Made Visible

I moderated a panel discussion at ReelAbilities Film Festival on The Quiet Epidemic, an eye-opening film about Lyme disease that highlights the emotional toll of patients’ journeys with the illness and the scientific facts of the disease.  During the panel I spoke with the film’s Emmy-winning producer Chris Hegedus, who helped the directors bring this topic to light, 19-year-old Julia Bruzzese, a patient with Lyme disease featured in the film who bravely shared her story because she knew it could help other patients, and Julia’s dad, Enrico Bruzzese, who has been her caregiver and biggest supporter. This episode also includes my recent conversation with past guest and the film’s executive producer, Ally Hilfiger, who talks about her own Lyme story and how important it was for the film to include both real, digestible science and a patient’s story for viewers to connect with. The Quiet Epidemic reminds us how important it is to educate about a devastating tick-borne disease like Lyme, which is growing more and