Pamela Cantor
Turnaround for Children
Austin, TX USA
"If we created optimal learning experiences with incredible relationships for kids, where kids felt like somebody had their back always, the upside of that is just huge."
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Pamela's work combines: Medicine, Education, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I experienced trauma as a child and my family could not accept it. They had me keep it a secret. It wasn't until I got help from a psychiatrist who saw that I had a brain and saw that I had worth that I started to see myself in a brighter light. I thought of myself as a mess and he saw me as a pearl in an oyster. Having that relationship with someone who saw me differently than I saw myself is what propelled me into a place where I started thinking that I too could become a doctor.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Art
Sarah Lawrence College
GED
GED Courses in Math and Science
New York City
Graduate Degree
Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med
Columbia University
Graduate Degree
Medical Degree
Cornell University
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I experienced trauma in childhood, which caused me to think of myself as a mess—I sought help from a psychiatrist who saw my worth and encouraged my dreams of becoming a doctor.
2.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in art and took classes in art, art history, dance, and folklore and mythology.
3.
I hadn't taken a single math or science course, so when I decided to become a doctor, I had to take GED courses in math and science so I could apply to a pre-med program.
4.
I completed a pre-med program at Columbia University and medical school at Cornell University.
5.
After medical school, I did my residency in child psychiatry, then began to build a private practice and worked at the Yale Child Study Center.
6.
After the September 11 attacks, I helped lead a study to assess the levels of trauma among New York City public school children—after visiting schools for the study, I founded Turnaround for Children.
7.
I stopped practicing as a doctor and used Turnaround for Children to get what I’d learned in medical school about kids and learning into the hands of teachers and schools.
8.
Now, I translate the science of learning and development to transform the settings where children learn and grow to unlock the potential inside every child.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
You're not allowed to speak about your trauma.
How I responded:
I experienced trauma as a child and my family could not accept it. They had me keep it a secret. It wasn't until I got help from a psychiatrist who saw that I had a brain and saw that I had worth that I started to see myself in a brighter light. I thought of myself as a mess and he saw me as a pearl in an oyster. Having that relationship with someone who saw me differently than I saw myself is what propelled me into a place where I started thinking that I too could become a doctor.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I experienced imposter syndrome when I went to medical school. I thought people would figure out that I didn't belong there. That stress manifested physically in losing my voice.