During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive interview focusing on a patient-centered approach. After an attentive, compassionate interview and open communication, I will evaluate patients thoroughly on their symptoms, mental and medical health history, social history, family history, risk assessment, and patient goals and needs, and a treatment plan will be discussed. I provide a warm and supportive environment through active listening and constructive suggestions. I explore possible coping strategies, assess patient readiness to change, and provide mindfulness, behavioral modification, CBT, motivational interviewing, and medication management, emphasizing a personalized treatment plan. I am committed to ongoing follow-up visits, reviewing prior discussions, any changes in the patient's mental and medical condition, stress level, side effects of medication, psychoeducation, coping strategies, psychotherapy, and adjustment of care as needed (medication as well as behavioral therapy).
I am a board-certified psychiatrist with extensive experience working with veterans (23 years in the VA health care system) in an outpatient setting. I have a plethora of experience dealing with different levels of PTSD (combat-related and military sexual trauma), anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, OCD, mood disorders, and behavioral issues related to memory impairment (e.g., Traumatic Brain Injury and dementia). I also worked in an inpatient setting for both adolescents and adults for 5 years on a part-time basis at Four Winds Hospital, Katonah, New York.
I earned my medical degree (M.B.,B.S.) from the Institute of Medicine (1), Rangoon, Burma, and went on to obtain a master's degree in public health (MPH, Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York. I worked as a researcher in the area of Behavioral Health associated with drug use among HIV patients and Colombian youth, and published several papers together with principal investigators on NIMH grants. I received my residency training in psychiatry at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York. I speak English and Burmese.