PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

June, 1992 - Present Hospice Buffalo, Inc. Buffalo, NY

Medical Social Worker

Provide psycho-social services to nursing home patients and to home care patients. Engage with patients and families to supply emotional support and connections to concrete services for them as they take up the challenge of being cared for or caring for their loved one in their own home. This task involves the ability to formulate trusting relationships in short periods of time; crisis management; extensive knowledge of community-based services; the ability to educate on disease process and the grieving process as well as researching lesser-known diseases and the help that is available for patients with those diseases.

Teaching Experiences: Psycho-social Grand Rounds at ECMC; Supervision of MSW student intern; Provide psycho-social component to 4th year medical students and fellows doing palliative care rotation; Interact with 4th year medical students during their palliative care "standardized patient" experience providing feedback on physician/patient communication; Mentor new employees; Teach the psycho-social component of the volunteer training course.  Co-Presenter of training for facilitators in the Respecting Choices method of facilitation.

June, 1991 - June 1992 Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County, Buffalo,NY

Geriatric Mental Health Counselor

Supply in-home and in-office mental health assessments to persons over the age of 65. Facilitate matching up case manager/client on an as needed basis. Use DSM-IIIR to promulgate a psychological diagnosis using the standard 4 axis format. Formulate care plan and maintain records for same.

EDUCATION

1991 State University of New York at Buffalo Buffalo, NY MSW

SPECIALTY TRAINING

2005 - Teaching and Facilitating in "Respecting Choices" from Gunderson Lutheran

CERTIFICATION

New York State Certified Social Worker since 1991