Gretchen Sullivan helps Seattle team find joy in hard work
12/17/21 10:35:am
A life-long Seattleite, Gretchen started her career as a pediatric mental health specialist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, which is similar to the behavioral specialist position at Rogers.
This passion for connecting patients to care inspired Gretchen to earn her master’s degree in health administration, which led to a manager role at a local outpatient clinic and later a consultant job within a psychiatry department.
“Rogers already had an amazing reputation in the Seattle community prior to the clinic opening, so I had known about it for many years,” she says. “I made my first referral to Rogers in 2007, while I was at Children’s, so I’d seen families who had maxed out on local resources travel to Wisconsin for care.”
Gretchen says many local providers have expressed their gratitude for the clinic, which opened in March, as it allows patients to receive the intensive care they need while still being able to go home, sleep in their own bed at night, and apply what they learn in treatment in their everyday life.
Seattle team makes the most of challenges, opportunities
Much like Atlanta in the spring of 2020, the Seattle clinic opened with virtual treatment through Rogers Connect Care. For the team, it became clear early on that they would need support to help them overcome the challenges of opening during a pandemic.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that we are all in this together,” explains Gretchen. “If I try to hold everything up and be everything for everyone, not only will that not work, but it also won’t make us the strongest team that we can be. The idea of ‘One Rogers’ has really lived true for us. It’s been so important that we fully utilize our resources and that we’re vulnerable and transparent when we need help.”
Citing the assistance of numerous individuals throughout the Rogers system, including clinical supervisor Megan Kurdi and Martin Franklin, PhD, both from Philadelphia, and Joshua Nadeau, PhD, from Tampa, Gretchen says the Seattle team has embraced the challenges and joy of hard work.
“The energy is incredible,” she says. “There is so much joy in being able to connect with one another, have face-to-face conversations, and just laugh together. There’s a real magic to it.”
From walking through the halls and seeing patients engaging and doing exposures, to the patient-made artwork and posters that adorn the clinic walls, Gretchen says it’s been an immensely rewarding experience.
“A few weeks ago, I saw a gentleman outside (the clinic) waiting for his wife to come get him from treatment,” Gretchen recalls. "In that moment, I was really struck by the bravery it takes to pause your life, say that you need help, and put yourself in such a vulnerable position. It’s such an honor to get to receive this individual and have them trust us to do the work together.”
Get to know Gretchen
Gretchen has two unique hobbies, one of which is a love of oysters. She’s attended numerous events, where attendees gather in the cold of winter, when the tide is at its lowest, and harvest oysters when the flavor is said to be at its peak.
Her other favorite hobby is painting with alcohol inks, which can only be done outdoors while wearing an industrial N95 mask to protect oneself from the fumes. Despite the time-consuming nature of the art form, Gretchen says the results are worth the effort.
