Reena W. Cherry Email & Phone Number

Fostering community and providing outstanding patient care have been the capstones of my career as a physician associate. As an advanced practice provider, I have been trained to seek and cultivate community with my fellow APPs and develop authentic connections with my patients and their caregivers. As an oncology PA, has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of and serve these two communities. The APP CommunityI've had the honor of being a part of two extraordinary healthcare communities over the past 23 years - UC San Diego Health, a leader in academic medicine and one of the top 5 hospitals in California, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, consistently ranked one of the best cancer centers in the nation. I believe the extraordinary APP communities in these organizations are a large part of why the organizations continue to thrive. APPs not only demonstrate clinical expertise in all areas of medicine, but we cultivate interdisciplinary relationships that facilitate access to patient care across our organizations. I have worked with and learned from some of the most professional, talented, and dedicated APPs in the nation and I am honored to shine a light on the work we do to care for patients. The Caregiving CommunityCaregiving, the act of providing medical, emotional, and/or physical support for another human being is difficult. Caregivers are often required to shift into this space without advanced notice or preparation which contributes to increased anxiety levels and stress. Notwithstanding a deep sense of loyalty and love for the patient, caregiving can be all-consuming, exhausting, and isolating, leaving the caregiver feeling depleted and sometimes hopeless. It is my intention to create a platform for caregivers to learn the fundamentals of oncology treatments and develop a safe space for them to discuss the emotional challenges of providing care for people facing a life-threatening illness. Mental HealthLastly, I believe protecting our mental health is a top priority. Supporting the mental health of clinicians, patients, and their caregivers is extremely important to me. We need to open up discussions about depression, anxiety, and burnout regularly and learn to support each other every day; not just during the month of May. Let's talk about it! #mentalhealthawareness