I chose psychiatry because it sits at the intersection of science and human experience. I have long been interested in how the brain shapes the way we think, feel, relate, and navigate the world—and how those processes change over time, particularly during illness, stress, and major life transitions.

I earned my medical degree from the Western University of Health Sciences and completed my psychiatry residency at the University of Cincinnati, where I served as Chief Resident. I then pursued fellowship training in geriatric psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati, followed by advanced training in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at Duke University. This training strengthened my appreciation for complexity and for the ways aging, cognition, medical illness, and mental health are often closely interconnected. 

I began my faculty career at the University of Cincinnati, where I cared for patients across inpatient, consult-liaison, and ECT services while also teaching and mentoring medical trainees. I later returned to my hometown of Seattle to work at a large healthcare system, providing inpatient psychiatric consultations and implementing a collaborative care model that integrates mental health services into primary care clinics. Working in these varied settings reinforced the importance of careful evaluation, sound clinical judgment, and understanding each patient within their broader medical and personal context.

After relocating to Salt Lake City, I joined the faculty at the University of Utah, where I founded and served as Medical Director of the Outpatient Geriatric Psychiatry Clinic to expand access to care for older adults with dementia and complex medical needs. I also worked within a neurobehavioral program caring for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, intellectual disabilities, genetic disorders, and brain injuries.  These roles further shaped my commitment to whole-person care, especially for patients with layered medical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges. 

More recently, I practiced as an outpatient psychiatrist within the faculty practice at UCLA Health.  Over the course of my career, these experiences have deepened both my clinical expertise and my dedication to this work.  I was honored to be named a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a designation recognizing sustained contributions to the field, clinical excellence, and professional leadership.   

At the heart of it, I find my work to be deeply meaningful as it allows me to walk alongside patients during moments that are often vulnerable, complicated, and profoundly personal. Supporting individuals on their mental health journey towards healing and a greater sense of well-being is both rewarding and humbling, and reinforces my commitment to continuing this work.