IDEATE Fellows

Alicia Stavros is a Master of Social Work graduate student. She is currently employed at Kennedy Krieger Institute in the Center for Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment Department where she works in a collaborative effort with the clinicians and patients. She also has been able to complete her practicum placement at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Within her practicum placement she has completed the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) training program which prepares trainees to work in a interdisciplinary training to enhance the clinical expertise and leadership skills of professionals dedicated to caring for individuals with neurodevelopmental and other related developmental disabilities (DD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), across their lifespan.

Her previous practicum placement in the Spina Bifida Outpatient department has allowed her to gain in-depth knowledge and allowed her to effectively work in an integrated health care setting. This fall she will intern in the Inpatient Rehabilitation department to further these skills that will align with her current goals as a medical social worker. She hopes her experiences will lead to building connections and constructive engagements within her IDEATE term.

Natalie Abrishamian is a dedicated student in the field of Psychology. She has had the privilege of working with diverse populations, including underprivileged families, individuals experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care. These experiences have deepened her understanding of the complex socio-economic factors that influence well-being and have fueled her passion for advocating for social justice and equity.

Natalie is particularly interested in working with marginalized communities, focusing on trauma-informed care and mental health services. Her approach emphasizes empathy, active listening, and empowerment, ensuring that clients feel heard and valued.

From the IDEATE experience and integrated healthcare, Natalie hopes to gain a comprehensive understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. Natalie brings a strong sense of compassion, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning to this program. Her ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and dedication to advocacy will add significant value to the IDEATE program and the broader field of integrated healthcare.

Megan has had the experience of working with outpatient substance use disorder, research-based experience working with older adults, as well as having the role of an academic coach at the Academic Learning and Writing Center.

Megan is open to gaining a greater understanding of all populations, however, working with children as well as young adults is of most interest to her. She hopes to gain some real hands-on experience within the hospital setting of social work.

Megan is eager to learn as much as she can in the IDEATE program. She is confident that she will learn to practice professional conversations with clients which will enhance her overall understanding.

Margaret chose to work in Social Work because of her desire to help others. Her skill set is well-suited to the profession: she is empathetic, a strong listener, disciplined and collaborative. To date, Margaret’s experience in the field of Social Work has been very positive. She excelled in her classes and Practicum, where she was asked to continue as an employee after Practicum ended.

Margaret’s work in an addiction rehabilitation center provided her with a well-rounded experience that exposed her to clinical work and case management in a collaborative environment. She is passionate about working with children, adolescents and emerging adults who have not had the privilege of ongoing medical and therapeutic intervention.

The IDEATE fellowship will provide her with the opportunity to hone her skills and learn many new ones. Margaret has had many roles in her lifetime as a caregiver that have deepened her empathy and desire to care for and help others. Her life experience and strong belief in the power of early intervention makes this a field in which she can have a positive impact. Through the IDEATE fellowship, she looks forward to delivering care to clients using a holistic and collaborative approach.

Jamese’s experience as a social worker has taught her that presence is cultivated through mindfulness in even the smallest moments. This means being fully engaged and attentive in every interaction, no matter how brief or routine. Practicing mindfulness involves not only being aware of the present moment but also recognizing the significance of each exchange with clients.

Jamese is particularly interested in working with children, especially in hospital or school settings. By working in these environments, she aims to create supportive and empowering spaces where children can thrive despite their challenges. Her goal is to integrate compassionate care with practical support to foster resilience and promote positive outcomes.

From the IDEATE experience, she hopes to gain insights and skills that will enhance her ability to provide effective and compassionate support. Jamese is confident that her attributes, empathy and compassion, strong communication skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, problem-solving and innovation, adaptability and flexibility, commitment to continuous learning, organizational skills, and cultural competence will enable her to contribute positively to the IDEATE experience and integrated healthcare.

Keshia has been a nurse at the bedside of patients for 15 years. She has loved every moment, even through the recent adversities our health case system has faced with COVID. She embraces the challenges, relishes the good times and plans for her future in nursing.

Keshia is interested in working with underserved and minority populations dealing with mental illness. Her goal is to provide the much needed assistance that these communities so desperately need.

During her IDEATE experience Keshia hopes to enhance her skills in developing comprehensive care models and better understand how to integrate mental health care with social services.

Keshia’s extensive clinical experience, empathy, and ability to work effectively under pressure will contribute to this experience. She is committed to continuous learning and improving the care provided to those with mental health conditions.

Brittany has been working for a large healthcare enterprise for the last 5+ years. Her clinical experience includes her first field practicum at a residential and day program agency, where she served as a Behavior Intervention Specialist for adult survivors of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Brittany uses an evidence-based, person-centered approach. She has experienced her primary interest in the adult TBI population, and she is excited to experience the adolescent substance use population in the Fall.

Brittany admires IDEATE’s awareness that care for an individual involves a diverse team of dedicated professionals. Areas of specialty exist for a reason, and she would describe integrating medical and social aspects of an individual as top-tier care.

Brittany’s natural patience, understanding, empathy, critical thinking, thirst for learning and emphasis on clear communication will help to best support her clients. Pairing those attributes, her work experience, and what she will learn in the IDEATE program will open the door for many opportunities.

Juliana has gained extensive experience in social work, particularly within the mental health field. Her background includes working with individuals experiencing various mental health challenges, such as personality disorders, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. This hands-on experience has provided her with a greater understanding of the emotional and psychological needs of others.

Juliana is especially interested in working with children and adolescents, as she is passionate about supporting their emotional and psychological development. As an educator and yoga instructor, she believes that integrating therapeutic practices such as yoga and mindfulness can be particularly beneficial for children and adolescents, helping them to manage stress and develop resilience.

Through the IDEATE program, Juliana hopes to expand her understanding of behavioral healthcare and explore innovative approaches to mental health for young populations.

The combination of her social work experience, along with her skills in education and yoga, allows her to offer a creative and compassionate approach to mental health care. She is excited to contribute her expertise and learn from others through this program.

Tameka is interested in providing care to women who belong to an ethnically diverse population, whose voices are often unheard when it comes to managing chronic care. She hopes to learn on the different approaches for providing care to adolescents with social and mental health issues who will be accessing adult care more urgently for episodic care.

Tameka has experience incorporating mental health and physical well being. The recent pandemic has shifted her focus to concentrate on well-being, and continue to choose between staying healthy and putting off self care to pursue other priorities. She believes this is what shapes the outcome for wellness resources and the ability for clients to participate in their own health.

Tameka will bring her rich diverse experience in managing adults with multiple chronicities, with proud accomplishments for having brought essential services to some of NYCs most vulnerable population during the pandemic. Through leadership and clinical management, able to build teams and help lead designs on projects that matter.

Alyssa’s experience practicing Social Work has been very fruitful thus far in her academic and career journey. While studying for her bachelor’s degree, she was able to intern at two inspirational organizations, doing great work with vulnerable populations.

Alyssa has been able to expand her knowledge and apply it in various fields like child welfare and work with victims of sexual violence. She has been extremely grateful for the experience and education she has been given, which has led to where she plans to practice today.

Through her internship experience in foster care, work experience at a special needs preschool, and volunteer experience as a camp counselor, Alyssa has discovered her passion for working with and for children. Now, as she continues her education and internship experience studying for her Master’s Degree, she hopes to expand her knowledge on working with this population. Through IDEATE, Alyssa believes she will gain a unique perspective to propel her towards her future career as a social worker. Her next internship will be at a hospital doing therapy with kids, and she plans to incorporate everything she learns from IDEATE into her practice skills there.

Although it has been limited thus far, Blake’s experience in the field of Social Work has been quite fruitful. Apart from his schooling, interning with Commonpoint Queens at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village through Adelphi University’s Practicum program felt like it was his first significant dive into the field.

Interacting with his clients and the broader student body was meaningful, especially with those Blake had the largest impact on. The supervision he received from both of his former task managers and supervisor was helpful during his time in high school.

Blake will also take what he learned from their guidance into the future, as it has made him a better social worker. Working with adolescents was satisfying for Blake, strengthening his desire to work with the population. This played a significant role in his decision to join IDEATE because, in this fellowship, we must work with clients who are under the age of 18.

In IDEATE, Blake hopes to gain more experience and sharpen his social work abilities. He is excited to get started at his second placement, starting in the Fall. Blake is hard-working and driven, as he strives to become a better social worker to serve the youth more effectively and to make the most of his IDEATE experience.

After graduating from Queens College, George started working as a peer counselor for a mental health agency in Manhattan. Soon afterwards, he was promoted to the case manager position within the company and decided to attain his graduate degree in order to pursue managerial positions within the social work field.

The areas of study that are of most concern to George are those of mental health and substance abuse, as he would also like to address the issue of homelessness and help that population as well.

What George hopes to gain from the IDEATE experience and integrated healthcare is to become a more well rounded and qualified social worker and clinician. Starting out as a peer counselor within the mental health system approximately ten years ago, he has seen mental health care take on many changes over the years.

George is excited and happy to be a part of the positive and beneficial change that is coming to the health care system through IDEATE. The attributes that he sees in himself that will add value to this experience are that he prides himself on being kind and empathic to all different types of people who need care and help. He also has a strong work ethic as he actually enjoys giving his best efforts to the organization that he is working for and the people that he is serving.

Sarah has been practicing as a Nurse Practitioner for the past 18 years. She loves learning and growing as a person and as a professional. One of the most important medications she prescribes is Suboxone. At first, prescribing this medication was very scary and difficult, but once she saw how it helped clients remain off opiates, she felt extremely rewarded.

Sarah is most interested in the care of clients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Clients with SUD and comorbidities often have difficulty accessing care, especially the uninsured. In response to these barriers, her practice developed a “zero cost” program to ensure each client being treated has a complete health assessment annually.

Sarah hopes to gain insight from the IDEATE experience by using the interdisciplinary approach to provide support to the underserved. Her goal is to help broaden and pool the resources available for long term meaningful changes.
The attributes Sarah sees in herself that can add significant value to the IDEATE experience is her care and empathy. She understands clients are hesitant to seek help, especially the uninsured and she tries to ensure that she provides a safe environment. With increased education from the IDEATE team, she can help others achieve wellness.

Barbara’s journey in nursing began after graduating from Adelphi as an RN and working in critical care nursing at St. Francis Hospital followed by oncology nursing at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at which time she became a family nurse practitioner (FNP). She has spent the last 20 years working in an OB GYN private practice where she developed a very large and dedicated following. It has been an honor to be there for women of all ages in times of crisis as well as joy. Being there to ease suffering,educate, guide, diagnose, treat, listen, care, and offer support has been one of the most gratifying and fulfilling experiences in her life and hard to fully express in words.

Barbara chose to embark on the IDEATE fellowship in the psychiatric mental health (PMHNP) post master’s certificate program with the hope that she may in some way make a difference earlier in the trajectory of one’s life so they may live more fully to their own individual potential and aspirations. She is grateful and excited to be chosen as an IDEATE fellow and given this unique opportunity to collaborate with the social work department to learn how we may achieve greater patient outcomes together in partnership which will further strengthen our alliance with patients in the clinical setting.

Yulissa’s journey in the field of nursing has been both extensive and deeply rewarding. With a Master of Science in Nursing from Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing at CUNY and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University, she has garnered significant experience, particularly in gerontology, multiple sclerosis and addiction medicine.

Currently, Yulissa serves as a Nurse Practitioner in various capacities, including house calls, hospitalist and outpatient MAT/ OTP clinics, where she provides comprehensive care and education to diverse patient populations.
Yulissa is particularly interested in integrated behavioral healthcare for children, adolescents, and transitional youth, with backgrounds such as Autism, substance use disorder, and migrant trauma. Through the IDEATE fellowship, she hopes to deepen her understanding of integrated healthcare systems and develop innovative strategies for delivering mental health services to disadvantaged children and youth.

Yulissa believes her bilingual abilities, aid in delivering a culturally sensitive and holistic approach to the care of adolescent children needing mental health and my commitment to addressing healthcare disparities will add significant value to the IDEATE experience and contribute to the program’s goals.

Alisha’s experience thus far in Social Work has been an eye-opening experience. She has seen and learned so many new parts of life and struggle from a different lens. The population Alisha is most interested in working with includes substance abuse and psychiatric clients. She hopes to gain experience with adolescents in the IDEATE and integrated healthcare to see how this plays a role in their everyday life and be able to make a difference early on. Some of the attributes she sees in herself that will add value to this experience includes being a first-generation student and having dealt with anxiety herself. Alisha has been described as outgoing and friendly which she hopes will allow her to build trust and rapport with her clients.

Natasha is a non-traditional student pursuing a career change to the social work field. Her experience with the SUNY COIL Global Commons Program which integrates one of The United Nations’; Sustainable Development Goals, Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG3),in its curriculum contributed to her decision.

Natasha’s choice of focus within the curriculum was Child and Family Mental Health, an area in which she is deeply interested in. Too often, vulnerable populations are without a voice, undervalued, disregarded, and disempowered. Being a member of a marginalized group, she can personally relate to cultural complexities. Natasha’s experience in the Global Commons Program was invaluable,as she strengthened her understanding of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the interdependency between mental and physical wellness. In particular, the impact of a person’s finances on these two factors.

Recently, Natasha completed an internship at the Crisis Text Line agency. She served a diverse population, including adolescents, who were experiencing distress such as self-harm, suicidality, anxiety, depression, grief, and PTSD. As an IDEATE fellow, Natasha is excited to acquire and enhance her knowledge of holistic and innovative counseling approaches as she participates on an interprofessional team.

Lench has voluntarily devoted 14 years of her existence to the Nursing profession and within that time she has served a wide range of the underserved population through her employment at the largest municipal not-for-profit organization located in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Lench functions in the role of a psychiatric Nurse Administrator working along with Mobile Crisis teams where they provide de-escalation and relief to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis whether they are at home, work, school, or in the community. These individuals that she is advocating for are victims of human trafficking, homeless people, veterans, and members of the LGBT+Q community.

She is most interested in working with the LGBTQ+ youth because they often face factors like rejection, bullying, discrimination, and violence, they are at a higher risk of challenges including depression, anxiety, and attempting suicide.

From the IDEATE experience and integrated healthcare Lench is thrilled at the opportunity to provide trauma-informed support and forge deeper connections with diverse communities. Her proclivity for distributing kindness and my creative drive are the valuable traits that I possess that are essential to this experience.

Kims’ experience in the field of Social work has truly been amazing and eye opening. She is particularly interested in working with children and adolescents, especially those facing mental health challenges, trauma and family-related issues. She is also very interested in studying the impact of socioeconomic factors on children and adolescents development and finding effective interventions.

Through the IDEATE fellowship, Kim hopes to gain a deeper understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration and how healthcare professionals can work together to provide comprehensive care for children and adolescents. She is also eager to learn more about integrated approaches of treatment that tackle both the physical and mental health needs of children/adolescents.

KimI believes her empathy, and passion for people will add value to this experience. Her ability to connect with children and adolescents will enable her to build relationships with clients.

Thus far, Jenna has had a very positive experience in the field of social work. She has learned a plethora of information that she can use both in the field of social work but also in her interactions with other individuals.

Jenna’s practicum placement during her generalist year allowed her to better understand the field of social work and learn from experienced individuals in the field. The cognitive-behavioral model interests her the most. Working with adolescents interests her the most using this model due to their ability and eagerness to learn daily. Helping them understand why they may be feeling a certain way gives her a sense of purpose.

Jenna hopes to better understand how working for a larger organization, such as Northwell, differs from a smaller-scale organization like the one she interned for prior. She considers herself a very hardworking and dedicated individual which could contribute to the team effort of this experience.

Jenna also thinks her willingness to take on any task will be helpful and allow her to succeed. She has a passion for helping individuals who are struggling with different aspects of life.

Patricia has worked as a family nurse practitioner for patients of all ages in multiple underserved, culturally diverse communities of Nassau County over the past 20 years. She has found that with working with these populations, she could make the most impact which she found to be most rewarding.

Throughout Patricia’s nursing career she has focused on patients’ physical health, but came to realize that patients’ mental health and physical health go hand in hand and both should be equally addressed. Due to this determination, she is currently enrolled in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner post masters certificate program at Adelphi University. She believes that this PMHNP education will prepare her to help her patients with their mental health needs, greatly enhancing the services that she would be able to provide them.

Patricia’s goal is to be able to treat “the whole patient” both physically and mentally, which would create better outcomes. She hopes that my involvement with the IDEATE fellowship will provide her with opportunities, new ideas and strategies that can be utilized to facilitate positive change for the patients that she has the opportunity to help. Patricia believes that she is a hardworking, goal-oriented team player with many years of nursing experience in various settings who will be an asset to the program.

Anthony’s experience in the field of Nursing has been both challenging and fulfilling. Caring for patients with complex medical conditions, often involving high acuity and multiple comorbidities, has provided him with a robust foundation for handling intricate and demanding cases. This experience has not only honed his clinical skills but also deepened his empathy and understanding of the struggles that patients and their families face.

Anthony firmly believes that a practitioner should be versatile and prepared to serve all patient populations. This broad approach ensures that we can meet the diverse needs of the community and provide holistic care that addresses the unique challenges of each individual.

From the IDEATE experience and integrated healthcare, Anthony hopes to gain a broader understanding of the psychiatric needs of pediatric populations. He is eager to develop a specialized skill set that will enable him to effectively serve this vulnerable group, ensuring they receive the comprehensive care they deserve.

Anthony believes his attributes—patience, inquisitiveness, and compassion—will add significant value to this experience. These qualities enable him to connect with patients, continuously seek knowledge, and provide care that is both empathetic and evidence-based.

Long before they knew anything about integrated behavioral healthcare, Lee had a passion for patient safety. They trained in family centered patient advocacy, attended lectures on the topic of patient safety, and wanted to find a way to help bridge the gap in communication between medical teams and patients.

The opportunity to take part in this fellowship has shown Lee that the types of positions they are most interested in are out there, and the changes in healthcare that they believe are important are happening. Lee started my studies in social work after many other seemingly unrelated careers and a varied work history. The connection between each has been their deep passion for understanding the mind, humanity, and the systems within which we live.

From Lee’s background in art history and their Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography, to their career in massage therapy, and even their work in auto insurance, Lee is interested in how the various spheres of society and the individual intersect and influence each other.

Lee is passionate about helping people improve their healthcare outcomes, supporting people who are working through major life changes and traumatic events, and aiding people who are working through issues that hold them back from being the best version of themselves. Lee is excited and grateful to have the opportunity to be an IDEATE fellow, so that they can deepen their understanding of integrated behavioral healthcare and propel their career forward in this important and growing field.

Vianey’s experience in Social Work has fueled her dedication and compassion, alongside a profound commitment to fostering positive change in children, youths, families, adults, and communities. She has developed skills in addressing complex social issues and providing crucial support to those in need. Her background in Social Work has equipped her with competence in case management, care management, and community outreach.

Vianey has collaborated with various service providers to develop and implement service plans tailored to the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations. Her primary areas of interest include behavioral health, mental health, and child welfare. She values the client-centered approach for its ability to establish meaningful connections with patients seeking intervention and support.

Through the IDEATE fellowship, Vianey aims to provide impactful care to underserved communities and deepen her understanding of how social workers can effectively contribute to patient well-being. Her commitment to continuous learning and professional development reflects her desire to add values of empathy, resilience, and dedication to her work. Vianey strives to make a lasting impact on those she serves, embodying the true essence of social work.

Over the past thirty years Pauline has worked in numerous areas of nursing. She knows that all areas of nursing require providers who are empathetic, active listeners to provide effective, individualized, culturally, congruent care.

Pauline believes that young adults/ youth are our future. Not only do youths have to adopt, adjust, and navigate through physical and mental growth and development changes/challenges. In addition, they often struggle with gender identity, sexuality, and roles identification. The onus is on providers to provide safe spaces, foster supportive relationships, and provide access to resources for these youths.

Pauline is excited to initiate, facilitate, coordinate, and collaborate care to improve patient outcomes, and provide a broader array of services. She is an empathetic, resilient, advocate and provider/caregiver. She believes that empathy is one of the fundamental cores of nursing and it builds trust and rapport.

Colm is currently working two internships in child counseling centers, gaining valuable experience in supporting the mental health and well-being of young individuals. Previously, he worked for an environmental non-profit, leading groups focused on climate anxiety. This experience deepened his understanding of the impact of environmental issues on mental health and instilled in him a sense of purpose to make a positive difference. As a lifelong learner, Colm continually seeks ways to improve his skills and knowledge to better uplift and support those around hi,. Through his experiences, Colm has developed a strong passion for helping others. He is excited to continue growing and learning with like-minded individuals, and he is committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those he serves.

In her nursing career Tatiana has worked in several locations including neurology step-down unit, clinic, school, and homecare. Each of these roles has helped her understand the importance of caring for both the physical and emotional needs of patients.

Tatiana has provided specialized care to her, worked with families and staff, and focused on patient care and managing chronic conditions. Her experiences have helped her grow as a nurse and highlighted the importance of collaborative care with not only the doctors, but also the social workers to provide holistic care to the patients.

Tatiana is interested in working with individuals struggling with depression and/or addiction. This area of nursing is especially important because it involves a team approach that combines medical care, mental health support, and social services. She hopes to gain knowledge on how to effectively collaborate with the social worker and use evidence-based practices in order to provide well rounded care to her child and adolescent patients. Her ability to connect with patients and address their needs fully will contribute positively to the integrated healthcare approach.

Siu has 2 years of Nursing home experience, and 12 years of psychiatric outpatient experience. She is interested in outpatient psychiatric adult patients. Siu wants to learn more about children, teenagers, and young adults. It might help with her personal and professional growth since she doesn’t have any experience in the young adult population. Siu is a mother to two children ages 9 and 13 years old, and she believes this will add to her experience. Siu is excited to learn and grow in the IDEATE Fellowship Program.

Cally Issidoridis has had an impactful experience in social work thus far. Through her undergraduate career at SUNY Geneseo, she gained experience interning with the homeless veteran community in Rochester, conducting undergraduate research in a developmental psychopathology lab, and interning in the Title IX office of the university. Post-graduation, she taught English in a Madrid and collaborated with the school social worker for adolescents. Cally is currently doing her field placement at a clinic revolving around substance use disorders.
Through Cally’s experience, she took a liking to working with adults in the realm of substance use disorders but is gaining interest in transitional aged youth within an integrated healthcare setting. She hopes to increase her experience and knowledge base within this field through the IDEATE fellowship. Cally’s unconditional empathy and positive regard for others, compassion and past experiences will add value to this experience for her. She looks forward to growing in this field and being able to collaborate with other healthcare professionals in expanding her understanding of behavioral healthcare.

Victoria hopes to gain from IDEATE knowledge and insight into the underprivileged populations so she can tailor her work to better suit parties in need. She has worked as a life coach, using psychotherapy tactics, and providing a 1:1 service to her clients. This helped her clients understand who they were and where they want to be in life to optimize their journey to get there.
Victoria would love to work with all populations and embraces young adult population as they are open and enthusiastic about different approaches. She is an empathetic, sympathetic, open-minded person who will go out of her way for someone in need. Victoria is determined to make a world a better place and adapt to different situations to accomplish tasks presented to her.

I’ve been a nurse for 15 years. I started in Med/Surg Tele at Northwell Health, then transitioned to Level I Trauma Adults and Pediatrics emergency room, followed by various ICU positions. I am currently a Director of Nursing at an inpatient detoxification serving the SUD/AUD population. I love everything about nursing and have loved the flexibility of being able to be exposed to so many modalities. For me, I love being able to connect with individuals in a way that allows them to feel seen and heard. From the IDEATE experience, I’m hoping to foster a sense of community among my cohorts and to be able to glean and gather the social work perspective to collaborative care. I like to find unique solutions and use an outside the box thinking to troubleshoot an issue especially when the answer isn’t black and white. I believe I can see both the micro and macro view of an issue and how to approach a solution that has short and long-term gains.

My journey in the field of healthcare was marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. Over the years, my impact transcended the traditional boundaries of healthcare institutions. I play a pivotal role in advocating for the well-being of children with developmental, neurological, and complex medical needs. My commitment to young patients and efforts in collaborating with the school community, implementing safety measures, and spearheading health education initiatives are important as I advocate for their welfare.

My experience in the field of Social Work has given me opportunities to grow as a person and as a future social worker. I have worked with different populations and it has allowed me to address mental health issues, enhance the quality of life for many individuals, learn how to perform case management, and advocate for my clients. I enjoy learning about evidence-based practices and how to use them appropriately when working with my clients. During my time in the IDEATE program, I hope to see first hand how well integrated healthcare works because this approach can lead to better overall health outcomes and better coordination of care. I hope to use what I already know and apply it to my IDEATE experience.

So far, my experience in the School of Social Work has been incredibly informative. I have learned a lot about social work that I did not know before and I have had the opportunity to learn about various aspects of social work that interest me. I have found myself most interested in working with adolescents/young adults and most recently couples. While in this program, I hope to gain more confidence as a social worker and to develop and solidify new skills and relationships. Attributes in myself that I believe will add value to this experience are my curiosity and self-awareness because I am open and ready to learn and not afraid of critique as I feel it will only help me to improve.

For the past 4 years, I have been working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. My time in the PICU led me to further my education and go back to school to be a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Once I complete this degree, I want to continue helping and working with children, adolescents, and their families who are struggling with their mental health. I joined the IDEATE program to work collaboratively with social workers, help those in underserved populations, and gain more knowledge in my field of practice. I believe I am compassionate, dedicated, and a great team player, all attributes that I will continue to use to be a great practitioner.

From the IDEATE experience and integrated healthcare, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of effective collaboration among healthcare professionals and the ability to promote inclusive healthcare systems. I aim to learn about innovative strategies, research-based therapies, and interdisciplinary teamwork to enhance patient outcomes and improve care quality. I bring valuable attributes to this experience, including collaborative teamwork, effective communication, empathy, and a commitment to inclusivity. I believe in utilizing the collective expertise of a multidisciplinary team to develop comprehensive, person-centered care plans for the best outcomes.

My experiences in nursing include assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for pediatric, geriatric, hospice, and substance abuse patients. Providing nursing care to diverse, underserved patients suffering from addiction is of great interest to me. I’m hoping to learn new approaches and strategies through the integrated healthcare collaboration that the IDEATE experience will provide. I am hopeful that my determination, goodwill, and problem-solving skills will provide positive outcomes.

I am a non-traditional student, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. I have been working in the Human Services field for over 25 years. I am excited to learn more about the integrated health care approach and would like to work with children and families. After graduation I would like to work and then obtain my DSW on a part-time basis. Since being in the social work program I have evolved and am still evolving on a personal level. Social work has taught me to be open minded, non-judgmental, and empathetic.

I have extensive experience working with neurodivergent individuals in a variety of settings, in both micro and mezzo contexts. I hope to continue working with the neurodivergent population in the future. In terms of the IDEATE fellowship, I hope to learn more about the challenges faced by medically underserved communities, since in order to start figuring out how to solve a problem, we must be aware of it and knowledgeable about it. I hope to be part of a positive change by being both a lifelong learner and educator. I anticipate immense growth from the IDEATE fellowship, both personally and professionally, and I am excited for the many opportunities to increase the breadth of my knowledge. I value kindness and compassion. A motto which I try to follow in all aspects of my life is “do no harm”. I think that anyone entering the social work field should strive to make a positive impact.

Prior to graduating from Adelphi, I worked as a direct support professional (DSP), supporting and treating mentally and/or emotionally handicapped patients. I was part of a mental health team that included nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. Since graduating from Adelphi University’s Nursing Program in May 2020, I have been serving as a pediatric psychiatric nurse with the New York State Office of Mental Health facility in Jamaica, Queens. It is my goal in the future to work together with social workers to find the best path forward for our clients. There are so many ways to care for different patients and populations a professional needs to be open to learning as much as they can. Being exposed to others working in the mental health field with a different perspective is an amazing opportunity.

One of my goals is to improve the lack of diversity in the field of psychiatry. When it comes to African Americans and other ethnicities of color, I believe there is a lack of representation which at times can affect the patient-provider relationship. I would like to work towards filling this void as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who identifies as a male nurse of color. My experience as a nurse thus far has been very rewarding. I have worked on a Medical Surgical Telemetry unit, and I’m currently working as a psychiatric nurse on a psychiatric/medical inpatient unit. With this IDEATE experience, I hope to learn and expand my skills working with a collaborative team to be able to provide better patient outcomes.  I believe my experience of working with very diverse populations, educational backgrounds, and personal life experiences will bring added value to our cohort.

My experience so far with Social Work has been challenging but rewarding. I am interested in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. While with the IDEATE program, I hope to gain understanding, which I will be able to apply the techniques to my clients or patients. I believe my ability to show empathy will add value to the experience. I look forward to getting as much experience and knowledge as possible.

I have been a nurse for four years, but overall involved in the nursing field for nearly eight years. I have worked in the Neurosurgical ICU, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), and most recently in an outpatient substance abuse clinic. I am so thankful to be a part of the IDEATE fellowship to collaborate with social workers and be able to provide comprehensive care to our patients. I have an interest in working with women of color, especially adolescents, to be able to bridge the gap of resources available. I am excited to see how I grow in my professional development as both a PMHNP and a collaborative member of the mental health care team for future patients.

I have had many opportunities that have involved helping youth and working with the younger generation. Last year I took a course on policy within social work and it completely changed my track. My previous internship was at the Title IX office on campus and I was able to do social work in a different and macro setting. I learned the importance of policy and how policy can make an impact on people’s lives and can be a hindrance if not written with the right population in mind. I’ve also learned policy is no easy task; it must be thoroughly researched and carefully written. I hope to learn while in the IDEATE program how to conduct research correctly and effectively for the appropriate population.

I am excited to learn how to collaborate with social care specialists and other healthcare workers for this objective. I strive to also bring awareness to my Indo-Caribbean culture regarding mental illness with the hope of overcoming the stigmatization. I am a woman of color, and my ambition is for people to feel comfortable sharing their experiences with me. Coming from a marginalized community, I feel I am able to understand more than someone who could have had more opportunities in society. Having personal experience along with my empathic nature, I wish to provide some comfort and relatability to my clients. Currently, I work as a Nurse Practitioner at NYU, providing care for patients with multiple chronic conditions. I look forward to combining my individual and career experiences along with my academic coursework for the IDEATE fellowship.

Through the IDEATE experience, my primary goal is to acquire additional knowledge about healthcare and its intersection with social work. This experience will enable me to enhance my understanding of how social workers can contribute to the well-being of patients. Moreover, this opportunity will boost my self-assurance, empowering me to make a tangible difference in the lives of the individuals I serve. I possess certain qualities that will contribute significantly to this experience. One of these attributes is the ability to relate to patients through shared experiences. The challenges I have encountered have played a pivotal role in shaping me into the person I am today. Furthermore, I consider myself approachable and open-minded, which will enhance the value of this experience.

My background in social work includes more than fifteen years spent protecting children and the school community while working for the NYPD. I’d like to work with adults, kids, and teenagers. As a student seeking an MSW degree, I am eager to learn more about the integrated healthcare approach. Working with clients motivates and excites me and I am interested in working in clinical settings after graduation to continue developing my skills.

After working as a nurse practitioner in an outpatient cardiology office for a few years, I decided to transition to a different specialty where I would have the privilege of treating patients with a more holistic approach. In my career, I have seen many patients struggle with depression and anxiety whether or not from a trauma, a difficult diagnosis, and /or an inadequate support system. It is my hope that I can gain the skills in the IDEATE fellowship to provide impactful care to underserved communities. It is with compassion, enthusiasm, and working collaboratively with our colleagues from the school of social work, that there is so much to be gained from this unparalleled opportunity.

I have a BSN and have been working as an RN in an acute setting for about 16 years. I have experience in telemetry, medicine, surgery, psychiatry, mother and infant care, and nursing education, among other disciplines. I hold geriatric and medical surgery certifications from the ANCC. My professional objectives are to work with young people and those with substance use disorders. Additionally, improve access to healthcare in underserved communities with an emphasis on children, adolescents, and young people in transition. I have never worked in the field of social work or psychiatric nursing, so this partnership would be novel to me.

My return to Adelphi to become a PMHNP was inspired by my professional nursing experiences and by the shortage of mental health providers to meet the needs of the population. My passion is to provide person-centered and evidence-based mental health care in historically underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized communities. My experience as an IDEATE PMHNP fellow collaborating with social work fellows in integrated behavioral health settings caring for the youth will be immensely valuable to my professional development and work toward improving the health outcomes for individuals with mental illness through practice, education, research, and policy.

My experience as a social worker has been an emotional rollercoaster. Some days have been challenging, others have been extremely rewarding. As a social work intern providing clinical services to children ages 11-14 from underserved communities, I was able to adjust, apply, and impact the members of my community through clinical services, psychoeducation, and other clinical practices learned in my undergrad. Coming from an underserved community has given me the opportunity to experience firsthand the struggles within our marginalized and oppressed communities. With this opportunity, I hope to develop the tools and skills needed through this experience to assist those who come from where I come from. I also believe that representation matters and as an Afro-Latina, I hope that people feel as connected as possible to their healthcare, starting with someone who looks like them.

I have completed three internships thus far in my social work experience. From working with elementary school social workers to working in an all-women’s inpatient drug rehab to most recently completing my internship at an adult outpatient agency that assisted individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health challenges. I hope to gain more experience with different populations and broaden my horizons in the social work field while making new connections. I also hope to learn more about how closely associated nursing and social work occupations are, as we will be working hand and hand in this setting.

As an RN I have spent my career in the emergency department setting in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. My experience has been at level 1 trauma centers as well as small community hospitals. I have been inspired to create a positive change in our local communities in response to all I have learned; primarily regarding the needs of each community as it relates to the ongoing opioid crisis on Long Island. Entering this next phase of my career my focus is providing care in a private setting for those who suffer from substance use disorder. I hope to gain an understanding of how to deliver competent, collaborative care with the social work team. This is important because many of my patients will have complex social and economic complications as the result of their substance use disorder. I have a deep desire to work with this population because my life has been directly impacted by this epidemic. My empathy and desire to help those afflicted are attributes I feel will add value to this experience.

My professional goals are to work with adolescents and the substance use population. I believe that this fellowship relates to my personal goals because my professional goals coincide with the goals of this program, which is to increase access to healthcare in communities of need with a focus on children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth. The collaboration between social work and psychiatric nursing is important in the clinical field and having the opportunity to work alongside social workers while still in the academic setting will allow me to better develop skills that I will utilize in the future.

I am really interested in working both with veterans and children. I have never had experiences with these patients prior and have always had a desire to learn more as they are a vulnerable population. What I hope to take away from the IDEATE experience is how collaborative care plays a role in patient care. The IDEATE team experience combines both social workers and nurse practitioners in a unique integrated behavioral setting which will allow me to better understand the services we can offer to patients. I love working as a team but I am also a leader. I feel as though I am knowledgeable, compassionate, and motivated to learn.

Working as a nurse in the field of psychiatry has put me in a position to work directly with social workers on a daily basis. I work side by side with them to meet patient needs and anticipate their needs upon discharge. A majority of my time as a nurse has been working with the geriatric population, and also the population I have had the most experience working alongside social workers to assist. I have always wanted to work with the veteran population and am currently getting the great opportunity to do so. I hope that with my IDEATE experience I gain a better understanding of the capabilities of social workers and it enhances my ability to bring care to our patients in the future. I have a heartfelt drive to improve the lives of my patients in lasting ways. I am in no way idealistic but I know that even small changes can have wonderful positive impacts on people’s lives, and I am confident that with teamwork and ingenuity we can make it happen.

One of the things that captivated me about the IDEATE fellowship was the collaboration of social workers and healthcare professionals in behavioral and mental health settings. I value the different perspectives of working professionals and feel that this plays a significant role in effectively serving clients’ needs and also helps me grow as a professional. Learning about the many components of mental health and learning how to apply them in practice through various interventions is what I love most about this field. One interesting fact about myself is that I love music. Whether it is singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or writing poetry; I wish to incorporate these methods of creative expression into my practice someday.

I have worked two internships while studying in the field of Social Work and my experience has been incredibly rewarding. I have a passion for helping others to reach their true potential. My goal after graduation is to work with children and adolescents in the school or hospital setting. Through IDEATE, I hope to gain both the skills to pursue my goals and gain lifelong connections with others in the field. I am passionate, empathetic, and a team player, I will put forth everything I have to make a difference.

I have been a staff nurse for over 8 years and have worked in several health care institutions. I have worked with inmates in the forensic setting and have been working in the inpatient psychiatry and psych emergency department for over five years. Most of my career so far has been serving in underserved communities. I choose to do so because of the inequities in healthcare, where a huge percentage of the population have been marginalized because of their socioeconomic status. The IDEATE  fellowship program is an ideal program for collaboration and extensive knowledge sharing with other health care disciplines to better serve the underserved population. I am astute, dedicated, passionate, and committed to patient care, patient satisfaction and facilitating better outcomes.

I graduated from Adelphi University’s undergraduate nursing program in December 2020, and have been working as a Registered Nurse on a Critical Care Step Down Unit since March of 2021. I also worked as a nursing assistant during the COVID-19 pandemic while finishing the last year of my BSN. I hope to gain the knowledge and experience it takes to be a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by working in interdisciplinary teams to provide patients with the care they need. I hope to provide not only medical help, but to act as a support system and an advocate for each patient I come across. I hope to learn how the different parts of the health care systems come together in order to provide behavioral health care to individuals across the lifespan in underserved communities. I believe that I have a strong ability to learn, help, and make a difference in each patient’s life. I am driven and give my all to each situation in order to produce the best outcome for each individual.

My experience of 26 years in the Nursing field has been challenging, rewarding, and flexible. It has taught me to become an effective practitioner while implementing evidence-based practice care for clients.  I continue to use the ADPIE process in my daily client encounters.  In addition, the Nursing field has provided me with several opportunities for advancement and career growth.  I am still happy that I chose this career path. I hope to learn and become a competent, comprehensive, clinician in assessing, diagnosing, and treating adolescents and children from the IDEATE experience and integrated healthcare. The attributes I see in myself that add value to this experience are: strong problem solver, critical thinker, my determination, I’m caring, organized, dependable, and flexible.

I have enjoyed the MSW program at Adelphi. I hope to learn integrated behavioral healthcare, which will prepare me for my future as a social worker with clients. I am respectful, determined, punctual and have a pleasant disposition when dealing with individuals in a public/private setting.

I would welcome the opportunity of assisting the economically disenfranchised within underserved communities. My motivation towards this goal stems from my passion towards the change I would like to see made with the health disparities found within our underserved Communities.  This program will assist me to selflessly serve the needs of those who live within the margins of society. It will require me to truly understand those with whom I will interact, by demonstrating love and concern for their needs. These values will be necessary for my practice as a social worker.

The field of social work has allowed me to bring together my unique interests and passions, such as recreation and adventure therapy, to support adolescents in their growth and development. My experience in this helping field so far has been challenging, rewarding, and inspiring. I hope to learn more about evidence-based practices, and breaking down barriers in the systems of care to increase equitable access to quality behavioral healthcare. I firmly believe in the power of play in forming connections and facilitating growth, especially when working with adolescent clients and their families. In my work, I am able to effectively balance creativity with structure, play with professionalism, and flexibility with organization and attention to detail. I have held leadership roles which allow me to be an effective team member, and I maintain a growth-oriented mindset. 

My experience in Social Work has allowed me to explore the helper I aim to be, by providing me with the necessary tools for success in this field. I hope that this experience can equip me in bridging the gap between mental-health professionals and communities to achieve health equity in New York. To do this, I aspire to learn how to maximize effective health and mental-health care for patients in underserved communities. My knowledge in this field and life experience has allowed me to see the ugly truth on how minorities are treated in health-care settings. Being a minority myself I’ve learned the significance of advocating for myself and others. With this experience, I’m able to continue to shed light to this truth and keep advocating for change.

I have worked as a registered nurse on a cardiac unit, stroke unit and in the emergency room. While in the emergency room I have had the opportunity to work with social workers through the RN scope of practice. I hope this experience helps me feel more confident when caring for patients experiencing different psychological issues and those in underprivileged populations.  In addition, I look forward to learning more on how mental health providers interact with a team and how that differs from the registered nurse.  I am also excited to go to the conferences and seminars with other nurses and the social work students and to be part of a collaborative team while in school and hope I can learn alternative views that I could later incorporate into my practice to become a more holistic NP. I feel that I am easy going, open-minded, versatile, empathetic and approachable. I work well with others and alone. I think these attributes will add to the value of this experience because not only will they help me while navigating through the program but with working with other members within fellowship.  

As an up and coming social worker, so far as an intern I’ve worked with neurodiverse students and have done more macro focused nonprofit work. I’m looking forward to learning more about how social work and health care intersect. I’m especially excited to work with more marginalized communities, since they may not have been given access to these collaborative supports in the past. I’ve never directly worked with youth and children, so I’m looking forward to gaining more experience with  this particular population. I’m very empathetic and a great listener. I’m also a woman of color, and I’m hoping that people will feel comfortable sharing their experiences with me, since I may be able to understand them more than someone who could have more privilege in society.

Throughout my undergraduate degree I have volunteered with several underserved communities and diverse populations in my community including inner city youth, older adults, and individuals struggling with mental health and addiction. Interacting and advocating for the well-being of clients that I have worked with has taught me how to form professional working relationships that align with the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics and create positive changes. Along with this, I have been able to observe how professionals in the field of social work interact with clients, collect resources, complete assessments and case notes, and make ethical decisions. I have started to learn about integrated healthcare when observing team meetings in my clinical field experience at a mental health and addiction agency. I have noticed that the clients I work with respond well to their team’s effort in encouraging them to maintain their recovery and as a result, they make healthy and positive changes to their daily lifestyle. Participating in the IDEATE experience, I hope to learn more about integrated healthcare. Specifically, how to work as a group of professionals and have a role in team discussions that assist clients in the change process. My leadership skills will add value to the IDEATE experience because I’m able to take initiative in group settings and advocate for the client’s needs. Along with this, my experience in behavioral health thus far has enhanced my knowledge within the field. Specifically, understanding how to interact with clients who have behavioral health needs, knowing what resources are available, and collaborating with other professionals to accomplish the overall goal of enhancing the clients well-being.

I have had the opportunity to work countless hours in multiple capacities with families that have young children. This is the area of study I am most drawn to. In my experience thus far, each family is unique yet similar in their needs for emotional support and acceptance. As an IDEATE fellow I hope to gain more knowledge on the integrated healthcare approach.  I am a hardworking and caring individual who wants to help improve the lives of those I meet. 

The school of nursing supports students throughout their journey to help achieve our goals. I hope to learn how I can improve the lives of patients and use integrated healthcare to increase access for the underserved. My experience in nursing adds value to the IDEATE experience.

My experience thus far has been rewarding.  I have been working with the DD and ID population for about 6 years now. It has been a learning process, as well as it has helped me develop myself professionally. I would like to continue to learn more and continue to work on being a well-seasoned professional. Attributes that I bring to the table are my extensive experience working in integrated health facilities and my language knowledge-base, as I am bilingual: Spanish and English. I am also at an intermediate level in my understanding of Portuguese.

I have been a nurse for 13 years. My experience over the years includes Trauma, ER, Medical and Surgical ICU, Endoscopy, Case Management, and Interventional Radiology. My learning goals are to be culturally aware in providing mental health care to children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth in underserved and high-demand communities. This includes demonstrating skills to educate patients on best-care practices and inclusion in the decision-making process. A characteristic of a good nurse is making a true effort to care and advocate for their patients. One of my main attributes is empathy, which allows me to focus on a centered-care approach to provide positive outcomes for patients and family. 

My experience so far is with my internship where I’ve applied what I have learned from my practice class, learning cultural competence and human behavior in my other classes. It has been very insightful as I have learned how to do the internal reflective work on myself to address things in my personal life in order to be an effective and a culturally competent social worker in the future. I look forward to experiencing working with children and adolescents from diverse backgrounds, and to assist them with resources alongside with the nursing students. Attributes that can add value to my experience as a social worker are: leadership skills, emotional intelligence, patience, active listening and advocating on the behalf of others’ needs.

My experience so far has been working and helping individuals, families, and small groups by addressing their needs and providing them with resources. Additionally, I have learned the importance of integrated healthcare. Integrated healthcare accesses a whole person’s health needs like their physical and mental health. Attributes I see in myself that add value to this experience is my ability to be caring, empathetic, and patient with others.

My experience thus far is limited to my current field placement at a PROS program for adults with mental health diagnoses, substance abuse, and alcohol abuse disorders. I hope to benefit from the innovative and holistic approach to the fields of social work and nursing that the IDEATE program will provide me. My previous work experiences in the healthcare field and working with children did not take an integrated approach. Thus, the interrelated IDEATE approach would be a completely new experience for me that will further develop my professional skills and help me become an excellent social worker. I am very hard working, team oriented, and compassionate. I have a lot of grit and enthusiasm to help others. I do not shy away from leadership positions. I am also kind, considerate, and empathetic.

I am in the midst of a career pivot and have begun working in the Social Work field a year ago. I’ve worked as an Early Childhood Teacher for the past 18 years. My focus when working with children and families has always been prioritizing emotional and social health and establishing foundations to create a micro-cosmos of a healthy community. I also worked as a Doula, providing emotional, physical, and educational support during pregnancy and labor for new families. My experience thus far in Social Work this year has been in a community outreach organization that provides access to federal and state social programs that exist for people in need but who may not have the resources or physical capacity to independently access them. I am hopeful that my IDEATE experience will foster new mentorship opportunities with integrated healthcare professionals and also with members of the Adelphi community who are working across disciplines to grapple with the more persistent social challenges of our time. I am a passionate person with a dogged work ethic. I love working as part of a team and I am a lifelong learner. Through my own diverse background, I am able to embrace the power and value that comes with the exchange of ideas and perspectives.

In my position as a Psychiatric ED RN at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, I triage, provide care and treatment to behavioral health pediatric patients (under 18). I assist in assessing them and with managing risk such as suicide, anxiety, depression, self-harm, violence, aggression, neglect, PTSD and overall vulnerability of those within the LGBTQ community. I’m excited by the opportunities offered by the Ideate Fellowship. I look forward to learning and expanding my experience into other areas of mental health. I excel at communicating with all levels of staffing within the hospital and with outside facilities and practices that help manage these patients. I work with an incredible behavioral health team made up of nurses, technicians, social workers, child life specialists and psychiatrists. We provide an outstanding environment for our fragile population. I also have learned from the behavioral health team on how to maintain psychiatric distance and develop resilience from the repeated trauma that has been experienced from our pediatric psychiatric population. This is part of the self care that keeps us mentally and physically ready to handle whatever challenges we encounter.

I am in my first year and I am greatly enjoying my classes and my internship experiences thus far.  I am finding the program to be very rewarding and I am excited about what the future brings.  I hope to learn how to best utilize the integrative behavioral healthcare model and be an effective part of the collaborative team.  IDEATE is an exciting opportunity and I believe integrated healthcare has the potential to change the way services are provided in the future to best meet the needs of clients.  I am looking forward to the specialized training that will be provided. I believe my compassion, dedication, empathy, willingness to learn and the ability to listen will help me greatly.  From a personal perspective, I understand how important a social worker and a nurse practitioner can be for positive patient outcomes and I look forward to being part of this wonderful opportunity.

I have witnessed how health disparities affect communities firsthand while working in a New York City Title I high school during my first year of field placement. The younger communities are at very impressionable and vulnerable stages of human development and are deprived at higher rates mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, etc. than those that have more protective factors readily accessible to them. While counseling my clients, I have noticed trends due to the pandemic resulting in anxiety, depression, social-emotional difficulties, and medical challenges. Having someone culturally competent and empathetic, readily accessible to work through their emotions and provide resources or positive coping skills has dramatically helped with their success and self-determination. I would love to learn how to successfully conduct mental health screenings to effectively treat clients with crisis, depression, anxiety, and potential substance use disorders in an integrated healthcare setting. Growing up in an underserved community, in a single-parent immigrant home in NYC, I witnessed the perception of mental health being viewed as taboo, which in turn, caused most in need of treatment to go without. Although everyone experiences and copes with trauma differently, I believe that my empathy, willingness to learn something new, and intersectionality will be beneficial in this fellowship to positively impact their lives.

My experience in the field of social work thus far has consisted of working with in-crisis high school and middle school students. The incredible experience working with this population is what prompted me to go back to school and get my MSW. I look forward to collaborating with the nurse practitioner students and fellow MSW colleagues in the IDEATE program. My experience working with adolescents in crisis will enhance my contribution to the IDEATE program.

I have extensive nursing experience since 1998.  I feel comfortable taking care of children as well as adults. Currently, I work as a Nurse Practitioner at a Primary Care unit at Woodhull Medical Center, providing care for patients with multiple chronic conditions. I look forward to the IDEATE experience to help the pediatric population with mental health conditions to be healthy and happy in life;  and to learn how to collaborate with social care specialists and other health care workers to provide the best health care to children and adolescents. I have broad nursing experience,  knowledge of treatment of medical conditions, and have worked with pediatric underserved populations at Brentwood, NY. As an immigrant, I can better relate and understand the needs of other immigrants.  I am fluent in Russian and Spanish. 

My experience thus far in the field of Social work is characterized by 2 periods: pre and post Adelphi. Before Adelphi, I navigated institutional systems usually related to healthcare for myself and the people around me. Now, I am merging what I’ve learned along with my core ideals which are so integrally tied to social work.  I’m hoping to learn how to better serve my clients with new and exciting interventions. I really value the person as a whole and will advocate to ensure that their voice is heard.

I had always felt the necessity and thrived on helping those around me. However, different limitations and barriers prevent people from reaching their potential. My experience in the field of Social work has allowed me to acquire valuable and meaningful information, preparing me with resources and skills to make a more significant impact on those who seek help to gain back the power of self-determination and address societal issues influencing well-being. The IDEATE fellowship program opens the door to a different approach and aims to support individuals’ behavioral health in a primary care setting. I hope to gain new insights and perspectives while also meeting others in the field, where we can extend our skills in ways that would allow us to grow in the areas most needed. Constantly, I remind myself where I come from and what my goal is so I don’t get lost on the way.  I appreciate the opportunity the fellowship offers to work collaboratively in one setting. To share a common goal with others is motivational and inspiring. I consider myself a dedicated, hardworking person that brings into the program flexibility and, most importantly, a passion for helping those around me with empathy and understanding.

New to this career, I have recently gained social work experience at a community social services agency, by providing the underserved with resources to improve their quality of life. Through the IDEATE program, I hope to learn from and with my fellow colleagues on how to use our knowledge and intuition to better serve our clients.  I look forward to experiencing social work from a collaborative perspective. I have straddled the lines of both privileged and underserved in my life.  Having experienced both perspectives along with my empathic nature, will hopefully provide some comfort and relatability with my clients.

I worked a full-time foundational year internship with the Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) workers at the Dutchess County Public Defender’s Office. I served a diverse population of individuals and families struggling with poverty, severe mental illness, addiction, complex trauma, and justice involvement. My advanced year MSW internship is at Concert Health, where I work as a remote behavioral care manager (BCM). I provide behavioral health care to patient populations who are primarily Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), intersectional, transitional aged youth, and patients across the lifespan. The IDEATE Fellowship introduced me to 21st-century cutting-edge clinical social work practice within a culturally diverse, innovative, and expansive knowledge culture geared toward evidence-based practice, transdisciplinary integrated curriculum, research, patient-centered collaborative care, ethics, and Suicide Safer Care. The IDEATE Fellowship experience has deepened my cultural competence and ability to hold space for others to feel seen, heard, valued, and empowered. I am a graduate research assistant on Adelphi’s Photovoice Participatory Action Research Team. I led the planning, concept, design, and installation of the Permanent Participant Exhibition at the Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center, in Harlem, NY. It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as the 2021 MSW Student of the Year by the New York State Social Work Education Association.

My final MSW semester has taught me that I am MORE THAN capable of doing anything! My field placement is at FSL in the MHC and if I had a choice at the beginning of my internship to change it, I would have BUT I am glad I didn’t. I have learned so much from being in a “therapist’s” chair. I know how it feels to be on both chairs; (in a therapy session) and I think this experience will make me an even better Social Worker. I have learned to provide quality integrated health care to underserved communities. I wanted to learn about this particular area, working with adolescents. I would have benefited from integrated services growing up. I definitely would love to give back to my surrounding communities to youth that are struggling. Being a mother of 7 children, I think one of my best attributes is my communication with youth. I have realized that we should let our youth express their feelings, thoughts and emotions instead of having them bottle everything inside. Through open communication, I feel that our youth knows they are not alone and we as adults are there to guide and support them in their journey.  

My experience thus far has been in Critical care and E.D. Nurse management.The smooth transition to comprehensive and integrated care is vital in today’s health care and wellness environment especially in underserved communities. I believe that IDEATE fellowship helps to prepare you for this transition. I am open-minded and compassionate, with a desire to learn. I truly enjoy and believe it is my calling and purpose to be of service by supporting individual and group wellness and instilling hope. 

My experience in the field of nursing has been an incredibly touching experience. I have learned life-long lessons from each of my patients and have learned skills that can be applied to everyday life. I have learned the importance of integrated healthcare and how collaboration with different specialties can make so much more of a difference to the patients. I have been working in inpatient psychiatric care for adolescent females for the last five years and I feel that I have been able to bring different communication skills to the simulations during this experience.

I have been grateful to experience multiple arenas of nursing, from direct care to care management and I am thankful to add to my experience in my development towards becoming a nurse practitioner. I am continuing to strengthen my approaches in working with individuals that are underserved. I am an individual who has lived and shared experiences that I have used to inform my practice.

My experience thus far has led me to working as a Family nurse practitioner in hospital medicine and thoracic surgery. The IDEATE program has given me the tools that allow me to continue to expand on collaborative care and practice as a dual provider.  My compassionate and hardworking nature are attributes that I will take with me throughout my career.

My experience in the IDEATE program has been challenging but rewarding. I have gained experience in working in community health and substance use. Additionally, I am very passionate about helping individuals with substance use disorder. I am also passionate about harm reduction and meeting them where they are at.

I became a nurse in May, 2017 and shortly after I began my career at South Oaks Hospital. Since then, I have been working on an acute inpatient adult psychiatric unit. It has been a rewarding experience and I have gained vast knowledge about psychiatric care. Through my career thus far, one of the skills I have become most confident in is my ability to de-escalate crises. One of my proudest moments was becoming a nurse, and I am looking forward to advancing my career and becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I have learned about the many ways that interdisciplinary teams can optimize psychiatric care. Hearing from various speakers working in different roles has been an excellent way to help my transition from a staff nurse to an advanced practice nurse. The IDEATE fellowship has been an excellent add-on to my academic career at Adelphi thus far. I am a lifelong learner with a passion for advancing my education. I enjoy learning through anecdotes, which the IDEATE Fellowship program has provided many opportunities for. My peers and supervisors describe me as a good leader, and I find that I work well in teams. 

I have enjoyed every minute of the IDEATE program! It has been an intense and exceptional learning experience. I have learned how to be a better person-centered focused social worker, thanks to the collaborative care model, and have added another level of therapeutic skills and experience that I didn’t even know I was capable of.  I am very proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone to see myself doing this kind of work. 

My experience in the nursing field has been very inspirational and rewarding. However, being in the psychiatric field has sealed my fate that I am in the right profession. Psychiatric nursing has made me a better person and helped me to appreciate the psychological connection that follows physical healing. I plan to continually educate myself by gaining new knowledge and insight to the world of integrated healthcare. Additionally, I’ve learned to approach health care in more holistic ways by incorporating appropriate and supportive therapies in patients’ treatment, and utilizing a patient-centered approach to care that encompasses the total needs of patients. My compassion, team spirit and commitment will hopefully be welcomed in this wonderful field.

My experience so far in social work has been delightful and challenging at times. I say this because I utilized the skills learned through text and applied them to real-world issues. My journey was fulfilling because of the many people, training, and programs that invested in me to become a competent social worker. I’ve worked with older adults, adolescents, families, and children, and they all provided a different level of challenges and self-fulfillment. I participated in collaborative care, taking clinical notes, while engaging with people in crisis. What I took away from IDEATE is various tools such as: utilizing evidence-based practice tools of PHQ9, GAD7, AUDIT, Behavioral Activation, Suicide Safer Care, Motivational Interviewing, Problem Solving, and implementing clinical goals. Furthermore, understanding what collaborative care is, how it connects to providers, clients, and practitioners, and what makes coordinated care unique. The characteristics I discovered in myself that add practical knowledge are using new skills and applying them effectively. As I depart from IDEATE, I am stronger, self-aware, confident, and knowledgeable in having the tools to apply them effectively in the real world.

I am a Registered Nurse who has experience working in various psychiatric and behavioral health settings including inpatient, outpatient and emergency. I am currently employed in a psychiatric emergency room where I work with clients who are experiencing acute mental disturbances and crisis situations. In my spare time, I volunteer at The American Red Cross as a disaster mental health worker where I apply brief interventions to individuals who are experiencing disasters. I have learned about different screening tools, statistics and the importance of collaboration when caring for the mental health population. My goals after obtaining my degree include working with clients in underserved areas. I am also passionate about early intervention and improving the use of mental health screening in primary care settings. My personal attributes include attention to detail, enthusiasm and initiative.

My experience with social work has been informative and challenging in the best ways. I have learned about the importance of effective communication and the understanding of interdisciplinary team members. My ability to be empathetic has allowed me to connect to other team members and patients that I work with. 

I have been an Emergency Room nurse for 9 years. I have worked in 4 different ERs around the country. Through the IDEATE program,  I have learned the importance of collaborating, especially with social work. I feel that I am a leader in a group setting and love to work as a team to get the best outcomes for all patients.

Being in the field of nursing has given me a very broad and diversified experience. It has given me a better understanding intellectually of the role of a PMHNP. I feel I can bring an expanded view of the role of nursing as I enter into this field.

Being in the field of Social Work has opened my eyes to many issues that I was unaware of. It has raised my awareness to the struggles people face which has made me want to do more and dig deeper into the field to make a change one day. The IDEATE program has changed my life, it has given me the opportunity to learn a different standard of care and enhance my skills. It has allowed me to gain more insight to different issues and topics. I was able to gain access to other programs due to the different presenters that they provided.  I’m determined and a hard-worker, whatever I put my mind to, I know I can accomplish.

I graduated from University of Michigan School of Nursing with both my bachelor’s and master’s in Nurse-Midwifery. I have always worked with at-need patient populations throughout my career. Currently, I am working at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. I have enjoyed my time in the IDEATE program through Adelphi University in the PMHNP program. I have learned to provide evidence-based collaborative care through this educational experience. I will definitely be able to apply the techniques I’ve learned throughout the fellowship with patients that have mental health concerns.

My experience has been very rewarding and has exposed me to a wealth of information that will improve my level of practice. I also appreciate that the topics and presenters of each seminar are engaging and interesting. I have learned about the ideals of integrated healthcare and its positive impact on the health outcomes of individuals. I have also developed my proficiency in selecting and utilizing screening tools. My attributes that add value to this experience are my genuine feelings of caring for others and my thoughtfulness. This experience has also shaped my views on substance use treatment, particularly the harm reduction model.

Although learning the ups and down of this profession has been challenging, looking back I know I made the right decision. I was faced with trials and tribulations, through which I succeeded, and gained not only these accomplishments, but also gained life lessons and learnings that I will never forget. It didn’t always feel like it, but my experience has been both incredibly positive and life changing. The most important thing that I have learned is the importance of collaborative care in the mental health field. I think the biggest attribute that stood out to me is my confidence and how my confidence in myself as a Psychiatric Mental Health NP Student boosted. I am more comfortable in my abilities and knowledge as a student. I am also more open to learning since I’ve realized that to be a student is to constantly seek learning, growth and change.

My experience thus far in the MSW program has been tremendously enlightening, particularly in understanding the historical evolution of social work practice, social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion. The IDEATE experience has helped me understand the symbiotic relationship between mental and physical health, the detriment in providing siloed services and the barriers to providing adequate care to marginalized communities. It has also improved my ability to select and provide competent, evident based services to clients of a variety of backgrounds. The two main attributes that I believe make this experience incredibly valuable is my passion for helping others and my passion for learning new skills. Whether my experience is similar or not, I have great empathy for the experience of other people and genuinely want to make a positive impact on them. I try to embrace every new experience as an opportunity to learn something new and improve myself or my skill set. I am humble enough to know I have a lot to learn and eager to learn as much as possible.

My online experience has been very educational and interesting. I have been given so many opportunities that have benefited my career and have allowed me to grow as an individual. The faculty is very experienced and has taught me a lot that I will continue to utilize in the future. The IDEATE program placed me in an internship where I gained so much more knowledge compared to my bachelors internship. This program had great workshops that helped me implement what I’ve learned into my internship. My clients have benefited from this. I see myself being more vocal and interpersonal compared to before and this has added a lot of value to my experience. I feel more confident in my one on one sessions with clients because I am well informed on topics such as: trauma and suicide which allows me to use the knowledge from the program to teach my clients to better help themselves.

My experience working in the field of nursing has been wonderful. I’m proud to be a part of a profession where you get paid to provide services that most view as altruistic and selfless. It gives me a sense of pride and purpose that I don’t believe any other career offers. In the Ideate fellowship I learned a new approach to healthcare that’s highly based on collaboration and communication among healthcare professionals. I hope to continue to learn how to utilize the unique skills of each profession. My enthusiasm and love of the mental health profession adds value to this experience.

My experience thus far in the field of Social Work genuinely prepared me to continue the career path I have chosen. I now have a deeper understanding of the powerful connections and processes of growth. The experience provided me with the knowledge to assess and address clients’ needs. I have learned to identify elements that are critical to both the effectiveness of my future professional practice and personal life. In the end, we all have a story. The IDEATE fellowship experience taught me the shared values of social workers and nurse practitioners in an integrated behavioral health setting.  The collaborative piece is important to providing the best possible outcome for the client. Client safety is our number one priority. I have recognized this higher level of care bridges gaps, monitors needs and increases appropriate mental health services in underserved and high demand communities. I approached this experience with flexibility, cultural awareness, and creativity. I recognized my resiliency and empathy. I look forward to providing care utilizing a social work lens to identify and explore services available within our healthcare system.

I had a marvelous experience as a social work student. Since I was a child, I always felt fulfilled when I was able to help others. Every day, I am motivated to make a difference in my neighborhood. I’ve needed social assistance in the past, and I’ll be forever grateful for the positive impact social workers had on my life. Their advice helped me get to where I am now. This personal experience, combined with my sympathetic personality, has driven me to pursue a career in social work. The IDEATE fellowship program is excellent. It helped me a lot in my personal and professional growth.  It also provided me with skills and tools to become a better person, an experience that will let me impact individuals’ lives. I’ve gained so much knowledge on integrated healthcare.  The IDEATE program has increased my interest in working collaboratively with behavioral health care to assist those who are in need, enhance my skills and bring more positivity to individual lives. Some attributes that I see in myself that can add to this profession are: patience, listening skills, empathy, teamwork, flexibility and being observant.

Currently I have two years of experience in the field of social work. I have learned so much from the IDEATE program. I feel more confident with the new clinical knowledge I’ve gained from this experience. I also effectively sharpened my existing communication skills with other professionals in my field. Lastly, I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge that I can utilize daily with future patients, like suicide safety planning and overdose screeners and safety plans. I am a team player, who is passionate about advocating for patient care, empathetic and hard working. 

 My journey into nursing started when I took a personal care aide class when I was 19 years old. That experience fostered  my desire for helping people and led me on the path to further my education and continue to provide care for patients in various specialities throughout my career. I have worked as an insurance nurse consultant in the workers’ compensation field; in long term care, sub acute care, psych and with the MRDD population. I have spent my most recent years working in hematology/oncology.  The professional seminars and guest speakers have provided a wealth of information on the collaborative models and various mental health issues and policies. The benefit of having the input and perspective of students in the NP track and social work track has provided insight as well. I have learned and come to acknowledge the importance of utilizing evidence-based tools in diagnosing and providing care. Also, I have gained insight into the importance of prioritizing care by establishing safety risks and utilizing identifiable resources to assist patients in crisis sentinel events. My ability to grasp new concepts, my desire to continually learn and improve my clinical skills, my aspiration to become a clinician that provides optimal evidence-based care to help people and improve lives, are several attributes that I believe have optimized my experience with IDEATE.

My experience thus far within the field of Social Work has been extremely informative and immersive.  Within my current fieldwork placement, I have been afforded valuable learning opportunities through my exposure to behavioral health care practices, and evidence-based approaches. I am grateful to have obtained these experiences that will help scaffold my professional practice. Throughout my experience in the IDEATE fellowship program, I have learned the importance of integrated healthcare as a practice of working in tandem with other clinicians and providers, so that patient needs can be more properly treated and supported.  Through this person-centered approach, patient outcomes can be therefore improved. Within my own character, I identify a capacity for empathy, patience, and compassion. More specifically, I find great importance in listening to others so as to better understand their positionality and individual strengths & needs. I find these characteristics to be useful in meeting clients “where they are at”, so to speak, and therefore providing a patient-centered approach. Through utilizing these attributes, I am more equipped towards better understanding patients and providing them with individualized, supportive care.