Profile
I am originally from Ohio, where I attended the University of Dayton and then The Ohio State University College of Medicine. At UD I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and graduated summa cum laude. At The Ohio State University College of Medicine, I became fascinated and intrigued by the mind and by how people’s stories shape their realities and their lives. It was during my third year of medical school that I decided that helping those with mental illness was what was most interesting and rewarding to me.
After medical school, I completed my internship and residency at Duke University Medical Center. During my psychiatry residency, I decided to merge my love of science with my interest in people’s stories by becoming a psychiatrist who not only prescribes medication but who also provides therapy. I was able to do this by opening my own practice in Cary, NC in 2000.
After residency, I also worked at The Durham Center, the community mental health center that served the residents of Durham County. At The Durham Center, I enjoyed working as a member of a team of mental health professionals that included social workers, case managers, and psychologists. Together we collaborated on treating those with a variety of diagnoses, including those with severe and persistent mental illness.
I have also completed Intensive Training through Behavioral Tech in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a form of evidence based therapy that teaches people how to be more mindful in their lives so that they can more effectively regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, and more effectively interact with others so that they can engage in meaningful relationships and build lives worth living. I have seen DBT change people’s lives, and I feel honored to be able to introduce others to this form of therapy.
I am board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and maintain my certification with ongoing continuing medical education.