In the first episode of Season 3, Amie and Sara sit down to talk to Dr. Lorna Kendrick PhD, the new dean for the School of Nursing at Samuel Merritt University in California. We discuss her experience as an advanced practice child-adolescent psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist which she had a private practice in for over 25 years. We also discuss her research with young African American men, focusing on untreated depression as a primary risk factor for early-onset cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Kendrick holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Loma Linda University, a master’s degree in child-adolescent psychiatric mental health nursing from Georgia State University, and a doctorate in nursing with a focus in nursing research from the University of California, Los Angeles. She worked for years in a neuro-surgical ICU and as an advanced practice child-adolescent psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist. She also maintained a private practice for the past 25 years in Southern California, providing individual, family, group, and play therapy to child and adolescent clients and their families.

Dr. Kendrick has conducted research with young African American men, focusing on untreated depression as a primary risk factor for early-onset cardiovascular disease. Her research interests connecting mental health with disease prevention and physical wellness have taken her to Europe, Argentina, Nigeria, and beyond. She is the School of Nursing Dean of Samuel Merritt University in California.

Thank you to our sponsor Samuel Merritt University! If you’re interested in getting more information on their MSN and DNP programs and scholarships visit them at https://smumsn.com and show them how much you appreciate them for sponsoring our podcast!