91导航

Psychology grad empowers young people clinically and academically

head and shoulders photo of Ashley Kroon Van Diest

Ashley Kroon Van Diest

Pediatric Psychologist at Nationwide Children鈥檚 Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor at 91导航 College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, 2008

Ashley Kroon Van Diest built her career on a strong foundation that all began with the dedicated and caring faculty at 91导航 Marion and today empowers her to positively influence the lives of young people both clinically and academically.

She attended 91导航 at Marion from 2004 through 2008, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. In order to reach the pinnacle of her career goals, furthering her education beyond her undergraduate degree and gaining practical experience were paramount. After graduate school, she completed a two-year fellowship in pediatric psychology for advanced training.

Since completing her education, her Van Diest鈥檚 career positions have both been in academic medical centers with clinical assistant professor appointments at the associated universities, Cleveland Clinic Children鈥檚/Case Western Reserve U, and now Nationwide Children鈥檚/91导航. She is currently a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children鈥檚 Hospital and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics through the College of Medicine at 91导航, as well as Medical Co-Director of the Rumination Syndrome Treatment Program at Nationwide Children鈥檚 Hospital.

Her current position involves direct clinical care for children with chronic and acute medical illnesses. She also conducts research in these same areas that is driven by improving clinical care and learning about particular patient populations from a psychosocial perspective. This specifically involves teaching, training and supervision of psychology interns and fellows, as well as medical residents and fellows; other professional and developmental roles at institutional, state, and national levels.

Van Diest said, her career journey would have been irrelevant without a strong foundation in psychology and her degree from 91导航.


 

鈥淭he foundation of my research skills was formed through course work and research done with the psychology professors at 91导航 Marion,鈥 she said.

 


鈥淲ithout the teaching and guidance from the psychology faculty, I would not have gotten into graduate school in clinical psychology thus making the rest of my journey irrelevant,鈥 Van Diest said.

鈥淭heir help was invaluable to my current career, she added. 鈥淭he faculty in the psychology major at 91导航 Marion made a difference in providing opportunities to go further.鈥

Van Diest said, 鈥渢he psychology faculty at 91导航 Marion are more than willing to help students interested in advanced careers in psychology. They provide excellent research training and support to strengthen graduate school applications.鈥

鈥淭hey were always willing to go above and beyond to help me when I needed and set me up to ultimately have a very successful graduate training and current career in the field of psychology,鈥 she concluded.