I was born and raised in Cleveland. I attended Muskingum College where I received a Liberal Arts education. I attended Queen’s University for Medical School and McGill University for Family Medicine Residency. At the Jewish General Hospital, I focused on behavioural sciences and adolescent mental health. I was directly supervised by two psychologists and did electives in clinical behavioural sciences. My husband and I came to Port Colborne in 1993 to work with two retiring physicians.
I initially provided care for my Family Practice patients which included mental health care, obstetrics, in-hospital care and house calls. The scope of this practice changed over the years. I closed my Family Practice in April 2020. I completed my diploma in Clinical Behavioural Sciences at McMaster University in 2002. I have been an Assistant Part-Time Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster since 2004. I have supervised psychiatry residents in Interpersonal Psychotherapy and was a Longitudinal Facilitator for Professional Competencies. I am currently Co-Chair of Professional Competencies at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University.
I have been providing mental health care to the community, initially through a Community Clinic in the 1990’s at the Port Colborne Site of Niagara Health, and now specifically for patients with eating disorders through the Niagara Eating Disorder Outpatient Program (NEDOP). I am the Physician Lead in a multi-disciplinary team at NEDOP and have had many students of different disciplines over the years. I received my General Practice (GP) Focused Practice Designation in GP Psychotherapy in April 2021. I provide mental health care to the patients at Niagara South Family Medicine. Community service is also important to me. I was on the Board of Women’s Place of South Niagara for several years. When I am not providing care, I enjoy my family, friends and multiple activities. My main activities are watching sports, rowing, running, reading and art.