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Dr. Patricia Lyons: Making the Connection

Dr. Patricia Lyons: Making the Connection

September 20, 2022

2021 Hall of Fame Recipient Dr. Patricia Lyons shares her social work journey, as well as advice for overcoming burnout, remaining inclusive and giving a voice to those who are silenced.

Pat Lyons“I always joke that I have a degree in everything.”

To know Dr. Patricia Lyons is to know that is practically true. Having received her MSW from The Ohio State University in 1988, Dr. Lyons has committed herself to a lifelong journey of learning, leadership, advocacy and mentorship.

Currently the market health equity director at AmeriHealth Caritas of Ohio and owner of Lyons Counseling and Consultation Services, Dr. Lyons’s career in social work is not only impressive but also paints an inspiring picture of what is possible in the social work profession.

After earning her MSW, Dr. Lyons began working for Disability Rights Ohio (formerly Ohio Legal Rights Services), where she traveled throughout the state to investigate abuse and neglect in state psychiatric hospitals. In this role, she became empowered to focus her career on highlighting the voices and experiences of those who are often overlooked and/or marginalized.

“There is no such thing as the ‘voiceless’,” she emphasized.

From there, she moved onto Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she continued her work around child abuse and neglect, with a particular focus on shaken baby syndrome and the importance of involving communities in prevention initiatives. This work led her to accept a role as the health equity program manager for the Columbus Department of Public Health, where she dove into racism as a public health issue and developed a platform for improving Black infant and maternal health.

It was this work that inspired Dr. Lyons to earn her Ph.D. in public health from Walden University (2016). It was also around this time that she transitioned into a role at the Veterans Association, advocating for veterans who didn’t fit the stereotype typically portrayed in the media, such as Black women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“How are we allowing the space for people to exist the way that we are existing?” she said, reflecting on the experience. “How are we making the space safe for how one will identify?”

It’s this mindset that forms the foundation for Dr. Lyon’s passion in her field, and the connection between all her work, including her involvement at the College of Social Work.

In addition to being a regular donor, Dr. Lyons is a former Board President (CSW Alumni Society), and continues to serve on the board with a special focus on the Alumni Scholarship Recipients (encouraging applications and honoring students).

“My favorite part of the board’s work is to know that we are making a difference in the fundraising and guardianship of the scholarship donations to ensure that the recipient can continue their education uninterrupted,” she shared.

In 2021, Dr. Lyons was recognized at the College of Social Work’s Hall of Fame Ceremony as a recipient of the Distinguished Career Award.

Equally important to Dr. Lyons is mentorship and giving back, especially for students of color. As the Immediate Past President of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), Columbus Chapter, she is passionate about strengthening the supportive connections between NABSW, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the university. She also loves to make herself available to students for support and encourages her colleagues to do the same.

“I will often ask my colleagues, ‘Why aren’t you throwing the lifelines back?’,” she shared. “Sometimes we have to find a friend and phone a friend.”

She continued, “If you are in a particular space, make sure that you bring somebody else along; not somebody just like you but somebody who doesn’t have the same opportunity.”

Having experienced the hardships and obstacles associated with the profession, Dr. Lyons has plenty of words of encouragement for current students and alumni facing the same issues.

“When you are struggling, lean into that discomfort and name it,” she advises. “Yes, we get tired, but we have to go get some rest and then come back.”

From students, to professionals, to community advocates and beyond, Dr. Lyons hopes her story will inspire others to continue to speak up and fight for equity for all human beings.

“You always have a voice. There is no place where you don’t have a voice, unless you choose not to use it.”