FINDING BALANCE WITH TRUDY-ANN SINCLAIR MCDONALD
IT’S NOT easy finding a balance. That’s because stability is not lingering in the wilderness, waiting for you to catch up with it. You have to create it.
Trudy-Ann Sinclair-McDonald is one such person. Physiotherapy, ne uro rehabilitation and vestibular( dizziness) rehabilitation are her specialities. Eighteen years ago, Sinclair-McDonald witnessed the wonderful works of a physiotherapist, who aided one of her close relatives back to health.
This sparked a fire within her and persuaded a young, curious SinclairMcDonald to venture into this lifechanging field. This flame is still alive today, and it has pushed her to spread her wings, investing her skills into different areas that bear fruits for others and satisfies her passion.
“I believe that this is my calling, it’s not just a job. I have a passion to help people. But after witnessing how difficult it was for my relative who was like a walking wounded, to get back to normal, it pushed me harder to explore and study the brain,” Sinclair-McDonald explained. She has always been driven by a need to excel. So, when she enrolled at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) School of Physiotherapy to pursue her craft, there was no turning back. In 1999, she graduated and started her career at the UHWI.
After only a short stint there, she sought to further her studies. Sinclair-McDonald migrated to England, where she did specialist training and acquired a master of
science in neurological rehabilitation at the Brunel University in London. After completing her studies, she practised in the health field for 13 years.
“Within my neurological practice, I began seeing a lot of patients who suffer from dizziness. This prompted me to widen my scope and study another healing avenue, vestibular rehab,” she said.
DUTY TO MY COUNTRY
Five years ago, she returned to Jamaica with one thing on her mind, which was to duly serve her beloved nation.
According to SinclairMcDonald, vestibular rehabilitation is not popular in Jamaica. This is one reason she considers it a privilege to be able to provide this service to her country.
“The first place I worked when I came back was the Caribbean Neurology Pain and Headache Centre. It was good there, but I wanted to make a greater impact. This led me to the Ear, Hearing and Dizziness Centre, a one-stop medical facility at the Winchester Business Centre. And I am happy to be able to provide my services, especially since we have some of the best machines to help in the recuperation of my patients,” an elated Sinclair-McDonald said with a smile.
Sinclair-McDonald and her associates cater to persons who have suffered from strokes, dizziness, issues relating to the ear, and other ailments caused by brain injuries.
There’s a teacher within her who makes an appearance every time she gets the opportunity.
“I absolutely love teaching. It’s a big part of what I do. I do it in and out of the classroom, even with my patients, because they have to learn about their conditions. And, amazingly, I’ve had patients come to me and when I educate them about what a stroke is, they would tell me that they didn’t understand that it’s a brain injury. But that’s why I’m here.”