Dr. Danny Nygren ’12 Shares Rewards and Challenges as Traveling Psychiatrist

As an undergraduate, Danny Nygren ’12 knew he wanted a career in medicine. After starting out as a biology major and getting all his credits in order, he took a psychology course that changed his pre-med path. He switched to psychology and, after graduating from The Ohio State, attended the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and landed on psychiatry as his focus during his third year. It was then that he saw a branch of medicine that served patients who were often overlooked by the rest of medicine and society, and he knew he could make a difference.

“I wanted to be involved in caring for those patients,” Danny shared. “Psychiatry is also a field that I think will have a lot of innovation in the next few years as we learn more about the brain and what causes mental health disorders.”

After medical school, Danny completed his residency in psychiatry at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He knew he could take a stable job anywhere in the country since psychiatrists are in high demand. However, he wasn’t ready to settle down and still wanted adventure. As a resident, he learned about a short-term, temporary option for physicians called a locum tenens doctor, which allows for travel and not a long-term commitment.

“This allows me to gain experience in different parts of the country and in different types of hospitals and systems,” he stated. “So far, I’ve worked in Montana and Oregon, and I will be in Alaska this summer.”

What Danny loves most about being a psychiatrist is being a provider of mental health for people who are often ignored by others.

“People having a mental health crisis often feel helpless or embarrassed because they may not know how to navigate the system of mental health,” he explained. “I enjoy being able to help them navigate their illness and, ultimately, get them back to their normal life.”

There has been an uptick in public mental health awareness, which Danny fully supports, but he recognizes that the funding for resources still lags. The most difficult part of his job is when a person needs mental health resources that are not available where they live. Other rewarding aspects of being a locum tenens doctor is that the companies who hire Danny also pay for his travel and housing. His ultimate goal as a locum tenens doctor is to spend a year in New Zealand.

“After I get all my travel and adventure out in the next few years, my plan is to return to the Midwest, so expect to see me back in a few years!” he mused.

Although medical school, his residency, and his professional path have hindered his ability to come back to Columbus for official Delt alumni events prior to the pandemic, he’s enjoyed staying connected to his Delt brothers via Zoom, through playing video games together, and through a Fantasy Football league.

You can contact Danny at nygren.12@gmail.com.