ideas and have really great conversations . I learn from them , just as they learn from me . It ’ s mutually beneficial .”
Within adult psychiatry , her special interests are women ’ s mental health and eating disorders . She said that although they ’ re seeing an increase in eating disorders , they ’ re commonly ignored .
“ The sad part is that we don ’ t have many resources to offer to these patients . We all try to work hard and advocate for this patient population to increase awareness and try to remove the barriers so that we can have something for Kentucky patients . We don ’ t want them to have to go outside of the state for care for themselves or their loved ones .”
In 2021 , Gov . Andy Beshear appointed Dr . Suleman as a member of the Kentucky Eating Disorder Council and she serves as the Chair of the Education for Health Professionals subcommittee . In addition , over the last two years , she has submitted two resolutions to the Kentucky Medical Association House of Delegates that have been successfully adopted into KMA policy . In Frankfort in February of this year , she was awarded the Champion of Advocacy award by the Kentucky Eating Disorder Council . Earlier this year , she appeared on a KET program with Dr . Wayne Tuckson to discuss the stigma around eating disorders . But she ’ s not just focused on her current community , but also those in her home country as well .
“ In Pakistan , there is a huge stigma about mental health . So when I was in Canada , I did some TV shows in our native language on mental health issues like depression , anxiety and OCD to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness . It ’ s important to
( R to L ) Dr . Suleman and her three children , Junaid , Sona and Mani ; Dr . Suleman with her children vacationing at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in New York .
share that message in a way that they understand and trust .”
As immediate past President of the Kentucky Psychiatric Medical Association , she knows just how much burnout has impacted everyone over the past several years and said a big part of overcoming this is leaning on each other for help .
“ We all burn out . We all need mental health breaks . And we need to make sure that we take care of each other . Whether it ’ s your family , friends , patients , colleagues , we all have to do something to bring a smile to each other ’ s faces ,” she said . “ Just the way that we worry about our physical health , you always have to take care of your mental health as well and do things that make you happy .”
For her , surrounding herself with people good for her mental health starts with her three children . She beams with pride just to mention them . Her oldest son , Junaid , just entered medical school , her daughter , Sona , is a college graduate , and her younger son , Mani , is a sophomore in college .
“ All three of them have in their hearts a love for helping others . If we see a homeless person or someone at a traffic light , for example , we make sure to get them warm food or clothing , or we even carry things in our car to offer , even if it ’ s something small ,” she said . “ It ’ s such a pleasure and so satisfying when you can help someone in trouble . You may not change their life , but just a small gesture or
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