International Health Humanities Network Membership

I am currently a full-time faculty member at the Columbia University School of Social Work. I have quite a lot of direct practice and research experience with individuals, families, and communities facing a wide range of issues including extremely difficult, potentially traumatic events and circumstances such as life threatening illness, death of a loved one, intimate partner violence, and disaster. I am an accomplished teacher, trainer, and group facilitator who consistently advocates for equity (e.g., social, economic, relational) and recognition of the inherent worth and strength of every individual and community. I am also an adept student with a deep appreciation for the opportunities I’ve been given and the many people I’ve learned from including those for whom I’ve been a professional service provider. I am a firm believer that despite the particular role or title one may be assigned in a given encounter (e.g. client, provider) meaningful goals are achieved only within the context of relationships built on shared trust and respect. In this regard, my work has always been inherently collaborative even if imperfectly so.  For example, while I believe the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired in the fields of social work and narrative medicine will be assets for recently planned research investigating creative arts interventions with older adults, so too will the unique experiences of my partners. Despite the challenges associated with “community-university partnerships”, including the negotiation of different cultures, expectations, and resources, I am convinced that collaborattive practice and research is an essential and just pathway toward improvements in health and well-being.