From an early age, I have been deeply interested in people, science, and the natural world. My path to psychiatry was not a linear one, but each step helped shape the physician I am today.
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I completed my undergraduate studies at Boston University, where I pursued an interdisciplinary course of study in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Philosophy, and Psychology. After graduating, I worked for several years as a laboratory assistant in an immunology research lab. While I valued the scientific rigor of this work, I found myself wanting to engage more directly with people and to use science in a way that could meaningfully improve individual lives.
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This led me to pursue medical training at Albany Medical College, where I earned my medical degree in May 2011. I chose psychiatry as my specialty because I was drawn to people’s stories, the complexity of the human mind, and my own personal experiences of struggle and growth.
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After medical school, I moved to Boston to complete my residency training in General Adult Psychiatry. During residency, I had the opportunity to learn from a wide range of exceptional physicians and therapists across diverse clinical settings. I developed a particular interest in psychotherapy and trauma-informed care, working with patients at Boston Medical Center, the Boston VA, the Bedford VA, and the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights. I also attended seminars and conferences led by leaders in the field, including trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk.
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In my final year of residency, I completed an outpatient elective at the Danielsen Institute, where I learned to thoughtfully integrate spiritual and existential dimensions of the human experience into psychotherapy. I also trained with the Women’s Stress Disorder Treatment Teams (WSDTTs) at the Jamaica Plain VA, using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to treat cisgender and transgender women veterans with complex trauma.
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During residency, I began working extensively with individuals struggling with substance use disorders, using a combination of medications, Motivational Interviewing, and harm-reduction approaches. Drawn to the compassion and effectiveness of these models, I pursued additional training through a one-year Addiction Psychiatry Fellowshipat Boston Medical Center and the Boston VA. At the same time, I completed a one-year fellowship with the Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute, deepening my understanding of psychodynamic psychotherapy.
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In 2015, I joined the staff at the Boston VA Medical Center as an outpatient psychiatrist and served as an Instructor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. In 2018, I returned to the Capital Region and joined the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center as an outpatient psychiatrist. I also became a member of the faculty at Albany Medical College, where I served as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and later as Site Director for psychiatry residents. I worked in these roles until August 2024.
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In September 2024, I transitioned to a solo private practice. This is not a side project, but a deliberate and meaningful professional choice. I have created a part-time, sustainable practice that allows me to be fully present with my patients while also honoring my own health and family life. I believe this balance is essential to longevity in clinical work and ultimately allows me to be a more grounded, attentive, and effective clinician.
Alongside my formal training in psychiatry and psychotherapy, I completed an Integrative Psychiatry Fellowship through Psychiatry Redefined in January 2026, deepening my ability to thoughtfully integrate biological, psychological, social, and lifestyle-based approaches to care. This work is further informed by over 20 years of personal practice in yoga and mindfulness meditation, which shape how I bring mind–body awareness, nervous system attunement, and present-moment attention into treatment.
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I am certified in Deep Play for Kids, a mindfulness and yoga program designed to help children develop emotional regulation, body awareness, and self-compassion through movement and play. I have also completed Let Your Yoga Dance training, which blends yoga, music, and freeform expressive movement to support physical vitality and emotional well-being. I currently teach Let Your Yoga Dance for Kids classes monthly at the local public library, offering a welcoming space for children and their caregivers to move, connect, and cultivate joy together.
