Suzanne Borkowski, MD

About Me

My curiosity about the world and my desire to help others is rooted in my early childhood. My love of the sciences, paired with my growing understanding of life's adversities, spurred me on toward a career in mental health. I was accepted to a combined Bachelor/MD program at Michigan State University. I spent my undergraduate years studying medical humanities and integrated learning to better understand the context in which I would one day practice medicine. After graduation, I moved to Washington, D.C., for psychiatry residency training at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. Four years later, having successfully completed my specialty training, I passed my board certification exam. I grew from a little kid who once toted around a toy medical kit, applying plastic casts to imaginary wounds, into a psychiatrist eager to embrace the roles of teacher, advocate, and healer.​​​​​​

Psychiatry is a specialty that calls upon us to embrace the art of medicine. It requires thoughtful integration of research-backed evidence and individual human experiences. My aim is to practice medicine in a way that values open curiosity, meaningful relationships, and humility. I prioritize patient education, harm reduction, and collaborative decision-making to ensure that patients remain at the heart of the treatment process. My approach, whether focusing on therapy or medication, is rooted in my training in psychodynamic psychotherapy.

I was intentional in seeking out a medical residency program that still regarded psychotherapy as an invaluable part of psychiatry. Over four years, we covered a wide range of conceptual models, from skills-focused techniques such as dialectical behavioral therapy to exploratory methods like psychoanalysis. In the final two years, I developed my psychodynamic skills through additional courses and over 350 hours of direct psychotherapy-focused clinical supervision.

The conceptual models I frequently draw from include relational theory, object relations, self psychology, intersubjective theory, and humanistic psychology. I believe that early life experiences and relationships shape us and continue to influence our sense of self and connections to others into adulthood. It is through understanding our history, our relationships, and our true selves, including the parts we prefer to keep hidden away, that we can cultivate personal growth and live an authentic life.​​