My Commitment to Mental Health Care
I am deeply committed to understanding and addressing the root causes of mental health challenges.
My nursing career began in 2007 as a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse at The Children’s Hospital Montefiore in the Bronx. While working, I returned to school at Columbia University to further my education and became a Family Nurse Practitioner. After graduating, I transitioned to a nurse practitioner role at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in 2011, where I spent over a decade caring for adults with sickle cell disease.
During my time at Mount Sinai, I noticed many patients had unmet mental health care needs, which inspired me to return to school at Adelphi University, where I earned an Advanced Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health. I also completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice at Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Science in Healthcare Delivery Leadership at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. I have completed a fellowship in integrative psychiatry from Psychiatry Redefined and coursework in functional medicine from The Institute for Functional Medicine. While I’ve spent many years in school, I’ve learned the most from my patients, who struggle with a variety of conditions I am trained to treat.
Transition to Private Practice
In 2023, I began working full-time as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in private practice. What I love about psychiatry is the genuine connection I get to make with my patients. As much as I help them heal, they help me heal, too. I approach each patient with the philosophy that we are both doing our best, and I am there to support their growth.
My Personal Journey
My own journey has not been straightforward. I grew up in rural Washington State and, as an adolescent, I struggled with depression. I encountered deep existential doubt that seemed overwhelming. Fortunately, the darkness lifted, but that journey to the edge of despair was a gift because it gives me empathy for others who are suffering.
Life Beyond Work
As a young adult, I moved to the East Coast for college, crossing the country a few times before finally settling in New York City in 2000. For 20 years, I called New York City home before moving to the suburbs. I am a mother of an adult son and a nearly teenage daughter. I am married and our family shares our home with two Bernese Mountain dogs, Nella and Sammy.
I embrace life as a journey, and messiness doesn’t scare me. Each day, I am excited to log on to my computer and meet new and returning patients. I love helping my patients rediscover hope and meaning in their lives.
