Innovators
Erik Dolgoff,
Student
What was your path to mental healthcare?
The pathway from being a patient to a provider of services in the mental healthcare space for a justice-impacted individual took many years and several steps. After seeking and engaging in treatment, after the loss of my mother due to a drug overdose, I began to take the necessary steps to change the trajectory of my life. During this process, I received support and guidance from a range of professionals. Looking back, I see now that I was quite privileged. As I progressed in my recovery, I become interested in pursuing a career in the mental healthcare field and received an advanced degree from Vanderbilt University. However, I have continued my studies now at Penn State University. Along the way, I have engaged in advocacy efforts around the country to improve access to treatment and support for individuals in recovery, particularly those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system and those currently enrolled in higher education.
How will this scholarship help you?
A conference scholarship could provide significant benefits to an individual such as myself, who now helps not only people in recovery from SUDs but also several colleges in setting up their programs to support students in recovery. Attending a conference would allow me to stay up-to-date on the latest research and trends in the mental healthcare space, and provide opportunities for professional development and networking with other experts in the field. This can ultimately help me better serve future clients and the community, and contribute to improving the quality of care and support available to justice-impacted individuals in or seeking recovery. A scholarship could help remove the financial barriers to attending this conference, which can be especially important for individuals, like me, who are working in under-resourced communities.
What are your academic and/or career goals?
As a doctoral student in recovery, I have a keen interest in understanding the factors that contribute to addiction and the processes involved in recovery. By pursuing academic research in this area, I hope to improve our understanding of addiction and recovery and develop new and innovative approaches to treatment. My current studies include analyzing the factor structure of recovery capital amongst different groups using the BARC10 and predicting engagement of recovery services using the data from the Faces and Voices of Recovery.
Furthermore, 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.
Overall, the academic or career goals of individuals in long-term recovery from SUDs could significantly impact the population in the United States, particularly in improving access to treatment, reducing stigma, and promoting policies that support recovery.
What does “exceptional patient care” mean to you?
Exceptional patient care in the mental health field means providing compassionate, evidence-based, and personalized treatment to support the well-being and recovery of individuals with mental health issues. This includes creating a safe and supportive environment for patients, developing a comprehensive treatment plan that meets their unique needs, engaging in ongoing assessment and monitoring of their progress, and empowering them to be active participants in their care. It also involves advocating for patients' rights and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure continuity of care. Ultimately, exceptional patient care in mental health is about treating the whole person and promoting their overall health and quality of life.