Professional Overview
I have had many experiences over my academic and professional career that have allowed me to develop a holistic perspective on the multifactorial nature of issues regarding human needs and behaviors. My experiences have helped me gain insight and skills in mental health, medical healthcare, community development, and administrative fields. These experiences will be helpful in my career goals in the future as a mental health professional.
Below you will find my resume and a summary of my academic, work, and internship experiences.
Academic Experience
I graduated magna cum laude from Dalton State College with a Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) in May 2018. I then graduated from Southern Adventist University with my Master of Social Work (MSW) with an emphasis in mental health in December 2020. I hope to proceed even further with my studies and obtain my Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) licensure and other applicable certifications in the near future.
Work Experience
Although it is not specifically within a social work field, I have gained and implemented many of my social work skills while working at Hamilton Neurosurgery and Spine Center (HNSC) over the past six (6) years. I have obtained valuable insight on issues regarding substance abuse, the opioid crisis, mental health (specifically anxiety/grief/depression), resource allocation/referrals, insurance and financial issues, anger management/conflict resolution, marketing strategies, and stress management. My job consists of documenting patient information in the electronic medical record (EMR) system and being available to assist the provider and patients in whatever way is needed. I also advocate for patients with insurance companies and work to obtain authorizations for procedures, medications, imaging, and other medical devices they may need. I have researched, developed/designed, and implemented many patient information packets regarding procedures they may receive, opioid risks/precautions, and general healthcare tips. I have also researched and provided information on local resources to patients for individual specified needs including medication financial assistance, grief counseling, medical device resources, etc. Click here to view more information about HNSC.
Internship Experience
I have had the wonderful opportunity to intern at some unique and fascinating organizations throughout my academic career. My first internship experience was at Murray County Developmental Center (MCDC) during my undergraduate studies. During this internship, I was able to interact and assist with adult clients struggling with developmental disabilities in order to create and implement their individualized learning plans. My experience at MCDC helped spur my passion for mental health, specifically for clients with developmental and/or physical disabilities. Click here to view more information about MCDC.
My second internship was also during my undergraduate studies and was completed at the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF), which was a vastly different placement than my first. FCIF provides monetary grants to individuals nationwide who have served in the floor covering industry, have had a medical life-altering event, and have financial difficulties. My duties at this internship were more on the administrative side of social work and included evaluating clients’ financial needs, calculating and submitting grant requests to the Board of Directors, collaborating with community organizations and agencies to network and advocate for clients, researching and providing information on resources available, and creating and revising policies for the Foundation. My experience at FCIF gave me extremely valuable insight into the complex nature of financial and medical problems and opened up many opportunities for networking and community collaboration. Click here to view more information about FCIF.
Finally, my internship at Mending Arrow Ranch (MAR) throughout my graduate studies has equipped me with extensive insight and skills in working with children who have physical/mental limitations and behavioral/emotional issues. I assisted with and facilitated equine therapeutic services for students and performed ranch duties on a daily basis. I also created and amended intake forms, applications, individualized learning plans, and policies for the Ranch, and applied for multiple grants to help expand services. I developed a program at MAR for my graduate studies, called Dream Catchers, that was specifically designed for children with behavioral/emotional issues. My experience at MAR has molded me into an advanced clinical practitioner who is able to see a client’s situation from a holistic perspective, and has taught me how to adapt to diverse situations and clients in order to provide care to children who are considered “misbehaved” or “inferior”. Although my internship and graduate program have been completed, I continue to volunteer weekly at MAR by providing therapeutic services to clients and assisting in administrative duties. You can see more details on the Dream Catchers program in my Special Project tab at the top, or click here to view more information about MAR overall.