A native Minnesotan, I grew up on the shores of Lake Superior before venturing as far as Wisconsin to pursue a liberal arts education at Lawrence University. After studying neuroscience and developing my awe of the mind, physiology, behavior and connectedness, I returned to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” and had a brief career as a mental health crisis practitioner, working in a short-term residential setting. I guided stabilization and supported change using motivational enhancement, cognitive-behavioral, dialectical-behavioral and solutions-focused approaches. Promoting the wellness of folks with psychiatric illnesses, I saw the benefit of not only therapeutic work, but psychotropic medications – and having seen my husband delve into medicine, I chose to join the journey to become a physician. I attended medical school at the University of Minnesota, finding time outside the lecture hall for The Healer’s Art, several student interest groups, running, yoga, pottery and good friends. My passion for social justice deepened and merged with my academic interests in primary care, including women’s health, mental health and urban underserved medicine. I pursued combined family practice-psychiatry training at the University of Cincinnati, where the urban community, as well as larger global community, are valued. My professional mission is to ease suffering and facilitate community. Colorado Permanente Medical Group offered me an opportunity to practice medicine in an integrated system while expanding access to psychiatric care. My husband now practices family medicine at the Hidden Lake Medical Offices. Colorado is quickly becoming home with family, friends and the opportunity for an active lifestyle – even our two dogs (a Boston terrier and a bluetick coonhound) are feeling at home in the sunshine and high altitude.