Dr. Delvena
| Dr. Delvena | |
|---|---|
| Born | Delvena Renee Thomas January 31, 1976 Fort Riley, Kansas, U.S. |
| 🏫 Education | Notre Dame of Maryland University (BS) Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Morgan State University (MPH) |
| 💼 Occupation | Psychiatrist, Scientist, American soldier, mental health advocate, talk show, television news and radio expert, author |
| 📆 Years active | 2003–present |
| 👶 Children | 1 |
| 🌐 Website | Official website |
Dr. Delvena Renee Thomas
Delvena Renee Thomas, born January 31, 1976, and known professionally as Dr. Delvena, is a board-certified African American physician who specializes in psychiatry and neurology. A tireless advocate for ending the stigma surrounding mental illness, especially in minority and underserved communities, Dr. Delvena is a recognized and respected mental health expert and advocate who regularly appears on television news, talk and radio shows across the country. She is also an American Soldier, author, and scientist who worked as a researcher in the U.S Army searching for a cure or treatment to combat the effects of mustard gas on Soldiers’ skin. Dr. Delvena co-authored the research findings report titled, Cross-Linking Interferes with Assessing Sulfur Mustard-Induced DNA Damage in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Using the Comet Assay[1], which was also published online, September 30, 2008, by Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, a peer-reviewed online medical journal.
Dr. Delvena is often seen across many platforms promoting her message that healthy living is one of the keys to strengthening individuals, families, the workplace, and communities. She is an ardent champion for sound mental health and an expert in the development of evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies that strengthen cognitive thinking. As a mental health advocate who gives hope and provides help, Dr. Delvena has made it her life's mission to get people talking about mental illness and to bring it out of the shadows, in an effort to reach people from all walks of life, especially those suffering in silence out of fear of judgment, and lack of knowledge about services and treatment.
Dr. Delvena knows it takes more than just talking about mental illness, but making services and treatment accessible. In 2018, Dr. Delvena founded the nonprofit organization, The DRT Brain Love Foundation with a mission of providing a culturally sensitive and holistic approach to mental and behavioral health for disadvantaged individuals by encompassing awareness, education, prevention, and treatment modalities to improve the quality of life. Because of her unique approach to mental illness, and her background as clinical director and chief psychiatrist for the ]]U.S. Department of Justice]] Federal Bureau of Prisons, Dr. Delvena often works with companies and government agencies to structure programs and lead discussions that help organizations reboot their work climates.
Dr. Delvena was trained in medicine and psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore, MD. She maintains a private practice in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and alternative health in Fort Lauderdale, FL - DRT Behavioral Services, PLLC.[2] She also maintains hospital privileges at Aventura Hospital, Aventura, FL, and at Broward Health North, Pompano Beach, FL.
Dr. Delvena is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and a veteran of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. She has completed three tours of duty — to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait — to provide mental health care for American Soldiers dealing with stress, family separation and the pressures that come with serving in the United States Armed Forces abroad. In her private practice, Dr. Thomas provides individual, couples, and group therapy to address a wide range of issues, including performance problems experienced by amateur and professional athletes, addictions, sexual dysfunction, mood, and anxiety disorders.
Early Life
Dr. Delvena was born in 1976 on a U.S. army military base, [Fort Riley, in Kansas to Robert and Darlene Thomas, who were both originally from Clarksdale, Mississippi. Her father was a high school graduate who joined the U.S. Army after graduation and married his childhood sweetheart Darlene. Before her father's deployment to Okinawa, Japan, Dr. Delvena's parents welcomed their eldest son, Robert Thomas Jr., into the world. While stationed in Japan, Dr. Delvena's mother gave birth to a second son named Otago. Once Dr. Delvena's family was back in the United States, they moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, where Dr. Delvena was born. Soon after her birth, Dr. Delvena's family moved to New Jersey and shortly after, her father was deployed again, this time to Hanau, Germany, where Dr. Delvena began to learn the language and German culture. As the daughter of an enlisted, active duty Army Soldier, Dr. Delvena traveled to many corners of the globe with each new experience and culture laying the foundation for her interest in people and human behavior.
Dr. Delvena's high school years were spent at Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen, Maryland, where her family settled when her father's deployment abroad ended. Dr. Delvena's high school alma mater lists famous graduates such as “The Iron Man”, Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr., known as Cal Ripken Jr., a former baseball shortstop in major league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles. At her high school graduation, in 1994, she gave the keynote address to her class and she was the president of her school's National Honor Society.
As a college student, at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, now known as Notre Dame of Maryland University, located in Baltimore, Dr. Delvena's love of learning and disciplined study habits would serve her well as a biology major and scientific researcher for the U.S. Army. She also volunteered as a counselor for pregnant teenage mothers. Dr. Delvena gave birth to her only child, a boy, Tajai Antonio Dunmeyer in her sophomore year. She used her own experiences, as a young mother, to help the teenage mothers she mentored structure their lives so that they could complete high school or earn a GED.
Dr. Delvena graduated from college in May 1998 with a Bachelor's in Biology. In 2003, she attended Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and obtained her medical degree, D.O. She completed her residency training at the University of Maryland and Sheppard Enoch Pratt Psychiatry Program in 2007 while also obtaining her master's degree in public health, from Morgan State University. This began her pursuit of alternative treatments and promoting proper nutrition for the body and mind in disadvantaged communities.
Career/Current Service
- PRIVATE PRACTICE, OWNER/CEO
DRT Behavioral Services, PLLC and Wellness Spa 2013 - Present
- STAFF PSYCHIATRIST
Guidance Care Center/Westcare September 2012 - Present
Dr. Delvena manages a crisis stabilization and detox unit. Her duties include psychiatric assessments, physicals, creating treatment plans that most often include medication management for a variety of Axis I, II and III illnesses, and those dually diagnosed. Dr. Delvena also maintains privileges at Aventura Hospital in Aventura, FL and at Broward Health North in Pompano Beach, FL.
- LIEUTENANT COLONEL
U.S. Army Reserve, 807th Medical Command May 2003 - Present
As a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Dr. Delvena is responsible for psychiatric evaluations of active-duty service members which also includes the development of treatment plans for psychiatric disorders and medication management for outpatient and/or inpatient settings. Dr. Delvena also provides psychopharmacology and psychotherapy to the families of Soldiers.
- Operation Iraqi Freedom (Baghdad, Iraq Dec 2007 - Apr 2008), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan Aug 2010 – Nov 2010), & Operation Enduring Freedom (Kuwait Aug 2014 - Jan 2015): During her deployments, Dr. Delvena provided emergent assessments for combat stress clinics and inpatient treatment, including comprehensive psychiatric assessments, medication management, coordinated care with Soldiers' leadership in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait with the goal of achieving higher functioning. She acted as a medical and psychiatric consultant to clinical psychologists and clinical social workers, and assigned psychiatric nurses and technicians to duties contributing to the diagnosis and treatment of patients.::
Medical
Dr. Delvena trained in medicine and psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore, MD, from July 2003 to June 2007. Under the supervision of attending psychiatrists, Dr. Delvena completed necessary clinical rotations in order to fulfill the requirements of an accredited four-year psychiatry/neurology residency program. She completed and satisfied requirements for Step 3 of medical licensure as a Psychiatry Resident. In 2007, Dr. Delvena was hired by the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons, as the Chief Psychiatrist at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, FL, where she managed mental health services and created treatment plans for inmates in at least six different prisons located in states including Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama and the territory of Puerto Rico. She was soon promoted to Clinical Director and in charge of supervising and managing the entire medical department, other physicians, psychiatrists, assistants, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and the administrative medical staff.
As a Clinical Director and Chief Psychiatrist of the U.S Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons from July 2007 to January 2015, Dr. Delvena performed on-site management of mental health clinics for two federal prisons in Miami, FL., and supervised a medical team that included two physicians, a psychiatrist, a chief dental officer and supporting medical staff. Telemedicine services allowed her to monitor and provide services for four prison facilities and complete evaluations of patient care rendered by all clinical staff. Through the organization of CME training and quarterly meetings, she focused on quality assurance, internal procedures and other specific areas of important and vital to maintaining the integrity of the facilities she oversaw. Dr. Delvena was also primarily responsible for developing comprehensive treatment plans for inmates that also addressed comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension and liver disease. She also participated as an expert witness in mental health hearings.
In 2013, Dr. Delvena opened her own private practice in Miami - DRT Behavioral Services, PLLC. Soon after, she moved her office from Miami to Fort Lauderdale, FL and opened a Wellness Spa. Her staff of two administrative assistants and one psychiatrist quickly expanded to a staff of 16.
In addition to running her own private practice and wellness spa, Dr. Delvena volunteered as a Clinical Assistant Professor, at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine from 2013 to 2015 when she also became a consulting psychiatrist at the Cleveland Clinic of Florida to 2018.
Television/Film
Dr. Delvenas is a producer and owner of the medicine and family shows "Therapy Thursday" and "Love & Psych", coming soon to Netflix and Viceland. She is a sought after mental health expert who has appeared on television and radio broadcasts across the nation. She has discussed topics that include women in the military, bad bosses and provided expert information regarding the drug, Flakka which has destroyed countless lives and crippled communities. Her list of television appearances includes ABC 7 Chicago and the popular weekend morning talk show "Voices" at NBC 6 in Miami with the host and evening news anchor Jawan Strader. She has provided expert opinion on how to balance one's life and live one's best life from a dietary and mental health perspective. Her unique approach to battling mental health and educating the public about mental health laid the foundation for her now signature term BRAIN LOVE. Dr. Delvena has built a program around BRAIN LOVE that provides solutions to managing one's life to prevent and reduce the risks of developing mental health disorders or problems.
Appearances
Dr. Delvena is a regular guest on NBC 6 News and its weekend morning talk show “Voices” where she provides expert mental health information and advice on a variety of mental health issues impacting people and communities around the world. She is also regularly invited to speak about mental illness on television and radio stations across the country.
Miami, FL NBC 6 News and "Voices"
- Teens and Mental Health[3] - April 1, 2019
- Breaking Free: Violence, Abuse, and Trafficking[4] - January 21, 2019
- Foods That Promote Mental Wellness[5] - September 10, 2018
- Psychiatrist Talks About Men and Depression[6] - June 11, 2018
- Mental Wounds Left Untreated[7] - May 7, 2018
- Coping With Stress and Anxiety[8] - September 20,2017
- Opioid Crisis[9] - August 8,2017
Albuquerque, NM July 26, 2017
- Dr. Delvena was a guest on Good Day New Mexico in Albuquerque to discuss Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July[10]
Chicago, IL July 24, 2017
- Dr. Delvena was a guest on WLS 7 ABC Chicago discussing minorities and mental health[11]
Washington, DC July 17, 2017
- Dr. Delvena discussed the Mental Health Gap and explained how to Love Your Brain on WUSA Great Day Washington in DC,[12]
Baton Rouge, LA July 10, 2017
- Let’s End the Mental Health Stigma was the topic of Dr. Delvena's discussion on Local 33 News in Baton Rouge, LA for Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July.[13]-
Radio
Dr. Delvena gained a large fanbase as a regular guest and mental health expert on The Rick Party Show on Miami's HOT 105. In addition to educating listeners, fans also tuned in to get advice on dealing with mental illness, seeking treatment, prevention, and to learn about the latest scientific research. Dr. Delvena has also been referenced on the hit American syndicated radio show, The Breakfast Club and she has appeared as a mental expert on online radio platforms and podcasts.
Military
Dr. Delvena is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. She took the oath of office in May 2003 and was directly commissioned as a captain so that she could eventually provide psychiatric services to the U.S. Military. Her first 90-day deployment was in December 2007 to Baghdad, Iraq, where she worked at a restoration facility, which provided a wide range of mental health services to stabilize soldiers dealing with depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Dr. Delvena was part of a special program of reserve physicians who assessed and created treatment plans for several hundred combat-weary and suicidal Soldiers.
By her second 90-day tour of duty, in August 2010, Dr. Delvena had been promoted to the rank of major and she was sent to Spin Boldak in Afghanistan, which is located on the border of Pakistan and South Afghanistan. There, Dr. Delvena was head of the mental health clinic and in addition to treating Soldiers, she conducted classes and group sessions to educate and prevent mental health disturbances.
In 2014, the orders came again, this time she was deployed to Kuwait. During this deployment, she was stationed downrange for nearly 6 months, providing services to officers and enlisted Soldiers. Looking for ways to lighten the mood and put smiles on the faces of the Soldiers, many of whom would return home to spouses or mates, she began a special class teaching about romance, courting, and selecting one's best fit as a mate. She called the class "How To Avoid Falling In Love With A Jerk” patterned after a book she once read about love and relationships.
Writing
Dr. Delvena wrote a bi-weekly column for the Health and Wellness, and Faith and Family sections of the Miami Times: Virginia Shooter Suffered from Mental Illness - September 2, 2015[14]; Watch for Signs of Mental Distress in Children - September 16, 2015[15]; When it Comes to Diseases of the Brain #IamStigmaFree - September 16, 2015[16]; Anxiety Can Overwhelm Your Life in so Many Different Ways - September 23, 2015[17]; Are You Ready for Football? Learn Head Traum Signs - September 30, 2015[18]; Relationship 101: Issues - October 4, 2015[19]; Self-Cutting is Not Healthy - October 28, 2015[20]; Preparing for the Coming Post-Holiday Blues - November 4, 2015[21]. Dr. Delvena has also written for the Atlanta Voice - Thomas: 2018 BET Awards Show Celebrates Black Heroism, Black Mental Health - July 03, 2018[22].
Dr. Delvena will soon release a series of mental health self-help pamphlets as well as publishing her story as an African American female psychiatrist during her tours of duty in the Middle-East entitled "90 Days in Afghanistan".
Advocacy/Charity
Dr. Delvena founded the 501c3 non-profit organization DRT BRAIN LOVE in Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2018 to raise funds to help offset the high costs of mental health services and medications for patients in under-served and uninsured communities. DRT BRAIN LOVE has helped many people and provided access to mental health services to many who might not have otherwise been able to afford mental health care.
Dr. Delvena is active on social media and maintains platforms to raise awareness about mental illness, ways to prevent it, access to care, treatments available and related topics. She also keeps a busy schedule appearing on television news, radio shows and podcasts to advocate and educate the public in hopes of ending the stigma associated with mental illness which, oftentimes, prevents people suffering from the disease from seeking help.
No stranger to media coverage, Dr. Delvena has provided her expert opinion on a wide variety of topics including bad bosses, synthetic drugs and military issues such as lifting the ban on women in combat. Dr. Delvena is also a supporter of alternative interventions for mental wellness and balance that not only include massage therapy, acupuncture, and art therapy, but also the use Cannabidiol CBD medicinal marijuana products, in certain cases, to enhance daily living and overall mind and body wellness. Dr. Delvena supports continued research and access to CBD products for a select population.
Community Service
Dr. Delvena has served and continues to serve the community in many ways, including developing a mental wellness curriculum for Miami-Dade County police departments to assist officers with recognizing mental illness in the field, managing stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep disorders and learning self-care techniques. Dr. Delvena was selected by the Dade County Medical Association to develop and teach a monthly mental wellness program for police departments which, so far, include the North Miami Police Department and the Miami Beach Police Department.
In addition to creating programs to educate the public about mental health and wellness, Dr. Delvena is often invited to be the keynote speaker at community events and churches; to participate in health fairs and serve on panels. A strong believer in education and it being the key to unlocking the doors to success, Dr. Delvena often spearheads and participates in fundraising events for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), as well.
Guest Speaker: "Minding Our Health Business," New Mount Olive Baptist Church Health & Wellness Ministry Mental Health Conference, May 4, 2019[23]; Guest Speaker/Co-Sponsor: "Lunch and Networking at the 19th Hole," September 28, 2018 - proceeds to benefit Tuskegee University, Dorthy Baker Scholarship Endowment[24]; Guest speaker: "Mental Wellness," 2018 Florida Women lawyers of Color Summit August 24-26, 2018[25]; Speaker/Co-Sponsor "FROM CHAINS TO CHANGE Juneteenth celebration to promote knowledge, combat post-slavery effects[26] " June 18. 2018
Affiliations
- The American Psychiatric Association - Member
- The Florida Psychiatric Association - Member
- James Wilson Bridge Medical Society – Member
- Dade County Medical Association - Member
- The Opportunity Society, Year up - Member
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Broward County, FL Chapter - Member
Education/College Years
- COLLEGE OF NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE, MD
- Bachelor of Arts (1998)
- PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Medical Degree D.O. (2003)
- MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, BALTIMORE, MD
- Master’s Degree, MPH, Public Health (2007)
Personal Life
Dr. Delvena lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She enjoys time with her 23-year-old son, Tajai, who is a senior at Florida International University (FIU) and an amateur performer of hip-hop and a writer. He is majoring in Accounting and Finance.
Dr. Delvena is proficient in Spanish and treats a diverse demographic of patients through her non-profit foundation and private practice. She grew up in a Baptist household. Her mother passed away in 2005 and she maintains a tight-knit relationship with her father and two brothers. Dr. Delvena identifies herself as Christian but is also interested in learning about different beliefs. Her love of travel has taken her around the world. She is particularly drawn to Africa and wants to learn more about the different cultures, religions, and languages of the continent where her ancestors originated. Dr. Delvena also uses travel as her own means of therapy and intervention to bring balance to her life. She loves trying different cuisine, visiting museums, listening to all genres of music, especially Jazz and the Blues, and playing golf. She is a big fan of sports, including college and professional football and basketball.
References
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Cross-Linking Interferes with Assessing Sulfur Mustard-Induced DNA Damage in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Using the Comet Assay". Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods. Taylor and Johnson online. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "DRT Behavior Services, PLLC". DRT Behavior Services. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ↑ Strader, Jawan. "Teens and Mental Health". NBC Miami. NBC Miami. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ↑ Strader, Jawan. "Breaking Free: Violence, Abuse, and Trafficking". NBC Miami. NBC Miami. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ↑ Strader, Jawan. "Foods That Promote Mental Wellness". NBC Miami. NBC Miami. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ↑ Strader, Jawan. "Psychiatrist Talks About Men and Depression". NBC Miami. NBC Miami. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ↑ Strader, Jawan. "Mental Wounds Left Untreated". NBC Miami. NBC Miami. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Coping with Stress and Anxiety". Youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Opiod Crisis". Youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Minority Mental Health Awareness Month". Youtube. Youtube. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Minorities and Mental health". Youtube. Youtube. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "The Mental Health Gap". Youtube. Youtube. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "End the Mental Health Stigma". Youtube. Youtube. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Virginia Shooter Suffered from Mental Illness". The Miami Times. The Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Watch for Signs of Mental Distress in Children". The Miami Times. Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "When it Comes to Diseases of the Brain #IamStigmaFree - September 16, 2015". The Miami Times. The Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Anxiety Can Overwhelm Your Life in so Many Different Ways - September 23, 2015". The Miami Times. The Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Are You Ready for Football? Learn Head Traum Signs - September 30, 2015". The Miami Times. The Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Relationship 101: Issues - October 4, 2015". The Miami Times. The Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Self-Cutting is Not Healthy - October 28, 2015". The Miami Times. The Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Preparing for the Coming Post-Holiday Blues - November 4, 2015". The Miami Times. The Miami Times. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Thomas, Delvena. "Thomas: 2018 BET Awards Show Celebrates Black Heroism, Black Mental Health - July 03, 2018". The Atlanta Voice. The Atlanta Voice. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ Henry, Carma. "Minding Our Health Business". Westside Gazette. Westside Gazette. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ↑ Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. "2018 Dorothy Baker Golf Classic". Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ↑ Pearson, Melba. "Taking Time for Yourself Without Losing Yourself" (PDF). Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Associationolor. Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ↑ Daniel, Nyamekye. "FROM CHAINS TO CHANGE Juneteenth celebration to promote knowledge, combat post-slavery effects". Miami Times. Miami Times. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
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