How did you discover your passion for what you do?

My parents inspired me to go into medicine. My mother, a teacher, and my father, a mechanic, instilled in me a wonderful mix of compassion, curiosity, engagement, and independence. In medical school, I was initially fearful of psychiatry and what I thought it represented; I am so glad I was proven wrong! Through working with people with mental illness, I have seen how much I take for granted, how much the unseen can completely ruin someone’s life, and how a diagnosis can be used as a pejorative label to marginalize groups of people. Fighting to restore mental wellness, peace and justice to my patients is an incredible, exciting honor.

What words of wisdom or advice do you live by?

Always choose compassion – for others and for yourself. Everyone is experiencing something unseen, and you are doing the best you can with the skills you have at any given point in time!

How do you make sure you stay connected with your professional network?

I have a group of mentors with whom I meet every few months. Recognizing that networking is lacking amongst members of our field, I am part of a group that is advocating for and providing education surrounding leadership and self-promotion amongst women in medicine.