Podcast Release Date: July 3rd, 2024

This podcast is made possible through support from the Integra Foundation, committed to improving lives.

On this month’s myFace, myStory podcast episode, host Dina Zuckerberg will be joined by David Cohen, recipient of the 2024 myFace Courage Award. David talks about the dark twists on his journey–from hope, to acceptance of his life with Pierre Robin Sequence, to who he is now. Listen to their conversation and find out what he thinks should be happening to support children and adults in the craniofacial community today.

Read about our guest below the video: 

David Cohen was born with Pierre Robin Sequence, a rare genetic disorder that stunts the growth of the lower jaw, causing the patient difficulties with swallowing and breathing. By the time he was 10 years old, David had undergone multiple craniofacial surgeries to correct this issue. As a result of his unique journey, David struggled socially in school, always being treated as if he were different, thus severely impacting his teenage years.

Since he was a child, David has always felt drawn to serving a cause greater than himself, and upon graduation from George Washington University, he was commissioned into the US Navy. This was not an easy process as David was initially medically disqualified from military service as a result of his complicated medical history. It was with the help of his NYU and myFace family that he was able to complete this process and serve his country proudly as a Naval Ensign.