“I feel that my liberal arts education enabled me to challenge myself, think outside the box, and think critically.”
Major/minor: Psychology major, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies minor
Lives in: Portland, OR
What work looks like: “As the licensed clinical social worker at a radiation oncology clinic, I provide individual counseling and group-based support to patients throughout the course of their cancer care.”
What she loves about it: “I enjoy the fast pace and variability of the hospital setting; each day I learn something new. Cancer tends to upend people’s lives without warning, and the path forward is full of unknowns. I am humbled to walk alongside them in this tender time. My goal is to lighten the burden, and sometimes the smallest intervention can cause surprisingly large ripples. One of my favorite parts is witnessing the healing that takes place when patients connect with each other in support groups.”
How a liberal arts education prepared her for her career: “Many of the courses I took opened my eyes to new perspectives and taught me to be less assumptive and more open-minded. I feel that my liberal arts education enabled me to challenge myself, think outside the box, and think critically. Those skills are often put to the test as I come up with new solutions to help patients and their families understand and access their cancer care, particularly those with lower health literacy or systems barriers. I need to always remain open-minded and honor that "quality of life" means something different to each person. I strive to provide space for patients to make decisions about their treatment based on their own goals. This is one of the most fulfilling parts of my work.”