In September 2009, less than 7 months ago, I arrived at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center here in central Louisiana, and I have been the psychiatrist leading the Outpatient Mental Hygiene Clinic--treating as many as 12 new patients per day and doing inpatient consults on the medical wards. I must admit, treating outpatient veterans is very enjoyable and rewarding, as I am able to see improvements in their symtpoms and response to therapy at each of the follow-up visits. Now, starting in April 2010, I was asked to manage the Acute Psychiatry Ward--that is our VA's locked psych. unit upstairs, and it has over 30 beds. I accepted their offer, as it is not only a prestigous honor to be offered such a highly respectful role in a Federal Government medical facility, but it will also further enhance and broaden my clinical skills--both medically and psychiatrically. Interestingly, I am still just less than one year out of graduating from my residency training program at Harvard! Through this new position as the attending physician, I lead the interdisciplinary treatment team rounds three times per week, and I have Doctor's rounds on the other days. It is such a pleasure to work hand-in-hand, collaboratively, with the nurses, physician assistants, social workers, dietitian, pharmacist, chaplins, occupational rehab staff, and the suicide prevention coordinator to provide a multidisciplinary treatment approach to each of our veterans! Our nation's heroes deserve quality care...and that is what we at the VA provide--second to none.
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