I strive to make a difference in my patient’s lives by being an empathetic provider that truly listens and meets each patient wherever they are at in their mental health journey. I follow a holistic and trauma informed approach to psychiatric care, and I work collaboratively with my patients to create individualized treatment plans. At the end of the day, it is important to me that a patient feels like an individual, and not just a number in the system.
I graduated with summa cum laude distinction from the University of Arizona’s Honors College where I earned my Bachelor of Science with a major in Physiology and a minor in Psychology. I then completed my Physician Assistant training at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL. My clinical rotations were spread throughout the Chicagoland area and Sycamore which allowed me to work with very diverse cultural backgrounds including suburban, rural, and underprivileged communities. This helped me develop a broad understanding of barriers to healthcare access, distrust of the healthcare system, and how to carefully navigate them.
Throughout my psychiatric career, I have utilized supportive psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques in addition to medication management to provide patients with the highest quality care. I also have experience helping individuals with chronic health conditions and/or health trauma. For high acuity cases, I have experience with Spravato for treatment resistant depression and long acting injectables for mood disorders and psychosis.
As a board certified physician assistant, I aim to create a safe, respectful, supportive, inclusive, and nonjudgmental environment to truly get to know my patients. I have worked with individuals ranging from 11 to 80+ years old. I’ve treated a wide variety of conditions including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, substance use disorders, cognitive decline, and personality disorders. I have provided care to patients from a variety of cultural backgrounds and have ensured their beliefs and values are considered when making treatment recommendations. Whether it comes to cultural differences, religious beliefs, or LGBTQ+ affirming care, I am dedicated to making sure all my patients feel seen, heard, and valued. I prioritize destigmatizing mental health conditions and care. While I have experience treating a broad range of psychiatric conditions and patient populations, I have a particular interest in women’s mental health and the unique psychological needs, challenges, and traumas women may experience throughout their lifespan.
Treatment Areas
- ADD / ADHD Medication Management
- ARFID
- Addiction
- Alcohol / Substance Use Issues
- Anger Management
- Anorexia
- Anxiety / Stress / Worry / Stress Management
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Bereavement / Grief and Loss Counseling
- Binge Eating Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Chronic Medical Condition / Chronic Pain
- Conduct Disorder
- Depression
- Eating Disorder / Disordered Eating
- Emotional Abuse
- Gender Identity
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- LGBTQIA+ Care
- Mania
- Medication Review
- Mood Disorders / Swings
- Narcissism
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Perinatal Mental Health
- Personality Disorder
- Phobias / Irrational Fears
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Psychiatric Consultation
- Schizophrenia
- Self Esteem
- Self Harm
- Sexual Abuse Counseling
- Skin Picking (Excoriation Disorder)
- Sleep Problems / Insomnia
- Trans Affirming Care
- Trichotillomania
Languages spoken
- Bosnian
- Croatian
- English
- Serbian
Gender
Female
Pronouns
she/her/hers
In-network insurances
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Medicare
- Self Pay
- United
Education and training
- Midwestern University - Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies
- University of Arizona - Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences