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Youmna Nafady, LSW, is the newest addition to the Better Health Advisors team, and we are thrilled to welcome her aboard. As a Senior Health Advisor, she will be working directly with clients, providing guidance on finding doctors and making treatment decisions, and coordinating high-touch care across the medical team. She specializes in mental health.
Prior to joining BHA, Youmna worked as a medical and psychiatric social worker in major New Jersey hospitals, including Hackensack University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, and Carrier Clinic. Her experience in the mental health field and her bicultural background make her a valuable addition to the BHA team. We hope the following Q&A will help you get to know her better.
Q&A with Youmna Nafady
What is it about health advisory that interested you in this work?
I got my social work license in 2016, and since then, I've been doing medical social work, inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment and emergency crisis work. When you're working in a busy hospital, you see the patient after they've already been through the crisis. With health advisory, you get to see them from the very start. It’s almost like an intervention before it gets to the point of needing to go to the hospital.
At Better Health Advisors, even when people are doing well, we make sure they have the right doctors. Then, we check in with them regularly, building rapport, and building the relationship. If they need help, we’re prepared. We help them figure out what to do, so they don’t have to figure it out on their own.
Why did you decide to join Better Health Advisors?
As a social worker, sometimes we're just seen as case managers. With this role, there’s more to it. I’m excited to educate the public about the value of health advisory through networking and presentations. When you're working with a big hospital or facility, you're just playing one role. With Better Health Advisors, I wear many hats and have an opportunity to use more of my skill sets.
What inspired you to work in healthcare?
I know this sounds really cliché, but I love to help people. I’ve always been interested in mental health. When I was younger, I didn't know the term “depression,” but I would wonder, “Why are people so sad? What's the root of the sadness?” I would talk to my friends when they were going through things, and I felt like it was something that I was good at—talking to people and problem solving.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I like to exercise, and I love being around family and friends. In the summer, I like going for walks and going to the beach.
What else would you like people to know about you?
I was born in Egypt, and my family came here when I was six. When I was younger, I always felt like I was different as I was raised in a different culture, but as I’m getting older, I appreciate having the knowledge and experience in living in two different cultures. I can take bits and pieces of both cultures. And when I have clients who feel like their providers don’t understand their culture, I can relate. I can talk to people who were born in different cultures and understand their struggles, because I've seen my family’s struggles. I feel kind of blessed to be able to understand what they’re going through.
You can read more from Youmna in her recent post on when to seek mental health treatment.
If you or a loved one need help accessing great healthcare, reach out to an expert health advisor for support throughout the process.
