When Susan Baum was diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, the news landed with unusual force: She had already watched the disease reshape the lives of close family members, narrowing mobility, independence, and daily confidence. 

Instead of accepting her relatives’ fate, Baum pushed deeper into research until she found a promising path forward: red light treatment newly introduced through New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.  

In this conversation, Susan shares how measurable improvements came quickly, why she chose to speak publicly despite being intensely private, and how resilience sometimes means refusing passive acceptance when new approaches and innovations may change the outcome. 

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

Road to Resilience brings you stories and insights to help you thrive in a challenging world. From fighting burnout and trauma to building resilient families, we explore what’s possible when science meets the human spirit.