tell if books are a natural part of their life. At a certain age, if the child holds the book right-side up, opens it and turns the pages, the doctor gets a quick read on motor skills.
And if children begin talking about what they see in the book, Navsaria can see if they are building social skills…
Navsaria isn’t just talking as a doctor, but as a librarian. He took a break during his medical studies to earn a master’s degree in library and information science, with a focus on children’s literature…
Navsaria is working with Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit organization founded by pediatricians and educators in Boston that promotes the importance of early literacy, with a focus on reaching low-income populations.
He has started a Reach Out and Read (ROR) program at UW’s student-run free clinic, MEDiC. A ROR program at the Access Community Health Center on South Park Street will open in the next two months, if not sooner, Navsaria said. He is also looking for funding to expand the program to two of the outpatient UW Health pediatric clinics.
Thanks to my colleague, Cheryl O’Connor for the tip.