Raegan Smith, PhD, has joined the staff of the bariatric center at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend as a licensed psychologist. She earned her doctor of philosophy from Oklahoma State University. After completing her training in hospital, private practice and academic settings, she then went into private practice before joining the Eugene Child Development and Rehabilitation Center at Oregon Health & Science University’s Institute on Development and Disability. Her medical interests include stress management, behavioral change and disabilities. In the bariatric center, she will work with patients before and after their procedures to identify behavioral and social-emotional patterns that increase needs for supports and interventions. “The behavioral health aspect of my work will be looking at habits, with learning history, with systems, with family, with health care,” she said. “It can be a lot for people to manage.” Her philosophy of care is patient-centered and trauma-informed. “What motivates me most is connecting with other people, a meaningful connection,” she said. “When people who have felt unseen, unheard or misunderstood feel something more positive during our time together, that’s rewarding, that goes a long way.” When she’s not at work, she nurtures connections with family and friends, spending time making art, practicing yoga, walking, tending to her houseplants and flower garden, reading and being present outdoors with the rest of nature.