A practicing Physician Assistant for 23 years, Julie Rake's career trajectory began at Phoenix College (PC), where she was the first in her family to attend college and attain an advanced degree. She attended PC under her maiden name, Julie Ann Ramella, made the Dean’s List, and was a member of La Sociedad Nacional Hispanica (Spanish class honors) and Sigma Delta Mu (National Hispanic Honors Society). Building a strong academic foundation, she completed her general education requirements in 1997 and transferred to ASU for her bachelor's degree.
"I came from a challenging childhood filled with insecurity and trauma. I was never pushed or prepared for college," said Julie. "After high school, I went straight to work at an animal hospital. Once I resolved to pursue college and enter the medical field, trepidation set in."
She was encouraged to attend community college. "Phoenix College is an institution of proficient, caring staff and instructors who supported me in my vulnerability as I embarked on an intimidating new chapter in my young life," reflected Julie. "I am forever grateful to PC for being that beacon of love and light in my life. In many ways, it was the first chapter in my story."
Along with her education came profound growth, inspiration, and a deep desire to give back.
Julie practiced family medicine for 15 years, completed an Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona, and has practiced Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale since 2015. From 2015 to 2020, she was a provider for the SPARTA Project, helping warfighters, veterans, and first responders address the invisible wounds of war and service. Julie currently teaches PTSD modules for police and fire departments' Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) on a roving basis. From 2016 to 2023, she served as a board member and board chair for the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona.
For nearly a decade, Julie had been honing a talk, dreaming of a TED stage. And then a woman from Scotland reached out via social media to invite Julie to serve as a director for "Alter of Earth," a Scottish-based non-profit organization that provides nature-based mental wellness and trauma recovery programs. The woman had also secured a license to host TEDx events in Scotland, which led to Julie's recent TEDx Talk: "Can Love Heal What Divides us?"
In her talk, she confronts a stark paradox: We thrive in an era of unimaginable innovation, yet crises explode around us—skyrocketing mental health disorders, addiction, homelessness, suicide, and more. Speaking in Scotland's Paisley Abbey, founded in 1163, she unpacks this profound disconnect. She makes the case for humanity's next evolutionary leap: transcending our collective despair, isolation, and fading hope through the transformative power of love. "This isn't just a talk—it's a call to awaken," she said.
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