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Mental Health Center

Physician Spotlight 7: Dr. Jooyeon Lee

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physician spotlight

Physician Spotlight In today’s physician spotlight we highlight Dr. Jooyeon Lee. Dr. Jooyeon Lee is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and board-certified in Geriatric Psychiatry. About Dr. Jooyeon Lee Dr. Jooyeon Lee has worked with patients from diverse backgrounds in various settings including academic institutions, city/county hospitals, and the Veterans Administration Hospital.  She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in Canada and received her Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD. She received her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. After working as a research fellow at UCLA for a year, she completed psychiatry residency training at New York Medical College/Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City, where she received the Dirk Berger Award for Scholarly Activities in 2017 and 2019. She completed fellowship training in Geriatric Psychiatry at UCLA and received …

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Vaping and Children’s Health 2023

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physician spotlight

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. What is vaping? Vaping is synonymous with e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) and has increased in popularity over the last decade. According to a description from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): E-cigarettes/vapes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air. E-cigarettes/vapes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. Some e-cigarettes/vapes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not look like other tobacco products. E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).” Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called “vaping.” Big tobacco companies have marketed vaping …

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Meaningful Engagement for Seniors: Why it’s Important

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physician spotlight

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Why Meaningful Engagement Matters A growing body of research suggests that the strongest predictor of happiness in old age is meaningful engagement – with society and each-other.  The McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) analyzed over 70 recent, peer-reviewed academic studies on the societal participation of older adults and “found six thematic health benefits: reduced mortality rates; reduced cognitive disability; less functional disability and frailty; decreased loneliness and depression; increased physical activity levels, and enhanced meaning and quality of life” (2023).  A McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) analysis that surveyed individuals 55 and older across 21 countries recently added to this research, indicating that having a sense of purpose in life and meaningful connections with others were among the most important factors that bolster the health of older adults around the world (2023).  Meaningful Engagement The findings support the concept of societal participation being important to mental health and …

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Physician Spotlight 6: Dr. Kimberly Brown

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physician spotlight

Physician Spotlight In today’s physician spotlight we highlight Dr. Kimberly Brown. Dr. Kimberly Brown is board certified in both Addiction and General Psychiatry. About Dr. Kimberly Brown  Dr. Kimberly Brown provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management with special attention to individual requirements. She is flexible and integrative in her approach to meet the needs and desired outcomes of each person. She carefully explores each patient’s personal history, life experiences and attitudes towards medication, all of which she approaches with empathy, understanding and helpful explanations that facilitate treatment and a patient’s sense of comfort and trust. Dr. Brown received her medical degree from USC/Keck School of Medicine and completed her internship at Cedars-Sinai. She finished her residency at USC/Keck where she served as Chief Resident of Outpatient Services and received specialized training in psychodynamic, intensive short-term and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. Following graduation, she pursued an Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the …

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Physician Spotlight 5: Dr. Vicki Kalira

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physician spotlight

Physician Spotlight In today’s physician spotlight we highlight Dr. Vicki Kalira. Dr. Vicki Kalira is a talented psychiatrist who is board certified in both Addiction and General Psychiatry. She has robust experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her multifaceted clinical approach incorporates medication, psychotherapy, nutrition, physical movement and social engagement at different stages of treatment, always focusing on self-compassion. Dr. Vicki Kalira’s approach tailors to each individual patient, is goal-oriented, flexible, and integrative. About Dr. Vicki Kalira Dr. Vicki Kalira completed medical school at West Virginia University and her psychiatry residency at Johns Hopkins University. After completing a one-year addiction psychiatry fellowship at New York University (NYU), she supported hospitalized patients at NYU-Tisch Hospital as a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist. Here, her focus centered around providing care to patients with complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities who were experiencing acute intoxication or withdrawal states. Dr. Vicki Kalira then transitioned to the …

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