ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Orean, I am a Psychiatric and Family Board Certified Nurse Practitioner based in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and New York. I am originally from New York City. I have been in healthcare for over 20 years. I started as a Certified Nursing Assistant what feels like many moons ago. So, I am very humbled by how far I’ve come, and I’ve been able to stay grounded because of it. I think I was always destined for this purpose!

When I graduated from my Family Nurse Practitioner program, I was a military wife living in Utah. A job became available at a very prestigious clinic outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. I wanted to work with the best group of providers and healthcare professionals in the area, so I applied. It just so happened to be in pain management. I was skeptical at first but in no time, I fell in love with the specialty and most importantly the patients.

I have a deep passion for both pain management and psychiatric care, and I have found a profound fulfillment at the intersection of these fields. I am captivated by the challenge of addressing not just the physical symptoms of pain but also the intricate ways it impacts mental health and overall well-being. In conventional care, pain management often focuses on alleviating physical discomfort through medications and therapies, while psychiatric care typically addresses emotional and cognitive symptoms through counseling and psychiatric medication. However, this standard approach often overlooks the crucial mental and spiritual dimensions of healing. I am dedicated to integrating these aspects into my practice, understanding that true recovery involves addressing the holistic nature of pain-one that encompasses emotional resilience, spiritual support, and a comprehensive approach to both mind and body. This integrative method not only enhances patient outcomes but also fosters a deeper, more meaningful path to healing.

My Journey

 My mother was addicted to drugs, as were many of my family members. My father, a much older man than my mother, suffered a massive brain aneurysm when I was a toddler, so I never knew him or rather, I have no memories of him. My father had quite a brood of children who were well into adulthood when I was born and when I was a homeless teen on the streets of Harlem, I searched for them. I thought to myself “If I find them, I can finally fill the gap, the void, the pain”. It took me 12 years to find them but unfortunately, they had no desire to meet me because they had no connection or attachment to me. They’d never known me and even though I was just a 15-year-old kid they had no room for me. Although heartbreaking, I learned to persevere.

My lovely daughter, Nadia…my only daughter. She’s the sweetest breath of life that I know. During my pregnancy, I struggled with severe depression, and I didn’t fully consider the impact on her in utero. Though she was born seemingly healthy, she lost her sight at five months old and was later diagnosed with Lennox Gastaut syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. The conventional treatments available in the U.S. failed, and I felt hopeless, questioning my own knowledge and blaming myself. I was devastated by stories of children with this condition never achieving typical milestones and being bedbound until they departed. Despite her neurologist’s honest prognosis that she would never be “normal”, I refused to accept this outcome. I delved into research and discovered other treatment options tailored to her specific needs that might offer hope. Through this integrative approach, Nadia has surpassed expectations: she regained her sight, goes to school with her peers, and is a loving, joyful child. Her neurologist is moved by her progress, noting her as a miracle in his extensive 20-year career. This experience profoundly influenced my perspective on integrative healthcare and its potential to change outcomes when traditional methods fall short.

I learned post-divorce that I had attachment issues and PTSD through childhood rape, homelessness, and a myriad of abuse. Although divorce was one of the most difficult things that I have had to overcome, it catapulted me into the most healed version of myself that I see today.

Since that time, I have never felt so alive and present. I stopped my overachieving ways (there’s still a tad bit of that in me) and my idea around perfectionism. I took my power back!

Me in the 80s rocking my scrubs!

My little munchkin during a hospital visit after losing her vision…