It Takes Heart with Dr. Dinesh Palipana, a limitless life.

In Episode 3, Season 1 of It Takes Heart, hosts Sam Miklos, CEO of cmr, and Kate Coomber, Head of Talent and Employer Branding, explore the inspiring journey of Dr. Dinesh Palipana, an incredible human being. As an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recipient and Queensland Australian of the Year, Dr. Dinesh Palipana is a living demonstration of breaking down society barriers, particularly in the world of medicine. He was the first medical intern in Queensland with quadriplegia and has reshaped the potential for not only graduating from medical school with a disability but also working as an emergency doctor.

Born in Sri Lanka in 1984, Dr. Palipana’s early years were shaped by civil war, corruption, and poverty. These experiences became the lens through which he encountered some of the biggest events in his life. In 2010, while in medical school, his car spun out of control on the Brisbane motorway, leaving him with a spinal cord injury. His medical training halted instantly, and the following years were spent recovering as a patient.

Dr. Palipana’s journey is one of remarkable resilience and determination. Today, he is a lawyer, a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia, and has completed a clerkship at Harvard University. He is also a senior lecturer at Griffith University, a spinal cord injury researcher, and works in the emergency department at Gold Coast University Hospital. Additionally, he serves as a senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission and as an ambassador to the Human Rights Commission’s Includability Program.

In this episode, Dr. Palipana opens up about his battle with depression, a struggle that began long before his spinal cord injury. Drawing inspiration from icons like Stephen Hawking and Christopher Reeve, his narrative underscores the importance of mental resilience and gratitude. He recounts his transformation from feeling paralysed by depression to celebrating life’s simple pleasures and remarkable milestones, including writing his first book, ‘Stronger’, which is being adapted into a TV series.

Discussing the evolving landscape of the healthcare system, Dr. Palipana’s insights inspire us to champion inclusivity and empathy in medicine. This episode promises to leave you motivated to support and empower diversity, challenging societal perceptions, and inspiring future generations to break barriers.

Content Warning: Mental Health Issues 
We are excited to bring you this inspiring story, but with that, comes the guests  truthful account of his mental health challenges and paralysing depression. If you feel you could be triggered by this content, you may want to skip this episode.

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More About Dinesh’s Charity of Choice: Red Dust

Dr. Palipana supports Titans Together, the charitable arm of the Gold Coast Titans rugby league club. Titans Together aims to be a community-focused, commercially motivated organization driven to make a difference in people’s lives. They actively support local schools, clubs, charities, and community organizations through programs, appearances, and donations. All donations to Titans Together drive a range of community projects across Indigenous education, inclusion projects like LEAGUEABILITY, as well as development, participation, and high-performance football programs.

Visit www.titans.com.au for more information.
As Dinesh’s charity of choice, cmr will donate $500 to Titans Together.

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