Dr. Lisa Belisle

Mental Gymnastics

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published October 7, 2007, Maine Sunday Telegram

My sisters and I spent hours on the family swing-set when we were small. We would belt out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Alouette” as we tried to touch the clouds with our feet. Little did we know how important these childhood pursuits might prove to be. According to Dr. Stuart Brown, Director of the National Institute for Play, when we play, we discover how to live within the constructs of our society. We learn how to share the swings, and take turns giving each other pushes. We learn how to sing together. When we play, we practice social, emotional, physical and mental skills that help us get along with others (and ourselves).

Lost in Translation: Culture, Literacy & Health

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published October 4, 2007, The Maine Switch

I have a friend who wants to be a writer. He is a thoughtful, well educated physician who has practiced medicine for many years. Yet he hesitates to commit his thoughts to paper because English is his second language (he was born and raised in Argentina). My friend worries that when he finally shares his story something will be ‘lost in translation.’