Renee is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with nearly two decades of experience in nursing and a deep commitment to equitable access to mental health care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oregon Health & Science University, Klamath Falls Campus, her Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track, from Gonzaga University, and recently received her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Oregon Health & Science University, completed June 2026. Renee holds Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification through the Oregon State Board of Nursing and board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She also holds the Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) and ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) credentials, reflecting her specialized expertise in neurodevelopmental care. Her clinical background spans post-surgical nursing, Tribal Health, and over 13 years serving rural and underserved communities through Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-designated sites, work rooted in her own upbringing in rural Oregon. For the six years prior to becoming a PMHNP, she served as a nursing administrator at a nonprofit adolescent residential sub-acute treatment and evaluation facility in Eugene, Oregon. Throughout her career, Renee has been drawn to the intersections of complexity and inequity in psychiatric care, with a practice that encompasses adults, children, adolescents, and geriatric patients. Her clinical focus has deepened considerably around neurodevelopmental conditions particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and the broad spectrum of comorbid diagnoses that accompany them, including anxiety and conditions associated with emotional dysregulation. Her DNP scholarly work examined gender differences in ASD presentation, common ASD-associated phenotypes, and co-occurring diagnoses, contributing to a growing body of evidence addressing how profoundly these conditions are underdiagnosed, mischaracterized, and underserved, particularly among populations already facing systemic barriers to care. Her clinical and research interests include adolescent and community mental health, ADHD, trauma-informed care, early autism identification, and resource attainment for autistic individuals and their families. She is particularly interested in the integration of psychotherapy and skills-based interventions alongside pharmacological treatment, and in reducing systemic barriers that delay diagnosis and limit access to services. Renee is a strong advocate for reducing stigma in mental health care and approaches her work from a holistic, person-centered philosophy grounded in the belief that mental health is inseparable from overall wellness and that every individual's story matters. She has intermediate proficiency in Spanish, supporting her work with diverse patient populations.