Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is observed throughout the United States from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the history, culture, and uniqueness of those of Hispanic descent.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re honored to highlight the voices, culture and cutting-edge work of researchers from Mass General Brigham with Hispanic roots.
Up next, we are happy to introduce Fairlee C. Fabrett, PhD, who is the director of Training and Staff Development in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at McLean Hospital.
A native of Mexico, Dr. Fabrett has lived experience balancing the expectations of her culture and those imposed by her adopted country and culture.
She strives to use her own acculturation story as a basis for understanding the stories and experiences of the trainees and patients she works with.
She believes that race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and the breadth of experiences that comprise our identity are vital elements to consider when providing treatment, creating training programs, and establishing supervision practices.
Q: How has your cultural background influenced your professional journey?
I think my cultural background has influenced every step that I have taken. Starting with my move to the United States for college and the friendships I sought out then, to the graduate school program I chose and the research I was conducting, and many of the opportunities I have pursued after I got my degree.
Also, being acutely aware of how institutions and groups of people interact and scrutinize those that are seen as “others” has shaped many of my decisions and initiatives as a professional.
For example, I’m involved in the recruitment of clinical staff and psychology trainees, and I am deeply committed to doing my part to diversify our task force to increase patient representation and provide better clinical care.
I am also passionate about providing mentorship and guidance to individuals from marginalized backgrounds so that they are better able to understand the system and find connections, in the same way my mentors did with me.
Q: What’s your favorite cultural dish, and what memories does it bring back?
For me the tamales are absolutely my favorite dish. Tamales remind me of Christmas — my family gets together, and all my aunts and my grandma cook. They make several dishes, some fruit salads, menudo, turkey — but the tamales are just my favorite.
There are a lot of different styles of tamales — even within Mexico — and my favorite ones are made with beef, and they look orange/red.
It’s funny because there’s a running joke in the family that every year when we eat them, people say, “Last year’s tamales were better than these ones” — which is probably not true, and just gives you a window into our family culture.
Q: How has your cultural background shaped your approach to your research/work?
In my role as training director and program development, I’m acutely aware of the need we have as a training institution and a psychiatric hospital to diversify our staff, not just ethnic/racial diversity but with all the different identities in mind.
In each program I run or coordinate, I am very mindful to bring a diverse group of trainees and employees into our system and do the best possible to help them acclimate to a systemic culture that might not be ready for the kind of diversity we need.
Q: How do you hope to inspire future generations of Hispanic individuals in your field?
I am a mentor and supervisor to many BIPOC trainees and post-baccalaureate fellows. In my conversations I make sure to always encourage them to dream, to not be swayed by unhelpful comments that others can make, to believe in their own abilities.
During our conversations sometimes we talk about their own culture, the messages get from family and parents and the way they make sense of them. We also come up with ways to thrive even when the that support might not be fully there, which could be because their family does not truly understand their goals or because they have lost their hope in the system.
I share a bit about my career path hoping to inspire them and show them that it’s possible to be Latina and have a role like I have in a predominately White institution.
Q: How do you stay connected to your roots, whether it’s through language, traditions, or community involvement?
