Cristina Volpicelli Quinlan, PA-C, developed an early and enduring interest in psychiatry through both personal and professional experiences. Raised by a psychiatrist father and a psychiatric nurse practitioner mother, she grew up immersed in conversations surrounding mental health, addiction treatment, and whole-person wellness. Cristina graduated cum laude from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Biobehavioral Health, focusing on the biopsychosocial factors that influence health and human behavior.
She later worked in pain management, where she witnessed firsthand how chronic pain and long-term substance prescribing can contribute to dependence and addiction. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Duke University in 2022 and began her clinical career at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in the Neurosurgery and Spine Department. There, she further observed the complex relationship between chronic pain, functional decline, mental health, and substance use—experiences that reinforced her commitment to addiction and psychiatric care.
Cristina is dedicated to treating patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions through an evidence-based and trauma-informed approach. She approaches each patient with empathy and respect, meeting them where they are, viewing them beyond their diagnoses, and partnering with them to build healthier coping strategies and sustainable recovery.
In her free time, Cristina enjoys staying active, cheering on Penn State football, cooking, and spending time with her family.
