Community Leaders
Molly Field,
Nurse Practitioner
What was your path to mental healthcare?
During my college career I developed a keen understanding of and strong passion for mental health, which has drawn me towards opportunities that allowed me to explore this area. I struggled with an eating disorder and generalized anxiety during college, which affected every aspect of my life from my academics to my strongest relationships. Working to overcome these allowed me to become very familiar with the patient role and depth to which mental health issues can affect one's life, and I am now better able to empathize with people seeking mental health treatment. Beyond this, I understand that there is more to a patient than initially meets the eye, which allows me to communicate effectively and relate personally. One teen I worked with was a successful varsity athlete with supportive parents and a seemingly bright future; however, they struggled significantly with intense anxiety and chronic depression resulting in their withdrawal from school athletics. During their treatment we engaged in individual exercise sessions and spent time confronting some of their stressors in order to re-engage them in activities that added joy back into their life. These experiences, combined with my interest in the biology behind neurological disorders, have led me towards pursuing an advanced degree in psychiatry.
As a psychiatric provider, I hope to motivate patients in finding purpose when circumstances have stripped this away while integrating the biological, psychological, and social factors that play a role in their disorders. For so many of those pursuing or actively involved in healthcare, there is a driving motivation to find the 'right' answer and the exact cause of a problem in order to advise the proper solution. What pulls me towards psychiatry, however, is the ambiguity of the field and the complexity of each individual. Psychiatry urges people to look forward and learn to cope with the inevitable challenges in life rather than eradicate them altogether. Since starting my career, I've discovered that I can truly connect with and motivate individuals struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. The struggling teen mentioned above required a multifaceted approach including several treatment interventions focusing on both the biological and environmental nature of their diagnoses while exemplifying how human connection can be just as powerful as pharmacological intervention. Working with teens such as this one showed me what a gift it is to work with this population and their families by bringing a sense of hope and purpose to their lives.
How will this scholarship help you?
I have a true love for learning and look forward to continuing my education in pursuit of a doctoral degree in nursing. Continuing my education will give me the ability to give back to the communities that have helped me throughout life, and I would be extensively grateful and humbled by any financial help as I am paying for my education independently. I have made the decision to pursue an advanced degree in order to propel me further in my career and help position me in nurse leadership roles. Although this has an associated financial sacrifice, I am motivated by the ability to positively impact the community and the medical field. A scholarship such as this one would allow me to continue gathering the knowledge and connections needs to positively impact the world of psychiatry. I would be extensively grateful for this form of support and encouragement, as I better myself in order to better the world around me.
What are your academic and/or career goals?
I am currently in my first year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the psychiatric mental health track. 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 through continuously educating myself on the ever-evolving research and best practice guidelines. I am interested in becoming involved in various specialties within psychiatry and am exploring several options. Some areas that particularly interest me are the psychiatric treatment of children and adolescents, ketamine and psychedelic assisted therapy in the treatment of mental health disorders, athletics and mental health support in high-stress environments, and addressing health disparities in rural communities. By attending this conference, I hope to gain further insight into the current state of the science in psychiatric medicine. I am motivated to continue my education through various modalities and would be excited for the opportunity to connect with other leaders within the field.
What does “exceptional patient care” mean to you?
With a doctoral degree in nursing practice, I will gain a higher level of autonomy and responsibility within patient care. The responsibility is not only to care for each patient in terms of their medical ailment but to intentionally consider the role their personal experiences may play in the healthcare they receive and their overall quality of life. With this, exceptional patient care means involving myself in all aspects of healthcare that affect patients at various levels. As a doctorate level nurse, I hope to lead developments across the healthcare system at the clinical level and advocate for policy change to support the critical and evolving role of advanced practice providers. Continuing my education has allowed me to gain the ability to break down complex health care situations and acquire the skills to both consume and implement the knowledge of the ever-evolving research and best practice guidelines. As a future practitioner, I am aware of and desire to use the critical thinking skills required for this level of autonomy and to be held to a higher standard in practice by pursuing the highest clinically focused level of education in the discipline.