Animo Sano Psychiatry team is growing. We’re excited to welcome our new MD, Ayumi Nakamura, MD, PhD! We had the pleasure to talk with Ayumi about her life and experience and learn more about what motivated her to become a part of our team. Here’s Ayumi’s inspiring story.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare and what brought you to Animo Sano Psychiatry?
During my third year of medical school, I had the privilege of rotating through the state psychiatric hospital in North Carolina. There, I was able to work alongside others on a multidisciplinary team while taking care of patients with serious and persistent mental illness. Shortly after starting that rotation, I knew psychiatry was the field for me.
In addition to providing good quality and evidence-based patient care, fostering an environment of kindness and empathy is of utmost importance to me. I believe these principles align well with the goals at Animo Sano Psychiatry, and being a member of the Animo Sano team can help me continue to foster these values.
2. What motivates you?
Seeing the ‘aha’ lightbulb moment in both my patients and those I teach. Whether it is the patient understanding their mental health diagnosis or a medical student or resident grasping a difficult concept, I derive joy in caring for others and teaching.
3. What words of wisdom do you live by?
“Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still, it is never complete.” – Paul Kalanithi
