"A thorough and competent understanding of diversity, culture, discrimination, and power dynamics is essential to all types of healthcare.”
Meet Mason, Clinical Psychology Student
Mason Stewart-McLellan is a Clinical Psychology student in the College of Health Sciences at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. In this student spotlight, he discusses why he chose Clinical Psychology, what inspires him, and how Midwestern University is preparing him to be an authentic and compassionate psychologist.
Quick Facts about Mason
| Name | Mason Stewart-McLellan |
|---|---|
| Program | Clinical Psychology Program |
| Graduation Year | 2027 |
| Campus | Glendale, AZ |
| Hometown | Ashland, OR |
| Undergraduate Degree | B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Gender Studies from Lewis & Clark College |
| Career Goal | Psychologist |
What Inspired Mason to Pursue a Healthcare Career?
Although I have long been interested in healthcare as a field, my path to clinical psychology has been a long one. When I graduated from college, I saw myself as a future researcher. Initially, I worked as a neuroscience researcher and from there, moved into a career in cancer clinical trials. In working with cancer patients, I found something that I was missing: patient care. Supporting these patients through the tangled web of immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery was deeply meaningful to me. Even though I was still a researcher, in a small way, I was able to help reduce their suffering. Through a career in psychology, I can provide evidence-based psychotherapy and support patients by helping them reclaim their autonomy, reducing their distress, and helping them build lives that are meaningful. Being part of that healing process gives me the sense of purpose that I was missing as a researcher, and I am grateful to have found this path.
How Did Mason's Background Shape His Path to Clinical Psychology?
Although I am not the first in my family to go to graduate school, I am the first to pursue a career in healthcare. Growing up as a young queer kid in a small town, not only was gender and sexuality affirming healthcare unusual, but seeing members of the LGBTQ+ community as doctors, nurses, and psychologists was even rarer. I have seen firsthand the suffering that can come from the homophobia and transphobia that LGBTQ+ people are subjected to, but I have also seen the beauty, resilience, and strength of a community dedicated to resolute authenticity. It is my goal not just to be the kind of clinician I wanted to see as a kid, but to act as an advocate for conscientious and affirming care in psychology.
Why Mason Chose Midwestern University's Clinical Psychology Program:
Initially, I liked Midwestern’s commitment to integrative health service psychology and open discussion of diversity and health inequities. I was impressed by the exceptional professors and their obvious passion, not just for their chosen profession, but in translating their knowledge to the next generation of psychologists. When I later came to visit for orientation day, I felt a sense of belonging and acceptance here. Standing on campus under the palo verde blossoms, I could clearly see myself spending the next four years training at this little school in the desert.
What Mason Wants to Carry Forward From His Midwestern Education:
I have learned a lot at Midwestern University, but there are two themes I want to carry into my future practice. First, is that every professional on an individual’s care team, and the patient themselves, benefits from strong interdisciplinary communication. It can be so easy to become siloed into our distinct fields of practice, but it is essential to remember that care should be holistic. Make the call, place the referral, and consult when you are unsure. We are better and we provide better care when we work together. The second theme is that a thorough and competent understanding of diversity, culture, discrimination, and power dynamics is essential to all types of healthcare. Our patients exist within complicated worlds and that does not end at the clinic door. It is paramount to maintain cultural humility and curiosity when interacting with every patient so that we may build stronger therapeutic relationships and provide more equitable and effective care.
