EPISODE SUMMARY
Dr. Udaya Thomas shares her inspiring story and learn about the integrative models of health care that address both the physical and mental health needs of patients, that she has been both researching and practicing. Dr. Thomas is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program at Assaf College of Nursing, Nova Southeastern University, in Miramar, Florida.
EPISODE NOTES
Dr. Udaya Thomas’ journey to becoming a Ph.D trained behavioral health nurse scientist begins in the Indian state of Kerela from where her parents immigrated to the United States when she was just a toddler. Growing up in the American mid-west, Dr. Thomas recalls being challenged by a constant dose of bullying because of the color of her skin and her ethnicity, experiences that have helped mold her into a champion for the proverbial underdog. Strongly held values that elevate the welfare of community over self, instilled by her parents and cultural heritage, have guided her trajectory as a professional – from social worker to public health expert and nurse practitioner (including at a women’s prison) - a career that has enabled her to leave her mark on health systems around the globe. Today, Dr. Udaya Thomas is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program at Assaf College of Nursing, Nova Southeastern University, in Miramar, Florida.
Tune in to Season 2, episode 10 of “Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up” to hear Dr. Udaya Thomas’ inspiring story and learn about the integrative models of health care that address both the physical and mental health needs of patients, that she has been both researching and practicing. Dr. Thomas proposes that integrative group medical visits can optimize health outcomes and provide cost effective alternatives to address the unmet psychiatric mental health needs of underserved and marginalized communities. You can learn more about how this works through this animation video created by Dr. Thomas to illustrate the key findings of her doctoral dissertation: A Retrospective Analysis of Integrative Group Medical Visits for Low-Income Patients with Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care https://youtu.be/LeBX3ZpnvT0 (opens new window)