Q&A with Susannah Dowling

What is your job at Sheppard Pratt?

I am a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner in the Center for Autism and the outpatient clinic on our Towson hospital campus. At the Center for Autism, I am part of an interdisciplinary team that provides comprehensive autism evaluations to individuals of all ages. I also support our program through operational development and quality improvement efforts. In the outpatient clinic, I provide psychiatric evaluations and treatment to children, adolescents, and young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders.

What does a typical day look like for you?

In neurodevelopmental psychiatry, we thrive in the atypical! Every day is different for me, but I spend a lot of time talking with parents about their concerns, their children’s triumphs, the supports they need, and how to obtain them—helping them better understand their children’s experiences and supporting them in their journeys. I also have a lot of fun interacting with my clients and learning about their interests, dreams, and what motivates them to live happy lives.

What do you enjoy most about working at Sheppard Pratt?

I enjoy helping my clients achieve a better quality of life. Working together to re-evaluate often complicated treatment histories and complex conditions requires a high level of mutual trust and respect, and I am honored every day to serve my clients and their families in this capacity.

What has been your proudest moment at work?

I partnered with my teammates and our Operational Excellence team to improve access to high-quality autism evaluations at the Center for Autism. I was proud to demonstrate the added value of clinical experience applied to a process problem.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love to hike, go on adventures with my dogs, practice yoga, work on my garden, and spend time with family and friends.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

Carry a tune? I do have some musical gifts, but singing is not one of them!