Dealing with Serious Medical Illness

Expert Support for You and Your Family for When You Need It Most

When you are sick, what happens to mood, stress, energy and sleep? What happens to sex? To faith? To your future plans? To your relationships? 

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You might ask, "am I ever going to get better?" or "how do I live, knowing that I am dying?"

I’ve spent my career working at the interface of psychiatry and medicine, caring for complex medically ill patients admitted to the hospital, and integrating mental health and substance use care into primary care clinics. I have extensive experience meeting the special psychiatric needs of patients with cancer, organ failure, transplant, traumatic physical injury, HIV, neurological disease (like stroke and Parkinson's), diabetes and chronic pain.

I am particularly interesting in helping patients recover after a grave episode of illness, like a major surgery or a stay in the Intensive Care Unit.

I am passionate about helping patients (and their families) understand and cope with a life threatening diagnosis, weigh their treatment options and communicate more effectively with their medical team.  I help people make informed and highly personalized decisions whether to continue aggressive treatment or shift the focus toward comfort care. 

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