Isabelle approaches rheumatology as care for the whole person, addressing not only the joints, lungs, or vessels in distress, but also the emotional and spiritual landscapes in which illness takes root. She sees the patient–doctor relationship as medicine itself, where trust, listening, and presence can be as healing as any procedure. She views illness as a messenger, guiding both medical treatment and personal growth.
Her own stage 4 cancer diagnosis redefined her relationship to life’s hardships as something to befriend rather than resist. In discovering what really matters in her life, she came to prioritize self-love, meaningful relationships, and daily joy over accolades or research prestige. Saying “no” to misaligned commitments has given her space to say “yes” to people, activities, and work that energize her…
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