My background is a unique one among faculty in a School of Dentistry. My terminal degree is a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. I gained additional expertise in Health/Medical Psychology during my Internship year (University of Florida Health Sciences) and dentistry during Postdoctoral Fellowship in the treatment of Orofacial Pain (University of Kentucky). 

More unique perhaps, is that prior to pursuing my Clinical Psychology doctoral training, my master’s degree in physical education and two American College of Sports Medicine Certifications (Health Fitness Instructor, Exercise Test Technologist) prepared me to work in the areas of exercise science, fitness and physical rehabilitation. Working with patients in a hospital affiliated wellness center and, subsequently, chronic pain rehabilitation solidified my enthusiasm for working in interprofessional team-based healthcare as a Behavioral Scientist. 

I regard myself as first and foremost as an Educator. Whether I am working with patients or learners, at the heart of my roles in any of these settings, is my commitment to teaching and training. Over time, I have garnered extensive experience in training learners and professionals across myriad healthcare settings. I have served as a training director in psychology training programs, medical residency programs and now, dentistry. In addition, I have an integrated an empirically supported knowledge base regarding the impact of burnout, well-being and resilience into training of healthcare professionals as a professional and ethical imperative.