Innovators
Michael Flowers, Psych DO
Exceptional patient care is taking the time to listen to a story. Storytelling helps us make sense of our story and our life. This will expose me to new information and fresh perspectives and the opportunity to learn from other people's stories. Knowledge comes from books, but wisdom more often comes from listening to others with more experience tell their stories. Ultimately, I would like to integrate that wisdom into my own practice.
Learn More
Erik Dolgoff, Student
I hope to improve understanding of addiction and recovery and develop new and innovative approaches to treatment. I remain passionate about advocating for policy changes that could help to reduce the harm caused by addiction, and improve access to treatment for those in need. By working as an advocate, I intend to raise awareness of addiction-related issues and promote policies that support recovery.
Learn More
Pearl Rucker, Nurse Practitioner
My career goals include opening a psychiatric practice that focuses on wellness and balance. I also plan to develop a start-up course for new psychiatric nurse practitioners to guide them as they begin their careers. My academic goal is to complete my DNP at Chatham University and teach at a University in their masters or DNP program online part-time.
Learn More
Jamie Soroka, Advanced Practice Nurse
To me, exceptional patient care means the patient receives the best possible treatment while under my supervision. I consider the patient's goals, fears, motivation for treatment, culture, and financial status. I am honest, considerate, and unbiased. I will do everything within my scope of practice to help patients reach their goals. I want the patient to feel heard and know I am doing everything capable to improve their mental health.
Learn More
Ashleigh Williams, Student
Exceptional patient care means actively showing you value and care about your patients to understand their health and well-being goals. The patient must know that you are a person who cares about their pain and experiences, which promotes a more comfortable and transparent interaction and understanding of their concerns and history. This can help you figure out when you're thinking about a solution that will help them grow and meet their needs.
Learn More
Caitlyn Fitzgerald , Psych MD
I hope that one day I can be the medical director of my own adolescent substance use treatment center, as treatment for youth is so sparse yet so desperately needed. I would also love to become more involved in the psychopharmacology and clinical research behind addiction treatment so that I can gain the insight and experience necessary to speak on such topics at national conferences like Psych Congress Elevate.
Learn More
David Masolak , Psych MD
This scholarship will give me the ability to gain knowledge in areas of psychiatry that may not be covered in as much depth during my residency training. My goal is to become a fully independent well-rounded psychiatrist. By having the opportunity to listen to and rub shoulders with leaders in the field, I hope to follow in their footsteps. If I am to improve and add to the field of psychiatry, it is vital for me to understand all the basics and building blocks first!
Learn MoreEmerging Voices
Cathleen Chen, Psych DO
My goal is to work with young adults and help them through difficult transition periods in their lives. I see myself working in college mental health, either on a college campus, or as an outpatient provider caring for this population. I am also interested in psychosomatic medicine and the intersection between psychiatric illnesses and chronic medical illnesses. I would like to continue teaching in academic settings as I find it rewarding to educate the next generation of physicians, while increasing my own knowledge base.
Learn More
Renard Walker , Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care to me is making a patient feel their best even when they may be at their worst. It is an ongoing therapeutic relationship that requires self-reflection, because without self-awareness, we cannot truly be present to provide excellent patient care for our patients. This is something that I try to embody with every patient encounter and when I know I cannot, I take breaks, because patients do not deserve any lesser quality of care because of our bad days.
Learn More
Amy Talley , Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional care simply means providing the most effective, evidence based medicine to every patient, every time. Exceptional care in mental health requires empathy, understanding and patience.
Learn MoreTrail Blazers
Meaghan Wilson, Fellow
Exceptional patient care occurs when patients and providers are in alignment. They need to be able to collaborate to identify treatment goals, to develop a treatment plan, and the pivot as needs change or new ones arise. This requires rapport and good communication between provider and patient, with other providers on the treatment team, and with collateral contacts. Patients should feel empowered that their concerns are being heard and are being addressed in an appropriate manner.
Learn More
Timothy Stead, Physician Assistant
It is my goal to strive towards providing patient accessibility, affordability, and patient-centered care in my future career. Every patient with mental healthcare concerns is entitled to a proper psychiatric evaluation and current, evidence-based, practice principles. In working to make the specialty accessible, affordable, and patient centered, I believe patients will receive exceptional care.
Learn More
Jessica Cummings, Nurse Practitioner
Overall, my goal is to help increase the access to psychiatric care to individuals and use a holistic approach. I have a keen interest in enteric neurology and the impacts of diet and overall total wellness on the psyche of individuals and would love to incorporate this into my practice. Additionally, I am interested in EMDR and trauma therapy, as well as the treatment of eating disorders.
Learn More
LaQuel Pressley, Resident
Exceptional patient care means treating my patients with the care and concern that I would a member of my family. This includes educating, counseling, finding the best options for them, and listening to them. I know that this will take time and that our current healthcare systems aren't always set up to allow for this time, so that is why staying educated, updated, and informed will help me achieve this.
Learn More
Alison Aveson, Nurse Practitioner
My goal is to begin working on a Native American reservation as a future psychiatric nurse practitioner. Native Americans face a higher risk of healthcare inequities, and sadly, reservations have fewer providers, which means they have to travel a greater distance to receive care, and often times they do not have access to transportation. I believe the Native American community still lacks a cultural understanding of mental health, and I want to be able to provide education, and reduce stigma or discrimination, all while delivering exceptional care.
Learn More
Jennifer Russo, Resident
Exceptional patient care means patient centered care and empathy, of course, but it is so much more. I think it's important to be a relatable provider. Patients are revealing their darkest thoughts and need to feel safe to do so. Also, advocacy is crucial to combat mental illness stigma.
Learn More
Ashley Mitcham, Nurse Practitioner
I feel that one of the greatest opportunities we have as providers lies in our ability to connect with others who share a common goal. Each individual brings strengths that will help move the world of mental health forward. Networking with others and recognizing my own weaknesses is always a goal I strive for, along with maintaining an open mind. I notice that the times I maintained an open, inquisitive mindset, I was led to the most impactful, meaningful, and incredible experiences.
Learn MoreBreakout Thinkers
Stephane Degraff, Psych MD
To me, exceptional patient care is not only to meet our patients' expectations, but also to foster a partnership with them, and empower them with knowledge so they can be active stakeholders in their own care. It is to respect every patient's cultural background, to continue being curious, but respectful and understanding, to always keep the patients' best interests in mind and at heart, and to advocate for them as a member of their multidisciplinary providers group.
Learn More
Tristan Reed, Advanced Practice Nurse
I am looking to execute research on how patient provider matching could enhance retention and patient satisfaction rates in outpatient psychiatry. My goal is help bridge the gap between stigma and mental wellness in my community, specifically amongst minority populations. Ultimately, I would love to teach help hospital systems create fellowships to best onboard new professionals in psychiatry in a more structured way.
Learn More
Fred Brevard Jr. , Psych MD
Exceptional patient care to me means working diligently to offer and provide the highest level of services to a client and their support system. This requires to have the best interest of the client in mind and respect what their individual goals are and identify realistic approaches to achieve them.
Learn MoreCommunity Leaders
Paige Stodtmeister, Nurse Practitioner
My aspiration is to advocate for and provide mental health services for children and adolescents with diverse issues. I plan to work with youth in the juvenile justice system. My goal is to break down barriers impeding access to appropriate mental health services by offering in-depth comprehensive mental health assessments and screenings. I also intend to incorporate family education and caretaker support for this population. It is my hope that families and communities will see our youth with increased understanding and compassion, enabling them to reach their potential. My personal mission is to build up communities by providing opportunities that unite, empower, and strengthen vulnerable individuals.
Learn More
Evana Yates, Nurse Practitioner
It is my desire to help mitigate the heavy demands of the healthcare system, relieve the burden of access to care, provide a broad range of treatment options to address neurologic and psychologic aspects of a patient's injury and thereby improve health outcomes. I plan to work in an under-served, rural community in Tennessee, where there is a lack of mental health care and neurologic expertise. By having a local clinic in this community, it will improve access to psychiatric and neurologic care while raising the overall health status of the community.
Learn More
Whitney Trotter, Nurse Practitioner
Many hospitals and resources in communities of color lack providers of color who are trauma-informed. The desire to serve underrepresented communities who are impacted by weight stigma, eating disorders, and trafficking really launched me into my path for mental health. There are so many connections between mental health and medical care and I want to be able to bridge the gap.
Learn More
Brandy Colvin, Nurse Practitioner
My career goal is to provide patient-centered and compassionate care to those with mental health disorders. I live in a rural state with a high suicide rate compared to the nation. The high numbers are associated with a lack of providers and a tendency for residents who are suffering to do so in silence due to continued misunderstanding and stigma associated with mental illness. I aim to work within the communities both as an advocate for mental health and as a change-maker within the workings of government to promote programs.
Learn More
Molly Field, Nurse Practitioner
My goal as a psychiatric provider is to help address the mental health crisis that plagues all areas of the country, especially rural communities. I hope to work with disadvantaged communities to support them with high quality patient care by continuously educating myself on the ever-evolving research and best practice guidelines.
Learn More
Kali Dove, Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care means providing empathy, compassion, therapeutic communication, and holistic care to meet the needs of the patient. It not only means that I provide safe, effective, and patient-centered care, but also that the care and services I provide improve quality of life and are positively meaningful.
Learn More
Bronwen Voetelink, Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care means that I get to know my patients really well and consider all that they have going on in their life when we make a plan of care together. I view our relationship as a team and I use my knowledge to guide the best care that I can. It feels like putting together a puzzle with the patient and trying to create the best puzzle possible.
Learn MoreVisionaries
David Leonard, Nurse Practitioner
It is exciting to learn about the vast differences in others personal experiences, culture, and identity, and to incorporate these differences into individualized care. It is essential because providing exceptional care extends far beyond only a biological understanding of humans. It extends beyond accurate diagnosis and competent prescribing. I am committed as a provider to seeing every person as a unique individual and creating an understanding and welcoming relationship that is respectful and acknowledges all the individual qualities that make up a person.
Learn More
Fernando Rodriguez Vega, Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care means care that follows best practices and includes the patient's needs and values. Taking an equal partnership with the patient in their own care creates a dynamic where the patient is an active participant, allowing them to feel involved, more likely to follow the treatment plan, and open to bringing up any issues or concerns they might have. This is incredibly true in all fields of healthcare but especially mental health where treatment adherence can be difficult.
Learn More
Sarah McKnight, Nurse Practitioner
This scholarship will help me to develop myself as a professional in mental health through additional learning opportunities. Psych Congress Elevate will provide me with the exposure to cutting edge research and its integration into practice. As a student, this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to gain insight and appreciation for the unique contributions of the different specialties to our shared field.
Learn MoreMeet the 2022 Scholars
Inspiring Individuals Making Waves in the Field of Mental Healthcare
Select a section to see the Inspiring Individuals you should know about
Innovators
Innovators
Michael Flowers, Psych DO
Exceptional patient care is taking the time to listen to a story. Storytelling helps us make sense of our story and our life. This will expose me to new information and fresh perspectives and the opportunity to learn from other people's stories. Knowledge comes from books, but wisdom more often comes from listening to others with more experience tell their stories. Ultimately, I would like to integrate that wisdom into my own practice.
Learn More
Erik Dolgoff, Student
I hope to improve understanding of addiction and recovery and develop new and innovative approaches to treatment. I remain passionate about advocating for policy changes that could help to reduce the harm caused by addiction, and improve access to treatment for those in need. By working as an advocate, I intend to raise awareness of addiction-related issues and promote policies that support recovery.
Learn More
Pearl Rucker, Nurse Practitioner
My career goals include opening a psychiatric practice that focuses on wellness and balance. I also plan to develop a start-up course for new psychiatric nurse practitioners to guide them as they begin their careers. My academic goal is to complete my DNP at Chatham University and teach at a University in their masters or DNP program online part-time.
Learn More
Jamie Soroka, Advanced Practice Nurse
To me, exceptional patient care means the patient receives the best possible treatment while under my supervision. I consider the patient's goals, fears, motivation for treatment, culture, and financial status. I am honest, considerate, and unbiased. I will do everything within my scope of practice to help patients reach their goals. I want the patient to feel heard and know I am doing everything capable to improve their mental health.
Learn More
Ashleigh Williams, Student
Exceptional patient care means actively showing you value and care about your patients to understand their health and well-being goals. The patient must know that you are a person who cares about their pain and experiences, which promotes a more comfortable and transparent interaction and understanding of their concerns and history. This can help you figure out when you're thinking about a solution that will help them grow and meet their needs.
Learn MoreEmerging Voices
Emerging Voices
Cathleen Chen, Psych DO
My goal is to work with young adults and help them through difficult transition periods in their lives. I see myself working in college mental health, either on a college campus, or as an outpatient provider caring for this population. I am also interested in psychosomatic medicine and the intersection between psychiatric illnesses and chronic medical illnesses. I would like to continue teaching in academic settings as I find it rewarding to educate the next generation of physicians, while increasing my own knowledge base.
Learn More
Caitlyn Fitzgerald , Psych MD
I hope that one day I can be the medical director of my own adolescent substance use treatment center, as treatment for youth is so sparse yet so desperately needed. I would also love to become more involved in the psychopharmacology and clinical research behind addiction treatment so that I can gain the insight and experience necessary to speak on such topics at national conferences like Psych Congress Elevate.
Learn More
David Masolak , Psych MD
This scholarship will give me the ability to gain knowledge in areas of psychiatry that may not be covered in as much depth during my residency training. My goal is to become a fully independent well-rounded psychiatrist. By having the opportunity to listen to and rub shoulders with leaders in the field, I hope to follow in their footsteps. If I am to improve and add to the field of psychiatry, it is vital for me to understand all the basics and building blocks first!
Learn More
Renard Walker , Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care to me is making a patient feel their best even when they may be at their worst. It is an ongoing therapeutic relationship that requires self-reflection, because without self-awareness, we cannot truly be present to provide excellent patient care for our patients. This is something that I try to embody with every patient encounter and when I know I cannot, I take breaks, because patients do not deserve any lesser quality of care because of our bad days.
Learn More
Amy Talley , Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional care simply means providing the most effective, evidence based medicine to every patient, every time. Exceptional care in mental health requires empathy, understanding and patience.
Learn MoreTrail Blazers
Trail Blazers
Meaghan Wilson, Fellow
Exceptional patient care occurs when patients and providers are in alignment. They need to be able to collaborate to identify treatment goals, to develop a treatment plan, and the pivot as needs change or new ones arise. This requires rapport and good communication between provider and patient, with other providers on the treatment team, and with collateral contacts. Patients should feel empowered that their concerns are being heard and are being addressed in an appropriate manner.
Learn More
Timothy Stead, Physician Assistant
It is my goal to strive towards providing patient accessibility, affordability, and patient-centered care in my future career. Every patient with mental healthcare concerns is entitled to a proper psychiatric evaluation and current, evidence-based, practice principles. In working to make the specialty accessible, affordable, and patient centered, I believe patients will receive exceptional care.
Learn More
Jessica Cummings, Nurse Practitioner
Overall, my goal is to help increase the access to psychiatric care to individuals and use a holistic approach. I have a keen interest in enteric neurology and the impacts of diet and overall total wellness on the psyche of individuals and would love to incorporate this into my practice. Additionally, I am interested in EMDR and trauma therapy, as well as the treatment of eating disorders.
Learn More
LaQuel Pressley, Resident
Exceptional patient care means treating my patients with the care and concern that I would a member of my family. This includes educating, counseling, finding the best options for them, and listening to them. I know that this will take time and that our current healthcare systems aren't always set up to allow for this time, so that is why staying educated, updated, and informed will help me achieve this.
Learn More
Alison Aveson, Nurse Practitioner
My goal is to begin working on a Native American reservation as a future psychiatric nurse practitioner. Native Americans face a higher risk of healthcare inequities, and sadly, reservations have fewer providers, which means they have to travel a greater distance to receive care, and often times they do not have access to transportation. I believe the Native American community still lacks a cultural understanding of mental health, and I want to be able to provide education, and reduce stigma or discrimination, all while delivering exceptional care.
Learn MoreBreakout Thinkers
Breakout Thinkers
Stephane Degraff, Psych MD
To me, exceptional patient care is not only to meet our patients' expectations, but also to foster a partnership with them, and empower them with knowledge so they can be active stakeholders in their own care. It is to respect every patient's cultural background, to continue being curious, but respectful and understanding, to always keep the patients' best interests in mind and at heart, and to advocate for them as a member of their multidisciplinary providers group.
Learn More
Jennifer Russo, Resident
Exceptional patient care means patient centered care and empathy, of course, but it is so much more. I think it's important to be a relatable provider. Patients are revealing their darkest thoughts and need to feel safe to do so. Also, advocacy is crucial to combat mental illness stigma.
Learn More
Ashley Mitcham, Nurse Practitioner
I feel that one of the greatest opportunities we have as providers lies in our ability to connect with others who share a common goal. Each individual brings strengths that will help move the world of mental health forward. Networking with others and recognizing my own weaknesses is always a goal I strive for, along with maintaining an open mind. I notice that the times I maintained an open, inquisitive mindset, I was led to the most impactful, meaningful, and incredible experiences.
Learn More
Tristan Reed, Advanced Practice Nurse
I am looking to execute research on how patient provider matching could enhance retention and patient satisfaction rates in outpatient psychiatry. My goal is help bridge the gap between stigma and mental wellness in my community, specifically amongst minority populations. Ultimately, I would love to teach help hospital systems create fellowships to best onboard new professionals in psychiatry in a more structured way.
Learn More
Fred Brevard Jr. , Psych MD
Exceptional patient care to me means working diligently to offer and provide the highest level of services to a client and their support system. This requires to have the best interest of the client in mind and respect what their individual goals are and identify realistic approaches to achieve them.
Learn MoreCommunity Leaders
Community Leaders
Paige Stodtmeister, Nurse Practitioner
My aspiration is to advocate for and provide mental health services for children and adolescents with diverse issues. I plan to work with youth in the juvenile justice system. My goal is to break down barriers impeding access to appropriate mental health services by offering in-depth comprehensive mental health assessments and screenings. I also intend to incorporate family education and caretaker support for this population. It is my hope that families and communities will see our youth with increased understanding and compassion, enabling them to reach their potential. My personal mission is to build up communities by providing opportunities that unite, empower, and strengthen vulnerable individuals.
Learn More
Evana Yates, Nurse Practitioner
It is my desire to help mitigate the heavy demands of the healthcare system, relieve the burden of access to care, provide a broad range of treatment options to address neurologic and psychologic aspects of a patient's injury and thereby improve health outcomes. I plan to work in an under-served, rural community in Tennessee, where there is a lack of mental health care and neurologic expertise. By having a local clinic in this community, it will improve access to psychiatric and neurologic care while raising the overall health status of the community.
Learn More
Whitney Trotter, Nurse Practitioner
Many hospitals and resources in communities of color lack providers of color who are trauma-informed. The desire to serve underrepresented communities who are impacted by weight stigma, eating disorders, and trafficking really launched me into my path for mental health. There are so many connections between mental health and medical care and I want to be able to bridge the gap.
Learn More
Brandy Colvin, Nurse Practitioner
My career goal is to provide patient-centered and compassionate care to those with mental health disorders. I live in a rural state with a high suicide rate compared to the nation. The high numbers are associated with a lack of providers and a tendency for residents who are suffering to do so in silence due to continued misunderstanding and stigma associated with mental illness. I aim to work within the communities both as an advocate for mental health and as a change-maker within the workings of government to promote programs.
Learn More
Molly Field, Nurse Practitioner
My goal as a psychiatric provider is to help address the mental health crisis that plagues all areas of the country, especially rural communities. I hope to work with disadvantaged communities to support them with high quality patient care by continuously educating myself on the ever-evolving research and best practice guidelines.
Learn MoreVisionaries
Visionaries
David Leonard, Nurse Practitioner
It is exciting to learn about the vast differences in others personal experiences, culture, and identity, and to incorporate these differences into individualized care. It is essential because providing exceptional care extends far beyond only a biological understanding of humans. It extends beyond accurate diagnosis and competent prescribing. I am committed as a provider to seeing every person as a unique individual and creating an understanding and welcoming relationship that is respectful and acknowledges all the individual qualities that make up a person.
Learn More
Kali Dove, Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care means providing empathy, compassion, therapeutic communication, and holistic care to meet the needs of the patient. It not only means that I provide safe, effective, and patient-centered care, but also that the care and services I provide improve quality of life and are positively meaningful.
Learn More
Bronwen Voetelink, Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care means that I get to know my patients really well and consider all that they have going on in their life when we make a plan of care together. I view our relationship as a team and I use my knowledge to guide the best care that I can. It feels like putting together a puzzle with the patient and trying to create the best puzzle possible.
Learn More
Fernando Rodriguez Vega, Nurse Practitioner
Exceptional patient care means care that follows best practices and includes the patient's needs and values. Taking an equal partnership with the patient in their own care creates a dynamic where the patient is an active participant, allowing them to feel involved, more likely to follow the treatment plan, and open to bringing up any issues or concerns they might have. This is incredibly true in all fields of healthcare but especially mental health where treatment adherence can be difficult.
Learn More
Sarah McKnight, Nurse Practitioner
This scholarship will help me to develop myself as a professional in mental health through additional learning opportunities. Psych Congress Elevate will provide me with the exposure to cutting edge research and its integration into practice. As a student, this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to gain insight and appreciation for the unique contributions of the different specialties to our shared field.
Learn More
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