Insight_2nd Edition

Susan Matorin, ACSW Senior Lecturer of Social Work in Psychiatry Weill Cornell College of Medicine New York, NY www.marquisradio.com/2017/07/18/susan- matorin-interview/ Prior to her appointment at Weill Cornell, Ms. Matorin was aligned with the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Presbyterian Hospital in the Department of Social Work of Payne Whitney Clinic. She subsequently served as a treatment coordinator for the Affective Disorder team, and started the department’s first IOP program. As a member of Cornell’s faculty, she currently divides her time between a clinical practice in ambulatory care for individuals with serious psychiatric disorders, and a private practice for individuals, families and couples. Ms. Matorin teaches behavioral health concepts to medical social work colleagues nationally, and teaches family therapy to psychiatric residents at Cornell. A graduate of Vassar College, Ms. Matorin holds a Bachelor of Arts and an MS from the Columbia School of Social Work where she received the dean’s award. Her professional affiliations include the American Orthopsychiatry Association, the National Associa- tion of Social Workers, and the Society for Social Work Leaders in Health Care, through which she earned the Hyman J. Weiner Award in 2006. She is featured on the NASW video “Help Starts Here,” and she serves on the board of the Helen Rehr Center for Social Work Practice. How have you navigated disruptions in your industry to remain a top professional? Very easy, wonderful colleagues. I would say that the average social worker does not work in an academic medical center; you have to realize that my whole [pro- fessional] life was at Columbia and now Cornell. I had access to training, supervision and talented people that are not average social workers, so even being a student I was exposed to the best of the best. The other thing that helped me was my family. My family, music, and the support of my colleagues was key. What are two key behaviors/personality traits that al- low you to be effective in your role? I would say that I’m persistent — I will not give up. I never ask anyone to do something that I wouldn’t do myself.