**DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — A Doctor Who Redefines Hope and Fashion**
How many doctors do you know who ditch their white coats for high fashion? How many doctors believe that “hope” should be taught in medical school? Meet Dr. Richard Bedlack, a neurologist and Director of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) program at Duke University, who is challenging the traditional image of a physician.
Dr. Bedlack doesn’t just treat patients—he makes a statement. Known for wearing high fashion from many well-known designers, he sees his wardrobe as more than just a love for style. “I’ve always felt it’s kind of like putting on a suit of armor,” Bedlack says, adding that his unique fashion sense helps him connect with his patients on a deeper level.
But Dr. Bedlack isn’t your typical doctor in more ways than one. Beyond his work at Duke, he travels worldwide to meet and treat patients where they live. “When I get out there and I see their lives,” Bedlack explains, “I feel like I can be a better doctor to them. I can be a better hope booster for them.”
This compassionate, unconventional approach has made Dr. Bedlack highly sought after and beloved by patients and peers alike. So much so that a documentary film crew followed him for a year, capturing not only his medical work but also his public speaking engagements where he spreads his message of hope.
### More Than Just Hope
“Hope is not just waking up with a smile on your face,” Bedlack clarifies. “That’s optimism. Optimism is nice, but it doesn’t get you very far. Hope is optimism and agency. It means being able to define goals, pathways, and motivations for going down those pathways. That’s why I believe hope is not just an emotion—it’s actually a treatment.”
In the documentary *Stitching Strength*, one of Bedlack’s patients, who communicates through a computer, shares their perspective on ALS: “It is a death sentence. Not a lot to be seemingly hopeful for, right? And yet hope finds a way to muscle its way in.”
Dr. Bedlack backs this up with research. “If we look across every disease where it’s been studied,” he says, “people with more hope do better medically. They have lower symptom burdens, are less likely to be hospitalized, and live longer compared to people with less hope.”
### Progress Fueled by Generosity
Thanks to generous funding from families and supporters outside of Duke, Dr. Bedlack is able to pursue his unconventional ideas. “Just last month,” he shares, “I received roughly $300,000 in donations from families fascinated by some of the things I’m working on right now. That’s going to allow me to spend time on projects that are really out there.”
Unfortunately, some of his ALS patients, including those featured in the 38-minute film, may not have much time left. Speaking about the documentary, Dr. Bedlack says, “Honest to God, every time I see it, I still get goosebumps and tear up. Some of the people in the film are no longer with us.”
Reflecting on his legacy, he adds, “When I’m lying on my deathbed, if I look back and say this was my legacy—to be positive, to bring joy and hope, and to help people see that they are more than their motor neurons—that’s a pretty good legacy. I still hope I can find a cure for ALS, but if I don’t, that’ll be enough.”
### Screening Information
The next screening of *Stitching Strength* will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13th, at The Cary Theatre.
For more information, click on [Stitching Strength].
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