Bringing health care news to your home Helping people with their MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY Meet psychiatrist Emily Royer, MD Growing up in rural Michigan, Emily Royer, MD, felt inspired by watching her mother — a special needs care assistant — make a difference in the lives of others. “I really admired that and wanted to help people in that way,” Royer said. “I knew I wanted to be in health care from an early age.” Royer earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO), followed by her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She then completed her psychiatry residency at UNMC. As part of that residency program, Royer trained at Columbus Psychiatry Clinic in 2023, and that experience led her to join Columbus in July 2024. Meeting people where they are Royer chose psychiatry as her specialty after attending a weeklong conference on mental health at UNO. “That got me exposed to psychiatry and interested in it,” she said. “I was able to connect with a couple of psychiatrists to get my foot in the door and see what this was about. I realized it was a good fit for me. Then I participated in psychiatry student interest group work by volunteering, advocating and educating around mental health. And that solidified it for me.” As a psychiatrist, Royer prescribes both medications and therapy (counseling) to help people who struggle with a variety of conditions, including depression, adjustment disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “I enjoy connecting with people where they are and helping them feel heard and validated,” Royer said. “I’m able to provide hope and encouragement and education to help them reach their goals and thrive. I love helping people walk through some of the most difficult times.” For many, the struggle can feel like being stuck in a hole. “I don’t fix people,” Royer added. “But I give them a ladder, and I’m there to encourage and support them. We use medications, and we make changes to help them to be able to take steps on the ladder. But at the end of the day, it’s their resilience and their dedication that is the final thing that gets them out of that hole.” Family life Outside of work, Royer likes do-ityourself house projects, crafting and spending time with her husband and 6-year-old daughter. “We love to go on walks and to the playground,” she said. They also enjoy playing with pets Bruxy and Sully, a pair of adorable domesticated rats known as “fancy rats.” “They follow us around like dogs,” Royer said. 18
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