Women in Medicine: Allison Vreeland, PhD

Why did you pursue a career in medicine?

I pursued a career in clinical psychology to better understand the messiness of being human. I was really curious about why some children develop psychological disorders while others do not. I was also interested in understanding why some treatments, which have been shown to be effective, work for some patients but not others.

What is your work focused on?

My current research focuses on understanding the underlying processes of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, my primary research project aims to identify neural indices of Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).

What is the most fulfilling part of your work?

Collaborating with and learning from others, working closely with students and research assistants to inspire their interest in the sciences, thinking critically and developing research questions that will contribute to science and move the field forward.

What advice would you give others who are considering embarking on a career in medicine?

To embrace your expertise, to be patient with the journey (it can feel long), and to enjoy the day-to-day milestones(e.g., manuscript submission, improvement in a patient's disorder, etc.).