Approach and Treatment Philosophy
I strive to form a genuine, strong, and unique bond with my patients. Drawing from years of work with people facing serious illness, I will work collaboratively with you to build an understanding of who you are, what is most important to you, and the unique circumstances that bring you to treatment. You may be entering, in the middle, or moving past life events you neither anticipated nor imagined. There is the change itself -- and then there’s what we expect life to be during and after the change. No matter how challenging your situation may be, there is a way forward. For all of us, there is tremendous potential for change, growth, and connection when we work through challenges with the right support.
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By combining evidence-based treatments with a warm and pragmatic approach, my goal is to help you build a future meaningful for you while adapting to the circumstances that life has thrown your way. Treatment with me can include psychotherapy (talk therapy) as well as psychopharmacology (medications). It also includes careful attention to the biological aspects of mental health and addressing the many way that our physical and psychological health intersect.
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My therapy approach draws primarily from evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. I am not rigid about the process, though, and sometimes it makes more sense to start with a more open-ended, exploratory approach. No matter which way we start, the goal of treatment -- your goals -- remains the same.
About Dr. Park
After completing clinical training in the Northeast, I made North Carolina my home. For twelve years, I served on faculty at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine where I directed numerous research projects and provided leadership for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Support Program. As a psychiatrist, I helped patients and families in the NC Cancer Hospital, Women's Mood Disorder Program, hospital psychiatry consult service, and physician mental health/support program. Over the years, I also became a parent of two and a cancer caregiver.
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In 2023, I started my private practice so I could more fully devote myself to patient care and my family. Nearly two decades of working closely with people living with serious illness has taught me the importance of moving toward what matters. Working as a psychiatrist has been the most rewarding and meaningful aspect of my career. I have assisted hundreds of individuals affected by cancer, healthcare/academic professionals, and other adults seeking to adapt to the many unexpected challenges that life can bring.
Double board-certified and nationally-recognized psychiatrist with over a decade experience supporting individuals with cancer and their families.
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Clinician, researcher, and advocate for improving the care for people living with serious illness and their loved ones.
Education
Clinical training
Board Certification
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Yale University, BA
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University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, MD
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UNC Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, MS​
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Harvard Longwood/Harvard Medical School Residency in General Psychiatry
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Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School Fellowship in Consultation-Liaison (medical) Psychiatry
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American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Published author, speaker, expert
Presentations and Talks
Invited speaker for local and national organizations, public, and universities
UNC School of Social Work: Pandemic grief and loss
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Metastatic Breast Cancer Network: Living Well with Advanced Disease
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North Carolina Coping with Cancer Symposium: Managing the late effects of cancer treatment
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Duke University: Preservation of Neuro-Cognition & Quality of Life for Patients with Solid Tumor Brain Metastases
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Grand Rounds Speaker, UNC Chapel Hill, Virginia Tech, Cone Health
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Association of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: The Essentials of Psycho-Oncology
Expertise
Over 50 research papers on cancer and mental health, women's health, and optimizing depression treatment
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Contributing author for UpToDate
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"UpToDate authors and editors, all regarded as leaders in their field, excel at determining how evidence and best clinical practice can be applied to individual patients at the point of care."
Elected Fellow of the Association for Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and the
American Psychosocial Oncology Society
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Medical Advisory Board member for Living Beyond Breast Cancer
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Dupont-Warren Research Fellow, Center for Sleep & Cognition, Harvard Medical School
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Member, Order of the Golden Fleece at UNC
Media
My work has been featured by Reuters, Cure Magazine, Cancer Today, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Psychiatric Association among others.
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Podcasts
Our MBC Life
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Cancer.Net
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Grieve Leave