Past Work Experiences:

  • Boise VA Medical Center
    • Staff Psychiatrist (2001-Present)
    • Associate Chief of Staff, Performance Improvement (2017-Present)
    • Chief, Psychiatry (2009-2017)
    • Consulting Psychiatrist, Boise VA Medical Center (2001-present); Idaho State Veterans Home (2013-2018); St Luke’s Regional Medical Center (Boise) and St Luke’s Meridian Medical Center (2002-2010); Family Medicine Residency of Idaho (2001-2003)
    • Chief, Inpatient Psychiatry, Boise VA (2003-2008)
  • Fort Campbell, KY
    • Acting-Chief, Department of Behavioral Sciences (2000-2001)
    • Chief, Psychiatry (1999-2001), Blanchfield Army Community Hospital
    • Division Psychiatrist, 101st Airborne Division (1997-1999)

Current Clinical Work:

  • Boise VA Medical Center: Outpatient Psychiatrist; Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist in Medical/Surgical Wards, Rehabilitation, Hospice and Nursing Home; Suboxone Medical Assistance Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder; Electroconvulsive therapy; Psychosomatic Medicine; telepsychiatry to both outlying clinics and to patient home settings.
  • Teaching: Outpatient Caseload Supervisor of Psychiatric residents; mentor of rising leaders at Boise VAMC; presenter at weekly multidisciplinary meetings of Boise VAMC staff on themes of quality, patient experience, and employee experience; live supervision.

Leadership Positions:

See past work experience.

  • APA VA Caucus Co-Chair (2012-2017)
  • Co-Facilitator, Weekly Social Work training group (2005-2009).
  • Psychiatry Clerkship Coordinator, University of Washington School of Medicine WWAMI Idaho Track medical student psychiatry rotation (2001-2003).

Areas of Interest (including publications):

Special interest psychosomatic medicine (Board Certified in Consultation Liaison Psychiatry); group work (Certified Group Psychotherapist); research on therapeutic boundaries and dual relationships; clinician-patient interactions, empathic communication, live supervision using one-way mirror and “bug-in-the-eye” (instant messaging) technology; psychology of faith development; work-life balance; organizational health; transforming employee experience; embracing play.

Education:

  • Psychiatry, 1997 Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Wash D.C.
  • M.D., 1993 Loma Linda University, Loma Linda
  • B.A., 1989 Point Loma Nazarene College, San Diego