Alumni in Medicine: Danielle Chung Couture, M.D. ’06

• Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Philadelphia, PA
• M.D. Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, NY
• B.A. in Theological Studies, Boston College

“MFS helped create the foundation for becoming a curious, life learner.”

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work.
As a psychiatrist, I provide treatment for individuals struggling with their mental health, using therapy and medication management. I work with adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, and psychotic disorders. Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Psychiatry Residency Program, I have created my own medical practice and become a small medical business owner. What’s great about being my own boss is that I am able to devote the time I believe is necessary to treat patients. It also gives me more flexibility to engage in therapy, and work on skills, not just pills with my patients.

On a day-to-day basis, I talk to patients virtually and in person for treatment. My work involves collaboratively exploring thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and diving deep into conversations on what usually tends to be uncomfortable topics for many people. If the conversation feels too light, it usually indicates that we are not speaking about the reasons that brought the individual to treatment, and I try to redirect towards the issues that brought them to me. A common misconception is that as a psychiatrist I am constantly analyzing and judging others, but in practice, my job requires a lot of listening, supporting, and empathizing. The fun part of my job is listening to the fascinating life stories of my patients and learning about the vast range of human experiences.

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you?
My passion to go into medicine began around the time I was 12 years old, and started going on medical service trips to Ecuador and Honduras with my parents who are also physicians. On those trips, I saw the hundreds that lined up for hours to get a few moments with a physician; I recognized the great need for basic services for so many individuals. I witnessed the impact that medicine could have on underserved communities, and felt a sense of purpose in being able to participate in such work.

During my undergraduate years, while I was on the pre-med track, I studied theology in pursuit of learning more about life’s mysteries. The overlapping of concepts of purposeful dialogue and providing help to others led me to get involved in care teams helping unhoused communities in Boston, Bronx, and Camden, and eventually fostered my interest in psychiatry within medical school.

How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life?
MFS helped create the foundation for becoming a curious, life learner. I was surrounded by classmates who were emboldened to ask difficult questions and teachers who provided an open classroom welcoming of honest discourse.

Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life?
I remember reading Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States in my 10th grade history class with our teacher, Mr. Jack Schneider. It was the first time that I had been taught history from the perspective of the oppressed, and it was one of the first moments I remember becoming interested in learning the life stories of those who struggle. In reflecting back, Meeting for Worship was also such a meaningful experience. While I can’t claim to have stayed awake during every Meeting for Worship in my  teen years, that time taught me the skills of reflecting, listening, and finding peace in the quiet. A lot of my work – sitting face to face, creating a sense of togetherness just by listening and presence – has similarities to Meeting for Worship.

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