Hilary Breedon, PMHNP

Practice philosophy: To provide the best care to both individuals and their families to achieve their mental health goals.

What are you passionate about and why? I am passionate about learning about my patients' goals as well as their immediate mental health needs to allow them to function as their best selves. I am passionate about providing gender affirming and culturally competent care to all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

If you weren't a health care provider, what would you be? Interior designer

Why did you become a provider? When did you know this was the career for you? I chose to become a provider spending 8 years at the bedside, 5 being in intensive care settings and seeing the dire need for mental health providers across the country.

What is something you have learned from your patients? I have learned that it's not just medication that helps people get better; kindness, active listening and empathy also go a long way.

What is one of the challenges of this career you enjoy? And why? I enjoy working with patients and helping them with non-pharmacological interventions, such as sleep hygiene, self-esteem building and improving interpersonal relationships in their life.

What is your personal health goal? Drink more water, be active daily and work on be on my phone less!

What is the best thing you've done for your health or the best health advice you've received? The best health advice I ever received is that sometimes animals are great medicine.

What are you most proud of? My drive to always be continuously learning and open to changes in healthcare and my ability to always advocate for my patients even when I may be judged by others.

What are a few of your personal achievements?

I worked the pandemic as an ICU nurse full time while in graduate school for my NP.

I completed my RN practicum in Kenya.

Taking care of my mom when she had pancreatic cancer.