Episode 9 | Dr.Richard Wenzel

Dr. Richard Wenzel shares a riveting NPE journey that began with an at-home DNA test and unfolded into the discovery that his father was not his genetic father. The conversation traces childhood memories surrounding a sibling's secret adoption, a pediatrician who "knew and lied," and a later-in-life reckoning with identity, family history, and medical ethics. Richard explains why genetic secrets harm patients, how falsified family histories misdirect care, and why he advocates for clinician candor: "Just tell the truth."

Guest Bio

For three decades, Dr. Richard Wenzel, PharmD, CPPS, has been an accomplished educator, practitioner, researcher, and mentor in the realm of health care.  He has authored nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications in medical journals and given more than 100 presentations at national, state, or local-level professional meetings.  He received the American Pharmacists Association's One-to-One Patient Counseling award, given annually to five pharmacists nationally, and is a two-time nominee for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's Master Preceptor award.  

In 2020, an at-home DNA test revealed that his father was not his genetic father, a result that helped explain why Richard has always felt 'out of place' within his own family.  Unfortunately, both his mother and genetic father are long deceased, but available information substantiates that his conception was the result of a sexual assault of his at-the-time teenage mother.  Moreover, evidence indicates that Richard's pediatrician knew of, and lied about, the facts of his paternity.  Since his DNA discovery, Richard has published several articles in medical journals calling for health care professionals to improve their management of genetic secrets and has on-going projects aimed at improving public awareness about medical professionals' roles in propagating genetic secrets.    

Connect with Richard
Email: lone.tree.npe@gmail.com

Links:

Misattributed paternity discovery: A critique of medical organizations' recommendations - PubMed

Buying my existence. Just $49, free shipping included - Wenzel - 2023 - Journal of Genetic Counseling - Wiley Online Library

To be or not to be (honest): The persistent problem of misattributed paternity - Hercher - 2023 - Journal of Genetic Counseling - Wiley Online Library

Connect with Kristal
Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com

YouTube | Instagram | TikTok

@kristalparkeofficial

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