Ellagene "Ellie" Cruz, PMHNP-BC

Board Certified Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Ms. Ellie, as she is fondly referred to by her patients, is a Board Certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 40+ years experience in the field. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Puerto Rico in 1979 and her graduate degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas in 2012. Having lived in Puerto Rico for 15 years and having married a Puertoriquen, she has a deep understanding of the Latino culture and a great affection for the Latino people. That experience has taught her that cultural differences add richness and diversity to life, causing her to embrace all cultures with enthusiasm. Having a son who has had 8 combat deployments, she is also well versed in the mental health needs of active and retired military. 

Ellie has worked with children, adolescents, adults and geriatrics with the full gamut of psychiatric conditions.  Settings have included inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization and even hospice. She is warm, accepting, and non-judgmental, having both the wisdom imparted by her age and experience and the freshness that comes from having completed her Master’s degree just 3 years ago. Ellie believes that every human being has within them the ability to overcome mental illness and achieve wholeness and that medications can help facilitate that healing. She also understands, however, that in many cases, psychotherapy plays an even greater role and she will always encourage her patients to make it an integral part of their treatment.