Having earned advanced degrees in Social Anthropology, I am passionate about diversity. To me, diversity encompasses the things that make us different (and interesting!) - culture, race, background, religion, sexual orientation, and more. My background in Anthropology has exposed me to many new people and ideas, so my curiosity about others and their stories carries into my work. I find diversity and the differences between us fascinating, and ultimately find that we have much more in common than we think.

By working with diverse staff, we are able to cater to all kinds of patient needs and make people feel welcome as they embark on their journeys towards mental wellness. This is particularly useful in psychiatry, as patients are often sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings -- they need to feel that the person they are sharing with understands the sacredness of this interaction. Sometimes, this means having a provider from a similar community, and other times it's more about a feeling of personal connection and rapport. Having diversity within our mental health providers means patients can be accommodated in this way.

At a large academic medical center, I work with a diverse group of colleagues and absolutely love it. Many of my colleagues are from West Africa. One of my favorite people to work with is a colleague from Nigeria. Recently, I was caring for a patient from the same country, and my colleague and I worked together to ensure the patient's needs were being met. We arranged for the patient to call family back home and facilitated local friends bringing some familiar food to make the patient more comfortable. The patient's face lit up when I mentioned enjoying a popular dish from their culture. It's these small commonalities that can make a patient's day. When they know they have a nurse who is culturally competent and wants to accommodate their cultural needs, it goes a long way towards their recovery.

My biggest strategy or philosophy is maintaining an attitude of learning. When I am seeing a client, I love to learn from them. I encourage them to tell me what they're passionate about and about their culture and daily experiences. If I am unfamiliar with something they are talking about, I ask questions. I'll never be in my client's head, but by asking questions and not claiming to have all the answers, I feel I am better able to help them get to a better state of mental health.

I'm super comfortable and jazzed. Diversity is the spice of life!

This was a tough situation. I was caring for an 18-year-old woman who was very depressed and also newly pregnant. She did not wish to continue the pregnancy. I knew that time was of the essence, as abortion is only legal up to about 21 weeks gestation in Ohio. This patient was in the hospital for several weeks, even receiving ECT. However, nothing was being done by her treatment team to help her schedule or prepare for an abortion that she strongly desired. Finally, I had a frank conversation with this patient and asked if she wanted help reaching out to Planned Parenthood. We made a few calls, and ultimately, the patient was safely discharged to the care of a friend who was taking her straight to her Planned Parenthood appointment and subsequent abortion. I am really proud I was able to advocate for this young woman when she was in a dark place.

Young Adolescents (13-18yo), Older Adolescents to Adults (19 - 64yo), Oldies but Goodies (65yo+)

Mood Disorders (Depression, Bipolar), Thought Disorders (Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective), Anxiety Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Adult Psychiatry, LGBTQAI+ Care, BIPOC Care, Religious Trauma

When I was contemplating pursuing a career in psychiatric nursing, I came across the work of Madeleine Leininger, who was a nurse and anthropologist. She did excellent writing about transcultural nursing and caring for diverse groups of people. This really excited me - the prospect that I could combine two subjects that I really loved: anthropology and psychiatry.

I have a passion for travel and am always planning my next trip (maybe Japan this year?). One of my favorite things to do when I travel is collect art from the places I visit. I also like to bring home coffee beans -- though those don't last very long!

On a free day, I love trying new bakeries or coffee shops. Cappuccinos are my love language.

Recently, I have taken up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since my partner is passionate about it -- something we can do together. I'm still very new, but it's been a fun outlet.

I am the proud mama to a 6-month-old Hungarian Puli dog named Ziva. These dogs are sometimes known as mop dogs (so adorable). She hasn't grown into a little mop yet, but she will eventually have lovely dreads, and I can't wait. Ziva is a real hoot and probably the most agile dog I've ever seen. She keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing every day!

Hysterical! You have to laugh at life; it's a good coping skill and it's tons of fun.

Humor is an important part of my practice and the way I engage with clients.

No, but I'm adding it to my list. 🙂