Helping Healthcare Providers Deliver Informed, High-Quality Care
Gretchen Dodgion is a mom and Nurse Practitioner providing training to improve the healthcare experience for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
Enhancing Healthcare for People with Down Syndrome and Their Families
Medical schools and training programs rarely provide adequate education on the healthcare needs of individuals with Down syndrome. My workshops address this gap by offering comprehensive, evidence-based training designed for students, faculty, and all healthcare professionals.
Key topics covered:
✔️ Medical Considerations – Understanding the most common medical conditions experienced in the Down syndrome community, and how they present clinically
✔️ Social-Emotional Care – Learning how to practice with sensitivity to communication styles and patient autonomy while engaging the family in decision making
✔️ Ableism in Healthcare – Recognizing how societal attitudes and systemic factors impact the quality of care for people with Down syndrome
Who should attend?
• Medical and nursing students
• Faculty and healthcare educators
• Physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals
Interested in providing this training for your team?
Why this work matters:
Individuals with Down syndrome often experience delays in diagnosis due to unfamiliarity with their unique medical presentations.
Many healthcare providers lack formal training on social-emotional considerations when treating this population.
Unconscious bias and ableism can affect the quality of care patients with disabilities receive.
By raising awareness and equipping providers with the right tools, we can ensure individuals with Down syndrome reach their full potential.
Meet Gretchen Dodgion, RN, MS, APNP
As a healthcare consultant, Nurse Practitioner, University-level educator, advocate, and mother, I’ve dedicated my career to improving the medical experiences of individuals with Down syndrome. My journey began with my own personal experience—navigating the healthcare system for my own child—which evolved into a professional mission to educate healthcare providers on best practices for caring for patients with Down syndrome.
In addition to my professional experiences, I founded and continue to facilitate a support group for women throughout the Midwest who receive a prenatal or birth diagnosis of Down syndrome, to provide a loving and safe space to connect with others with shared lived experiences.
With years of firsthand experience and collaboration with medical professionals, I offer insight into the gaps in current training and provide concrete solutions to enhance patient care.