Areas of Expertise
- Treatment of psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, evaluation and management of psychiatric emergencies
Education
- B.A. in psychology, Bridgewater State University (1997)
- M.A. in clinical psychology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- MSN in psychiatric mental health nursing, Northeastern University
- DNP, UMass Chan Medical School (2023)
What's My Why?
I was born and raised in southeastern Massachusetts, where I have devoted more than 30 years to a career in mental health. Through sustained engagement with a wide range of community-based services that support individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders, I have developed the capacity to provide comprehensive, patient- and family-centered care, deliver education to families and support systems, and cultivate a robust network of professional and academic collaborators. It is my enduring commitment to offer high-quality, patient-centered psychiatric care in the community in which I live. As a psychiatric nurse educator and clinician, I strive to foster an environment characterized by professional excellence, ethical practice and compassionate engagement. My lifelong professional aim is to confront and dismantle the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders while advancing equitable access to care for all individuals.
Professional Experience
In addition to my academic appointment at Salve, I maintain a clinical practice as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in a private practice setting. My professional experience encompasses a broad range of community mental health contexts, including ambulatory care centers, emergency psychiatric services and community outreach teams, in which I have served as both a clinician and advanced practice nurse. I have also held roles as an attending provider in psychiatric inpatient facilities, with responsibilities that include conducting and overseeing inpatient psychiatric admissions. I am an active member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, national organizations dedicated to advancing psychiatric-mental health and addiction care through education, research and clinical practice. In addition, I have contributed to graduate and postgraduate education by delivering in-service presentations on psychiatric medication management for the Ph.D. fellowship program at the UMass Chan Medical School.