Katherine Ramos, PhD
Educational level: Early Career Psychologist
Current affiliation: Duke University School of Medicine - Assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Educational path:
- Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC
- Advanced GRECC Postdoctoral Fellow - Geriatrics, Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC)
- Geriatrics, Palliative and Hospice Care
- University of Houston, Houston, TX
- Doctorate of Philosophy - Counseling Psychology, APA-Accredited Program
- Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC
- Predoctoral Internship - Psychology, APA-Accredited Program
- University of Houston, Houston, TX
- Master of Education - Counseling Psychology, APA-Accredited Program
- Rice University, Houston, TX
- Master of Arts - Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology, APA-Accredited Program
- City College of New York, Manhattan, NY
- Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, summa cum laude
Why is aging important or meaningful to you?
The opportunity to live with my grandparents as a young child in South America provided unique insights into understanding the older adult experience. I appreciated being witness to their lives. I grew up watching my grandfather be highly successful in business, managing two farms, and enjoy life with humor, gregariousness, and zest. I also had the wonderful chance to grow up watching my grandmother be an artist who began her own art workshop company. She taught me about porcelain work, painting, and other mediums of artwork. It was these early experiences that I grew a genuine appreciation about the richness of older adults' lives. I also appreciated how much wisdom, thoughtfulness, and life perspective that they offered to my own life. Thus, it became very important to me that I advocate for older adults, and that I help contribute to their well-being. I also wanted to fight against ageist perspectives (both positive and negative) about what it means to grow older.
What resources have been the most useful in developing your career, and why?
Geropsychology mentors have played a significant role in my professional development.
For books, I would recommend: Man's Search for Meaning; Being Mortal; A Long Bright Future; A Man Called Ove; Ethical Practice in Geropsychology; APA Handbook of Geropsychology; Geropsychology and Long Term Care; Too Young to Be Old: Love, Learn, Work, and Play as You Age; Emotion, Aging, and Health; The Lives of LGBT Older Adults: Understanding Challenges and Resilience.
For website, I would recommend those hosted by the American Psychological Association and the Committee on Aging.
Collectively, the above-mentioned resources have provided me with an invaluable perspective on older adult development, diversity and sources of resilience. Each resource has informed my clinical work, research, and interests in aging intersectionality.
What has been a challenge (academic, clinical or research-based) you faced and how did you overcome it?
An early career challenge I have faced was feeling as though I did not have a strong community of professionals who were interested in aging or aging research. One method I used to overcome this challenge was to reach out to others outside of my academic institution, and look for practicum opportunities where I could work with geropsychologists. I also began to step outside of my own comfort zone with APA and attend other conferences such as the conferences of the Gerontological Society of America and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Taking chances in making connections and expanding my own social networks offered wonderful opportunities to find my gero-community.
What is one bit of advice you would give to students entering the field?
Secure as many mentors and peers to provide support as you can. I think having mentors at different stages of their own respective careers is a huge value-add. Mentors across the professional trajectory can model for you important professional issues to consider as you move forward through each stage in your work.
What's next for you?
Now that I have secured a faculty appointment, I am completing a 2-year research grant. Most of my work is in the design and implementation of mental health interventions for older adults in palliative care. I have recently secured two additional pilot-funded grants and have been very much enjoying my time meeting new colleagues and forging new and exciting collaborations!