Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Biology Minor
Current Position Title and Affiliation: Medicaid ACO Clinical Social Work at Brookside Community Health Center in Jamaica Plain, MA. Part of Brigham and Women’s Hospital Inc, within Partners HealthCare.
Summary of Position:
I work with adult (18 and older) patients who are enrolled in the Medicaid (Mass Health) ACO (Accountable Care Organization): Partners Healthcare Choice health insurance plan and receive their health care at Brookside Community Health Center. My position’s core functions are care coordination, behavioral treatment, and resource connection. I enjoy working with patients 1:1 and working as a member of a multidisciplinary team. The benefits and perks for employees within Partners HealthCare, particularly at Brigham Health (umbrella term of all of Brigham and Women’s Hospital Inc. affiliates) are great and I highly enjoy my job!
Future Goals:
I want to continue working with young adults and adults with mental health and substance use conditions, particularly those with Psychosis Spectrum Disorders.
What do you love most about this career path?
I love that I took 2 years in between graduating for Umass Amherst (2015) and starting graduate school at Salem State University (2017) to work in the behavioral healthcare field. During those two years I worked as a Clinical Research Study Coordinator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) with a research group focused on patients with Clinical Risk for Psychosis (CHR) and First-Episode Psychosis. Working with a multidisciplinary team allowed to discover my passion for Social Work and pursue a career in the Social Work field.
How did UMass and/or Psychological and Brain Sciences help prepare you?
Being a Research Assistant (RA) in the Human Relations Lab directed by Dr. Brian Lickel, PhD for five semesters and a Teaching Assistant (TA) for three semesters for the Methods of Inquiry (Research Methods) course, taught at the time by Dr. Elizabeth Kohler, PhD aided me in being well-prepared for my Clinical Research Study Coordinator position at BIDMC.
Taking the Clinical Psychology Laboratory Course taught by Dr. Marian MacDonald, PhD during the Fall semester of my senior year (Fall 2014) provided me with hands-on clinical experience at the Hampshire County Jail & House of Corrections and the local Veteran’s Affairs Hospital, both located in Northampton, MA.
Tips for Current Undergrads:
Introduce yourself to your professors! Before or after class, talk to them and visit them during office hours. Professors that know you well can write personalized recommendation letters for awards, graduate school or jobs. Visit the advising hours at the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department, even outside of the registration period. Utilize on-campus resources (Residence Life, Career Services, the Library, etc). Become involve in extra-curricular activities, to have a broader college experience!
