AADMD Board Member Spotlight: Dr. Keller

Get to know the board members who keep the AADMD going.

Seth M Keller, MD

Occupation: Neurologist

Board Position: National Task Group Aging and Dementia Liaison
Years on Board: 20

HELEN: What's your favorite part about working with people with IDD? 

Dr. Keller: People with IDD are like everyone else. They want to be happy, want to live their lives, and have hopes and aspirations. They also may have a number of health challenges and complications which can impact these ideals and goals.

Being able to have an impact, even if small, by providing care and support for them is a truly wonderful part of my personal and professional life. Being involved at a national and international level in bringing awareness, education and training is awesome, plus being part of a team with other like-minded friends and colleagues is inspirational and an opportunity that I’m blessed to be a part of. 

HELEN: What’s your origin story? How did you get involved with IDD?

Dr. Keller: I didn't have a family or friend with IDD. I didn't get great exposure to this population in my medical training and certainly not in my neurology specialty training. I did have a great interest in helping solve complex neurologic issues, and seizure disorders were a type of health complication that did interest me. 

It became very obvious that those with IDD had a great number of complex and challenging issues. Because of these factors, I began to take care of more and more people with IDD and then became the neurologist of a local IDD state-run institution. I soon realized that life in institutionalized care was not at all how people with IDD really live and should be living their lives.

I grew as a person and as a care provider in learning about the AADMD as it was just formed. At the same time, I grew as a person and as a healthcare provider the more I learned about the dark history of IDD care in the US and worked to help push for the appreciation of values, respect and partnerships. I'm still learning so my origin story is still evolving. 

HELEN: Do you have any recent projects you would like to highlight?

Dr. Keller: Last year, I participated in a service trip to Ukraine in June 2022. I served as the medical ears and eyes for Disability Rights International (DRI). This amazing effort was surreal on a number of levels. I have written a multi-part article on this in HELEN which goes into details on the why's and what's about this. 

I’m also helping spearhead an AADMD and epilepsy project which will involve a 9-part web series that will include an amazing group of US and international speakers. We also are in plans to create a special edition of IDD epilepsy care in a major peer-reviewed journal. 

HELEN: What’s your best health care advice for people with disabilities?

Dr. Keller: Expect that your health care provider will be a partner with you in your health, and yet they may not have the experience, knowledge and appreciation of IDD life and values. Because of these potential inadequacies, be patient with your health care provider and work with them to be better not only for you, but also for others like you that they also care for. 

HELEN: What’s your best advice to someone who wants to study IDD healthcare? 

Dr. Keller: IDD health care is not all about diseases, medications, tests, and genetics. It’s often about civil rights, values, and humanity. IDD healthcare is very unique in that it’s very personal with social implications. 

This field of care greatly digs in with the importance of person-centered care and building trust and partnerships. Also what you may learn in your medical and dental education may not include the exposure and experience of learning communication skills with this population.

It's a real deep ride in health and helping reduce disparities and keeping quality of life at a maximum as much as possible. Who wouldn't want to be in this field!?