Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up

Dr. Eugenia Flores Millender traces a path from a young nurse searching for her voice to a force reshaping psychiatric-mental health care. An Afro-Indigenous Latina from Panama, she brings lived experience to the front lines of innovation—championing culturally grounded care, trauma-informed healing, and data-driven solutions. Today, she is a national and international leader advancing mental-heal...

From her early nursing experiences in Tampa, Florida, to her advocacy for culturally responsive and compassionate care, Nephetalie shares how listening with empathy—and asking, “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”—can change everything. Discover how nurses can break cycles of trauma, address stigma in communities of color, and bring healing to both patients and themselves th...

Substance use disorder is one of the most pressing health challenges in rural America. According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), nearly 65% of all federally designated primary care shortage areas are in rural communities, and more than 60% of mental health professional shortage areas are rural as well (HRSA, March 31, 2025). These provider shortages are persistent and...

From tackling intergenerational trauma with Bowenian Family Therapy, to confronting bias in reproductive health, to exploring how climate change and artificial intelligence shape pediatric mental health, Dr. Josiah is redefining what compassionate, culturally responsive care looks like. Listeners will hear how her journey from home health aide to nursing scholar fuels her passion for justice, how...

Tune in as Steve discusses: How community saved his life — and how he's paying it forward The mental health toll of immigration-related trauma Why culturally competent care and bilingual nursing matter What the U.S. can learn from global mental health systems The power of nursing in advocating for equity and justice This is more than a conversation — it's a call to action for nurses, policymakers,...

Discover how she navigates the complexities of diagnosing and treating ADHD, anxiety, and trauma, the disparities in care that leave many children unseen, and the role nurses play in ensuring no student “falls through the cracks.” Whether you’re a nursing student, educator, parent, or advocate, this conversation is a masterclass in compassionate, culturally responsive, and evidence-based care. Lis...

From her firsthand experiences in the military to her work at the VA and Department of Defense, Monique shares deeply personal and professional insights on the urgent mental health needs of veterans, military families, and underserved communities. She opens up about how her own experiences with intimate partner violence and traumatic brain injury shaped her nursing journey—and why she believes psy...

Kim shares her deeply personal journey from being a young caregiver for her daughter and mother to becoming a nationally recognized nurse educator and advocate. Along the way, she opens up about confronting diabetes distress , navigating intergenerational trauma , and breaking through the stigma and shame that often surround chronic illness—especially in medically underserved communities. Listener...

In this episode you will hear: Why so many caregivers fall through the cracks when it comes to mental health support How stress and trauma show up differently in different communities—and why we need better tools to recognize it What it means to bring faith, ritual, and spirituality into the healing process How nurses and future mental health professionals can show up with compassion, curiosity, a...

Listen now to discover why healing starts at home—and how nurses can lead the way in helping a generation reclaim connection and resilience.  Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season. Learn more about Dr. Vickye Hayter at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/vickye-hayter

Drawing from her personal experience navigating the U.S. health care system as a child refugee and her professional practice working with underserved, immigrant, and unhoused populations, Dr. Win speaks candidly about the mental health toll of displacement, family separation, and systemic barriers to care. She shares how screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), implementing trauma-infor...

Why You Should Listen: If you care about the mental health of young people, families, or underserved communities—or you're a nurse, student, or health professional wondering how to make real impact—this episode is your guide for purpose-driven practice. Dr. Audrey Strock’s story is not just inspiring; it’s deeply instructive. She shows us what it looks like to turn lived adversity into advocacy, h...

Through dynamic conversations with visionary psychiatric nurses, we’ll explore: The rising mental health challenges facing young people and their caregivers Bold, culturally responsive strategies to close care gaps The pioneering role of psychiatric nurses leading transformative change Plus: Nurses can earn FREE Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits just by listening. Subscribe now at emfp.or...

In the season 4 finale of Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up! host Indrias Kassaye sits down with two pivotal figures behind the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at the American Nurses Association: Janet Jackson, Project Director, and Samuel Suraphel, Digital Program Manager. Often working behind the scenes, Janet and Samuel are the program's driving force, tirelessly steerin...

In this inspiring episode of Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up, host Indrias Kassaye welcomes Dr. Giovanna de Oliveira, an alumna of the Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association and Associate Professor at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies. Dr. de Oliveira shares her journey from Peru to the U.S., where she discovered her passio...

In this episode of Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up! host Indrias Kassaye welcomes Rashida Charles, PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and doctoral fellow in the Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association. Rashida shares her journey from a first-generation Haitian-American background to her role as a trailblazing nurse scie...

In this inspiring episode of Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up, host Indrias Kassaye chats with Dr. Thomas Sargent, a two-time Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) alumnus, whose journey from an unexpected nudge into nursing to becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is nothing short of remarkable. Dr. Sargent shares his personal story of breaking through the barriers of a p...

In this episode of  Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up , host Indrias Kassaye is joined by Alice Dressler, a doctoral fellow in the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), as they discuss her journey to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. This conversation takes place in the context of the 50-year anniversary of the MFP at the American Nurses Association, offering a unique p...

In this special episode, recorded during the MFP's 2024 Summer Intensive Training Institute in Washington, D.C., host Indrias Kassaye brings together an accomplished panel of MFP alumni to celebrate the program's 50-year legacy and explore the future of psychiatric and mental health care for underserved communities. Join us as Dr. John Lowe, Dr. Eugenia Millender, Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Dr. Mar...

In this episode of Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up , host Indrias Kassaye welcomes Dr. Willa Doswell, a distinguished Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Development at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. As one of the earliest fellows of the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at the American Nurses Association, Dr. Doswell shares her in...

In this timely episode of  Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up , host Indrias Kassaye chats with the dynamic Dr. Tanya Sorrell, a leader in psychiatric nursing and advocate for culturally inclusive health care. As the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at the American Nurses Association hits its 50-year milestone, Dr. Sorrell dives into how the program is shaping the future of p...

Throughout the episode, Dr. Boston-Leary delves into the transformative journey of the MFP, discussing its pivotal role in addressing disparities in underserved communities and its evolution as a model for inclusive care. She also explores the broader context of nursing history, the ongoing challenges of equity and inclusion within the profession, and the vital importance of sustaining and expandi...

In this third episode of "Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up!" host Indrias Kassaye speaks with Dr. Mary Lou de Leon Siantz, a distinguished alumna of the Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association. As the podcast continues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program, Dr. Siantz offers a compelling historical perspective on m...

Join us for an enlightening conversation on "Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up!" with your host Indrias Kassaye and the distinguished Dr. Gary Lawrence, Director of Nursing at the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority. In this second episode of 50 Years – Reflect and Project, celebrating half a century of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Associ...

Welcome to Season 4 of Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up. In this special episode, we kick off the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at the American Nurses Association with an extraordinary guest, Dr. Linda Washington Brown. Join us as we delve into Dr. Brown's inspiring journey from the segregated South to having a seat at the table...