​Professional & Academic Projects
​As a subspecialty trainee at a major academic medical center, I regularly have the opportunity to learn about and present on, both, fundamental topics to my areas of focus, as well as niche topics that help to improve my knowledge and the knowledge of my team-members. Check out some of my most recent projects and talks!
This presentation was part of Northwestern's Controversies in Psychiatry lecture series, which was presented to psychiatry residents nearing the end of their training and explored how music is clinically provided, highlighted evidence for efficacy, and provided opportunity to discuss whether music should be a standard treatment adjunct for persons living with psychotic illness.
As a continuation of the independent research project, “Music and Psychosis,” this project is an opportunity to teach and share music with patients belonging to Northwestern Psychiatry’s Recovery from Early Psychosis Program (REPP). Working within REPPS's broader theoretical framework, the recovery model, this group focuses on sharing transferable musicianship skills, while also promoting social connectedness and growing confidence.
This presentation was created based on updated pathophysiologic and treatment guidelines for Alzheimer's, and the primary literary source was published in Lancet by Scheltens et al. This presentation was presented to Northwestern's Geriatric Psychiatry Department.
Within the context of our ever-evolving social landscape, modern psychiatric practices may be more likely to encounter individuals with diverse backgrounds and approaches to relationship-building. This presentation sought to provide an overview of polyamory and related forms of relational expression, as well as discuss approaches on how to more-effectively provide care to this population. It was presented to the residents of Northwestern Psychatry.
With advanced aging, the likelihood that one will need behavioral healthcare significantly increases. In addition, with age, body composition and, thusly, pharmacokinetics shift, and most older adults arrive with medical comorbidities, there are special considerations when it comes to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. This presentation was provided to Northwestern's Geriatric Psychiatry Department.
Presented here is an illustrative case of a 70-year-old female patient, who newly established in the outpatient psychiatry clinic. Therein is an exploration of the role of personality assessment as a means of expanding the differential and whether currently-available psychometric instruments should be clinically operationalized. This case also provided an opportunity to discuss the function of polypharmacy, borrowing from a well-established concept in the oncology literature: chemical coping, which is the conscious or unconscious seeking of emotional coping through use and misuse of prescribed medication.
As the older adult populations continue to expand and diversify faster than any other age cohort, there is a greater appreciation for that which is considered normal aging and what is a pathologic feature of one or more illnesses. With this improved understanding, there are emerging areas of research that will likely be built upon over coming decades. This review paper was based on a 2019 article in the Journal of Qualitative Research by Sinković & Towler. This was presented to Northwestern's Geriatric Psychiatry Department.
This talk highlighted the increased risk of mood disorder and neurocognitive changes following onset and progression of vascular disease. It also explored some epidemiology of this depression subtype and provided a treatment approach. This was presented to Northwestern's Geriatric Psychiatry Department.
As part of Northwestern Psychiatry’s Electroconvulsive Therapy certification program, this research presentation explored the inextricably bound histories of anesthesia and ECT, as well as reviewed current and emerging guidelines for tailoring ECT induction to individual patients’ needs.
