Carlie Felion
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
What is your role at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD?
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner student with Duke University working at Cohen Clinic at VVSD, my role is to meet with veterans and military family members and do a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation, order any relevant tests to help us figure out the diagnosis, and work with the individual to come up with a treatment plan that will help them get back to better. I spend a lot of time teaching people about their health conditions, what is going on in the body and how their medications and other treatments work.
Why is your role an integral part of the core services provided at the clinic?
My role is integral because of the broad scope of care we can provide. Nurse practitioners, among many things, are patient advocates, case managers, care coordinators, healers, comforters, teachers, counselors and prescribing clinicians.
As a veteran, what does it mean to you to be working at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD?
As a veteran myself, and as the daughter of a Vietnam-era veteran, I am so proud to be a part of the team here at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD. I love working with and supporting those who have sacrificed so much to ensure our safety and freedom, and to help them recover from illness so they may live rich and fulfilling lives going forward. I find my role exceptionally rewarding. For me, it is all about the relationships that I build with people. As a nurse, I have seen people at their best and their worst, I have stood by them and cared for them as they worked their way out of some pretty dark places. When you are a part of someone’s healing or recovery, and you see them get better and back to being who they want to be, there is no greater reward.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
One thing that most people don’t know about me is that I that I am a huge Potterhead (Harry Potter fan)! I belong to the House of Ravenclaw, and am a member of the Potterhead Running Club, where I participate in various athletic events to raise money for outstanding charities.
