Flatt to start Ph.D in clinical psychology

[Mrs. P]

She shares the good news on Twitter
https://twitter.com/RachaelFlatt/status/969284695631392768

A bit of very exciting news I wanted to share - I'll be moving to #NorthCarolina this fall to start my PhD in clinical psychology @UNC with @cbulik #goheels!!! (This is how I feel right about now)

The tweet has a cute photo of her from 2010 Nationals, when she won the championship.

If you haven't already, be sure to read this piece on why Rachael decided to pursue this line of study: https://medium.com/stanford-magazin...ete-mental-health-and-body-image-4925ab34ae45

As a senior, Flatt became a research assistant in the lab of professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences C. Barr Taylor. There, she has worked on an evidence-based online screening tool for the National Eating Disorders Association originally developed by Taylor and Denise Wilfley of Washington University in St. Louis, and helped develop a continuing education course for U.S. Figure Skating on healthy body image and eating disorder prevention. Although she submitted her first round of medical school applications as planned, she then had an aha moment: “I can’t not do research.”

She wants to continue to implement the digital mental-health tools she has helped develop in clinics and tailor those tools for specific populations, particularly athletes. She believes such tools could help athletes struggling with the highs and lows of competition, injuries and media scrutiny in the international spotlight, as well as the often rocky transition to a new reality in retirement.

Very awesome and inspiring! Congrats Rachael! arty:

 

[Mathman]

Rachael rocks.

 

[Smith16]

Congratulations Rachael! Very happy for her!

 

[cruzceleste]

Congrats to her, a great reminder that there is life beyond the rink to these kids...

 

[moonvine]

Wow, that is awesome! Way to go Rachael!

 

[starla16]

Congrats Dr. Flatt !!

 

[NanaPat]

She's not Dr. Flatt yet; she's just starting. In 5 or 6 or 7 years, with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, she'll be Dr. Flatt.

 

[Barb]

So finally she decided on psychology ?, cool :thumbsup:

 

[Caustica]

Wow, this is amazing! I didn't really watch skating whilst she was competing, but I am so happy for her. It must be really inspirational to other figure skaters too, and may even help future ones someday!

 

[iluvtodd]

That's fantastic! Congrats, Rachael!

 

[Eclair]

She's not Dr. Flatt yet; she's just starting. In 5 or 6 or 7 years, with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, she'll be Dr. Flatt.

I thought a Ph.D needs about 3 years? not 5-6? except you're talking about her going to medical school?

 

[Caustica]

I thought a Ph.D needs about 3 years? not 5-6? except you're talking about her going to medical school?

It's 3 years in the UK and maybe some other countries, but it takes far longer in the US. 5 years is the normal minimum, I think, but most people take longer.

 

[MiRé]

Clinical Psych at UNC? I wish her the best luck. She may feel going back to skating would be much easier at some point .

 

[kappa_1]

Major congrats to Rachel!!
Chiming in to say that she got into a very selective program in a very selective school, although I’m in no way surprised since she’s a Smart and hardworking young woman.

 

[Mathman]

By the way, Rachael's mentor at Stanford, emeritus professor Craig Barr Taylor, literally wrote the textbook on "How to Practice Evidence Based Psychiatry" (2009).

 

[Skater Boy]

Very inspiring ; smart cookie though the title of this thread is very misleading. It sounded like she earned her PHD already!

 

[Nigel]

Congrats to Rachael!
I suspect with her work ethic and current work at Stanford, she will excel in her new academic endeavors!


recent articles on Flatt:

https://www.theatlantic.com/educati...g-new-meaning-after-an-olympic-career/553004/

https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2018...pian-builds-mental-health-tools-for-athletes/

https://medium.com/stanford-magazin...h-and-body-image-4925ab34ae45?linkId=48224970

and some comments from Flatt on the state of USFS, its training modalities and looking ahead re: the women of USFS

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/22/can-u-s-womens-skating-climb-out-of-hole-for-next-olympics/

 

[dorispulaski]

Congratulations Rachael!!!

What an interesting, worthwhile research area!

 

[likevelvet]

What a class act! Congratulations to Rachael!

 

[asp11]

How inspiring!