Biography

I grew up in the Minneapolis, Minnesota metropolitan area and participated in many extracurricular activities along with being a two sport high school letterman in baseball and football. I earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a chemistry minor from Duke University (a top 25 university in the U.S. News and World Report) in Durham, North Carolina. While at Duke, I was a national competitor in collegiate ballroom dance.

During my time at Duke, I decided to study medicine and worked with children as a certified nursing assistant on the pediatric unit of Duke University Hospital. Following college, I moved to Chicago, Illinois, to attend Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine (a top 25 medical school in the U.S. News and World Report). While in medical school, I searched for a field that would allow me to spend time with my clients, get to know them and their families and watch them grow and heal. Psychiatry was an obvious choice allowing me to work with families across the lifespan and work closely and collaboratively with people. During medical school, I also participated in the Jewish Medical Ethics program from the New England Institute of Jewish Studies in New York City.

After receiving my M.D., I was accepted into a five year combined adult, child and adolescent residency program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC), (regularly a top 10 psychiatric program in the U.S. News and World Report) a part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). I was trained under the guidance of many of the top researchers and authors of the national treatment guidelines in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry in comprehensive evaluation, psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

During my five years of psychiatry residency and fellowship, I received comprehensive training in the use of evidence based treatments using psychiatric medication from toddlers to geriatrics in all varieties of psychiatric illness. My goal is to alleviate bothersome symptoms, maintain emotional stability and health while monitoring for adverse effects of such treatments.

I also trained in many psychotherapeutic techniques with clients ranging from babies to great grandparents. I took course work at the psychoanalytic institute, sat on the WPIC psychotherapy training committee and performed psychotherapy research.  I have expertise in evidenced based treatments such as crisis/emergency management, supportive therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), interpersonal therapy (IPT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, parent management training (PMT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), play/art therapy and mental training for enhanced performance. The integration of these therapies allows for a personalized tailor-made therapeutic approach to address my clients’ needs.

Pittsburgh also provided me the opportunity to train with international experts in the field of concussion. I have trained with the neuropsychologists who created the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) used by the NFL, NHL and many universities and high schools around the country. I was trained as a certified ImPACT provider and have had extensive training in the treatment of those with post concussive syndrome and psychiatric illness following concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.

During my training, I have developed a special interest in the treatment of adult, child and adolescent mood disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post concussive syndrome and anxiety disorders. I also enjoy my work with professional, collegiate and high school athletes in the treatment of psychiatric illness as well as performance enhancement for those who desire to improve their mental game.

Education is another strong interest of mine. I have presented to psychiatrists, psychologists, trainees, physical therapists, athletic trainers, undergraduates, doctoral psychologists students, medical students, parents, teachers and others on topics including post concussion mental health, sports and psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psycho-pharmacology, youth violence and private practice.

I live in southern New Jersey outside of Philadelphia. I moved to the Marlton area in order to be closer to my extended family in Monmouth County, New Jersey and Long Island, New York. I look forward to bringing the knowledge and expertise I have learned from the experts in Pittsburgh east to the greater Philadelphia area.

For more information about me please read my curriculum vitae. Thank you for visiting my website. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.