Patrice Forrester is a Postdoctoral Fellow with The PATIENTS Program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP).
About Patrice:
Patrice is a licensed clinical social worker who obtained her PhD in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in December 2021. Prior to entering the PhD program, Patrice provided mental health services to children, teenagers, and adults affected by psychological trauma, HIV/AIDS, and chronic mental illness. She also served as a youth director at her church ministering to adolescents and their families. Her experiences in social work and youth development grew a passion in her for child, adolescent, and family wellbeing. Patrice was able to further explore these interests and related topics while in the PhD program. During her time in the PhD program, she worked on quantitative and qualitative research projects exploring social service provision and child and adolescent wellbeing. Her qualitative dissertation study explored how youth development workers build and maintain relationships with older adolescents (14-17 years) and emerging adults (18-29 years). Dissertation study results are intended to inform program strategies in recruitment, selection, and training of youth development workers that can support positive relationships between youth development workers and older adolescents or emerging adults.
Patrice joins the PATIENTS Program because of a strong desire to learn more about different ways to engage communities in the process of research and how to meaningfully collaborate with community members during the research process and afterwards.
Patrice is from the DC metropolitan area with familial roots in Jamaica. She participates in organizations and groups on work related to advocacy for human trafficking survivors and grassroots community initiatives in El Salvador and Haiti. She also provides services to promote mental well-being. Patrice enjoys creating art - writing poetry, singing, creating collages, and making jewelry.
Contact Information:
Email her at pforrester@rx.umaryland.edu.