My name is Savannah, and my pronouns are she/them. I am a vanguard transgender fluid presenting human being who was born deaf, autistic, and intersex. I came out during a tumultuous time in American history in 1987 during the peak HIV/AIDS crisis. In rural Idaho and Montana, I learned there wasn’t a lot of support for women and minorities, so I made it my life’s mission to help turn the tide on ignorance, bigotry, and hatred. I started out in healthcare working in hospice caregiving and eventually got an associate degree in applied science for nursing at Everest college in 2007. It was during the first formative years that I realized I wanted to be a doctor, and so I sought out to complete those milestones. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a focus in Deaf, Women studies, and minority relations. Followed up with a pioneering masters’ degree in psychology with a focus on gender diversity. I then leveraged that education to get additional training in theology, and most recently I enrolled at Harvard University to obtain a DEIAB* certificate. I’m currently working on two PhD’s in philosophy and psychology with my dissertation on gender and sexual fluidity. As a student doctor I have a passion to help people that are neurodiverse, domestic violence survivors, gender diverse populations, human trafficking survivors, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, dual diagnosis, and addiction recovery. I mostly lean on cognitive behavior therapy, but I have also used ACT, DBT, positive psychology, Buddhist Psychology, and Jungian theory as well. I practice through an intersectional, trauma informed, and autonomous lens. I approach healing by tailoring the background of the patient to interventions, positive coping mechanisms and paths to healing that sit well with them. When I am not at work I enjoy karaoke, bowling, and stand-up comedy. I’m also very passionate about community development and on my days off I can be frequently found volunteering, speaking before the Oregon state legislature, or attending LGBT fundraisers. 

*Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Acceptance and Belonging