This year is different for me as most of my time is now dedicated to doing fMRI research on people at high risk for psychiatric disorder. The rest of my time is dedicated to my clinic and performing duties as chief of the Clinical Evaluation Center (CEC) at McLean. Within my clinic I have chosen to take on many first-episode psychosis patients by working with the first-episode clinic. Through this clinic I have been able to focus on the initial work up and management of first episode patients. As chief of the CEC, I teach and supervise PGY-1s and PGY-2s on the initial evaluation of patients that come to the hospital.
Clinically I am interested in first episode patients and through residency have been able to work in both the McLean and MGH first episode clinics as well as the Freedom Trail clinic seeing more chronically psychotic patients. Through these opportunities I have learned about the intricacies of working with psychotic patients including choosing a medication, using clozapine, performing CBT for psychosis, and working with family. I like first episode patients because I believe that early intervention can change a patient’s trajectory. This leads me to my research interest in at-risk populations. I am interested in using imaging to examine those at risk for psychiatric disorders including depression and schizophrenia. I am currently focusing on those with a family history of depression and schizophrenia by looking at fMRI social markers and attachment style as a sign of vulnerability. To further my research knowledge I am taking a certificate in biostatistics course. Next year I plan to do a research fellowship to further my research knowledge and support a research career.
I am originally from a small town in west Michigan. I stayed in Michigan for undergrad (Michigan State University) and medical school (Wayne State University) before heading out east for residency. For fun I like to go out to eat, as there are lots of great restaurants in Boston. Otherwise I enjoy visiting many of the small towns along the New England coast.
