Alumni and Careers

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

I am a pediatric psychologist specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents experiencing chronic pain, migraines, and other chronic medical conditions. My expertise lies in teaching kids cognitive and behavioral skills they can use to manage their physical symptoms and improve their quality of life.

After graduating from Bowdoin College, I earned my PhD in clinical psychology from USC and refined my subspecialty through a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric pain psychology at Stanford Children’s Health. Over the last year, I transitioned from a career in academic medicine, where I directed the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Pediatric Brain Center Psychology program for seven years, to my current role as co-founder and co-CEO of Streamind Health, an evidence-based digital behavioral healthcare program designed specifically for children with medical conditions and health concerns.

Why psychology?

I’ve always been interested in the flexibility of our thoughts and behaviors, and in the idea that we have the ability to change how we experience the world around us. Additionally, kids are hilarious, and I wanted to learn more about them through developmental psychology.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

I had the privilege of completing my honors thesis with Samuel Putnam, Bowdoin's A. Myrick Freeman Professor in Social Sciences. Through his mentorship and support, I gained confidence in my ability to pursue my own academic passions. Additionally, my clinical psychology seminar with Dr. Julie Quimby sparked a specific excitement for therapy that has stayed with me.

What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates interested in your field?

I had never heard of pediatric psychology when I was at Bowdoin! Of course, set goals and work toward them, but once you begin the graduate and post-graduate school path, it can feel like there is one “correct” decision or accomplishment at each stage. Be open to learning from your own experiences along the way to discover the areas of work that truly inspire and motivate you.

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

I work in healthcare management. My current role is Operations Manager of the Hematology/Oncology clinic at Boston Medical Center, where I oversee the daily operations of the clinic and supervise 20 staff members. Critical thinking is an essential skill in the workplace, which was honed by my liberal arts education at Bowdoin. It enabled me to think broadly about many fields and pursue numerous job opportunities outside of my major.

Why psychology?

Studying psychology has had a huge impact on my perspective, in all fields of my life. It brings an ability to work with people from varying backgrounds, with different needs, and different motivations.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

I formed a very close bond with one of my professors, which has been one of my lasting friendships from Bowdoin. My involvement in the robotics team has also been something that provided me with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates interested in your field?

Soak it all in! Enjoy the friendships at your fingertips and the endless free food while you can J And don’t forget to learn practical things too, like how to read a rental agreement and balance a budget.

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

I am presently an Associate Clinical Professor and Program Lead at the University of California, San Francisco (the health sciences campus of the UC system) in the Eating Disorders Program in the Department of Psychiatry. I do a combination of clinical work with adolescents and young adults, teaching and supervision of trainees (psychology interns, medical students, residents, and fellows), and clinical research.

Why psychology?

I would have had a very hard time following the career I chose without majoring in Psychology – deciding to do that after just taking Psych 101 my sophomore year totally changed my path and I’ve never looked back. However, even for folks who don’t pursue a career in psychology, knowing how to think about human behavior from a scientific perspective and be an informed consumer of research is both fascinating and crucial in today’s world.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

Professor Slowiaczek’s Language seminar during my senior year had a lasting impact on me. Her enthusiasm for teaching is infectious, and she creates such a warm and engaging classroom atmosphere. I often think of her, and many of my other Bowdoin professors, when I teach now. In terms of professional development, my psychology professors at Bowdoin were deeply passionate about their subjects, which strongly influenced my decision to pursue this field. I was also fortunate to receive excellent advice from Professor Slowiaczek and others about navigating the graduate school application process.

What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates interested in your field?

Get involved with everything you possibly can! There are so many rich experiences to be had at Bowdoin, both academic and extracurricular. And, try to spend a summer on campus if you can. My summer working in Professor Lovett’s lab, living in Brunswick Apartments, and enjoying Maine was 100% the best summer of my life so far.

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

I'm working in the information technology field, and have been spending time with technology startups that are doing work that I see as contributing to the common good. I worked at a company that is helping to innovate cancer drug development in the field of pathology. Currently, I'm working with another tech startup, SpectrumAI, that is innovating autism care. These are the types of companies that have a mission that I can really get behind.

Why psychology?

My favorite thing I gained from being a psychology major and working with the neuroscience department was that it really forced me to think about how external factors within our environment shape the wiring of synapses in our brains and our brain development, which also shape how we interact with our environment. It's very complex and really interesting. It's not just that your brain causes you to interact in a certain way, but also your environment can act as feedback to your body, which then can help shape the brain. The faculty and staff were super friendly and supportive, and they presented numerous opportunities for undergraduates to be able to do research outside of the confines of Bowdoin College. I think that's a really unique experience and I encourage people to try and seek out those experiences.