At Providence Treatment, we are delighted to announce a remarkable achievement within our team. Dr. Natalia Giraldo Santiago, one of our esteemed staff addiction counselors, has been honored with the Integrative Health and Spirituality Special Interest Group (SIG) Diversity Award. This recognition underscores Dr. Giraldo Santiago’s exceptional contributions to the field of integrative health and spirituality, as well as her dedication to serving diverse populations with compassion and expertise.
Dr. Giraldo Santiago’s journey in behavioral health services spans over a decade, marked by extensive clinical, research, and academic experiences. As a bilingual and bicultural licensed social worker, fluent in both Spanish and English and hailing from Puerto Rican and Colombian backgrounds, she brings a unique perspective to her work. Her passion for improving the quality of behavioral health services among diverse communities has been unwavering throughout her career.
Dr. Giraldo Santiago’s leadership has been instrumental in adapting evidence-based interventions for diverse populations. Her efforts in linguistically adapting the GetActive+ intervention for Spanish-speaking older adults experiencing chronic pain have yielded promising results. Through her dedication, she has addressed racial disparities in healthcare and empowered underserved communities to access much-needed support.
Dr. Giraldo Santiago’s commitment to improving community health extends to her future endeavors. She has submitted applications for the Loan Repayment Program and a diversity supplement. She plans to expand her clinical and research training to better serve Spanish-speaking caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
As we celebrate Dr. Giraldo Santiago’s achievements, we recognize her as a trailblazer in the industry. Her dedication, expertise, and commitment to diversity aids underserved communities and inspires us all to strive for excellence in our respective fields.
Congratulations, Dr. Giraldo Santiago, on this well-deserved recognition. Your passion and determination continue to make a profound impact on the lives of those you serve.
