Samantha (Sam) has been involved in the mental health field in various roles and settings since 2004. She developed a fascination with neurobiology, psychology and human behavior during high school, eager to consume any related media at the library. Prior to graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with her Bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2005, Sam completed a student nurse internship at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, then transitioned into her role as a registered staff nurse. During her days of bedside nursing, she worked with a broad range of populations, including adults with mood and anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, traumatic brain injury, neurodevelopmental disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress. Additionally, she held leadership roles as assistant nurse clinical manager of inpatient child/adolescent/adult eating disorder treatment, and later, as clinical coordinator in charge of clinicians providing primary care for inpatient behavioral health units. In 2007, Sam returned to the University of Pittsburgh to further her studies in the adult psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program. While completing her courses, she continued to cultivate her clinical and patient engagement skills as a registered nurse with UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s homeless outreach team.
Upon completion of her graduate degree in 2011, Sam began her role as a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in a combination of inpatient psychiatry, outpatient private practice psychiatry, and residential substance use disorder recovery settings. In addition, Sam has provided care for individuals with complex psychiatric disorders in large community mental health agencies, psychiatric crisis center, adult intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs. She has worked extensively with specialized groups including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, reproductive and gender-affirming behavioral health. She has ample experience with treating underserved populations, is LGBTQIA+ literate and affirming, and is passionate about social justice, harm reduction, cultural humility and patient advocacy.
Sam describes her approach to patient care as compassionate, nonjudgmental, individualized and collaborative. She prioritizes building rapport and a strong partnership with her patients, eager to engage in thorough discussion about pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options, including current data and evidence-based practices. She helps her patients to achieve their wellness goals by identifying and maximizing their intrinsic strengths. Sam views each patient holistically, infusing her sessions with a combination of psychoeducation, medication education (when indicated), brief psychotherapy and skill-building. She believes in meeting people where they are and encourages patients to ask questions so that they feel empowered in their choices and confident in their treatment plan.
Outside the office, Sam enjoys cross-stitching/embroidery, walking the trails in Frick Park, cooking and baking for her husband and 2 sons.
Samantha (Sam) has been involved in the mental health field in various roles and settings since 2004. She developed a fascination with neurobiology, psychology and human behavior during high school, eager to consume any related media at the library. Prior to graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with her Bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2005, Sam completed a student nurse internship at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, then transitioned into her role as a registered staff nurse. During her days of bedside nursing, she worked with a broad range of populations, including adults with mood and anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, traumatic brain injury, neurodevelopmental disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress. Additionally, she held leadership roles as assistant nurse clinical manager of inpatient child/adolescent/adult eating disorder treatment, and later, as clinical coordinator in charge of clinicians providing primary care for inpatient behavioral health units. In 2007, Sam returned to the University of Pittsburgh to further her studies in the adult psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program. While completing her courses, she continued to cultivate her clinical and patient engagement skills as a registered nurse with UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s homeless outreach team.
Upon completion of her graduate degree in 2011, Sam began her role as a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in a combination of inpatient psychiatry, outpatient private practice psychiatry, and residential substance use disorder recovery settings. In addition, Sam has provided care for individuals with complex psychiatric disorders in large community mental health agencies, psychiatric crisis center, adult intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs. She has worked extensively with specialized groups including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, reproductive and gender-affirming behavioral health. She has ample experience with treating underserved populations, is LGBTQIA+ literate and affirming, and is passionate about social justice, harm reduction, cultural humility and patient advocacy.
Sam describes her approach to patient care as compassionate, nonjudgmental, individualized and collaborative. She prioritizes building rapport and a strong partnership with her patients, eager to engage in thorough discussion about pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options, including current data and evidence-based practices. She helps her patients to achieve their wellness goals by identifying and maximizing their intrinsic strengths. Sam views each patient holistically, infusing her sessions with a combination of psychoeducation, medication education (when indicated), brief psychotherapy and skill-building. She believes in meeting people where they are and encourages patients to ask questions so that they feel empowered in their choices and confident in their treatment plan.
Outside the office, Sam enjoys cross-stitching/embroidery, walking the trails in Frick Park, cooking and baking for her husband and 2 sons.
