Employee Spotlight: Psychology Month!

Q 1. What is your job title?  

I am a GI psychologist, or in other words a psychologist who specializes in the psychological and social factors that play a role in chronic gastrointestinal illness.  

Q 2. What led you to working in your field?    

I have always been curious about the intentions and thoughts of others and through many serendipitous events, I ended up pursuing a degree is clinical psychology. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would become a psychologist, but it most definitely is a perfect complement to my curiosity.   

Q 3. What is the best advice that someone at the MUHC ever gave you?    

I had an old supervisor once tell me “speech is silver, silence is gold.” It took me many years before I fully understood this proverb but now as a psychologist, I recognize just how powerful listening can be. It is such an undervalued skill that can do so much good for us and others.   

Q 4. Tell us about working with your fellow colleagues.  

I am the only psychologist working amongst gastroenterologists and nurses in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinic. Each and every one of my colleagues brings a unique twist to our clinic that makes workdays fun.   

Q 5.  How do you like to relax and unwind after a shift?   

I am a black belt in Kyokushin karate, so much of my downtime is spent training. Movement has always been very therapeutic for me. However, if I am not training, I am curled up with a good book and a tea.