Narrative Mindworks spoke with artist and advocate Caitlin Mesiano about facial difference, clinical empathy, and the impact of representation in healthcare.
Born with a cleft lip and palate, Caitlin shares a deeply personal perspective on what care looks like beyond the idea of a single “corrective” surgery. The conversation explores the lifelong nature of cleft care, the effect of everyday bias and microaggressions, and why clinicians must learn to see the whole person beyond the diagnosis.