From Kuwait to Kensington: an Interview with Teji Wang
Meet Teji Wang, the new psychiatric nurse practitioner on the PRN Team! Teji was raised in a Chinese family based in Kuwait, and she brings her global perspective to psychiatric care right here in Philadelphia.
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PRN: Teji, welcome to the PRN staff team! Could you share more about yourself for our readers, and also let us know how you first became interested in psychiatric care?
Teji: I would be glad to! I identify as a “third culture” individual, and my parents moved from China to Kuwait in the Middle East before I was born. Kuwait is a petite country filled with expats, and I really appreciated its diversity. That environment really piqued my interest in learning people's stories — Where do they come from? What are their traditions? How do they relate to each other? As I grew, I knew I wanted to work closely with people, so that I could continue asking these questions.
When I began studying at UPenn, I had already chosen to focus on nursing. Through my mother, I was familiar with nursing as a way to integrate science with the art of caring for people. However, it wasn’t until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that I became interested in the mental health field. At that time, my younger sister was struggling with her mental health and couldn’t find a comfortable space to share her thoughts. Simultaneously, I was very anxious about my own future here in the States. Like many other international students, I struggled with choosing between returning home before borders closed while risking my academic pursuits, or staying here without the reassurance of being in close proximity to family. These experiences elevated my perception of the importance of mental health.
Thankfully, that year also turned out to be an unexpected season of spiritual growth for me. Through God’s providence, I found myself living in the Kensington community with a household of Christians, and there I experienced firsthand the power of a Christian community living faithfully in unity during a time of crisis. Throughout the pandemic, people intentionally gathered for common prayer, led community cleanups, and cared for the vulnerable in the name of Christ, all in the midst of so much chaos. Soon, my nursing studies led me through psychiatric clinicals while I was still receiving daily reminders of how holistic health needs can be met within a community. It was all so immediately relevant!
PRN: Wow. So your formation as a mental health professional really took shape in the context of faith and community. How do you see these values continuing to shape your work?
Teji: I love the field of psychiatry, and I love how it emphasizes humility and an eagerness to listen. We don’t have all the answers, and we have to know the people we are serving. Think of Christ. He took on human nature to pursue us and identify with us—He learned our stories. It doesn’t matter what our job is, we’re all called to serve our neighbor, and that means getting close. Right now, I’m so grateful to be a part of Philadelphia Renewal Network, in a setting where I get to practice my faith while learning people’s stories to increase access to mental health care.
PRN: Thanks Teji! Great to have you on the team!
