7th Annual PA Early Psychosis Conference

Bobbi Bair

Family Peer Specialist, HOPE

Bobbi Bair started her Family Peer career at Northeast Counseling Services in August 2015. She was the first credentialed Family Support Partner, with the Joint Planning Team, in Luzerne County. Bobbi worked for 3 years with the Joint Planning Team. Bobbi started working at Children’s Service Center in 2019 as the first Family Peer Support Specialist on the HOPE team. Bobbi, soon after, shared her skills to help expand Family Peer Support services at Children’s Service Center. There are now 4 Family Peer Support Specialists in the organization, 3 being on the HOPE team. Bobbi continues to positively influence, mentor and support families in the community and teaches them to advocate for themselves in hopes to ensure their voices are heard.

Emily Becker-Haimes, PhD

Fidelity Advisor, HeadsUp

Emily Becker-Haimes, PhD, is the Fidelity Advisor for the HeadsUp team. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She is also the clinical director of the Pediatric Anxiety Treatment Center at Hall-Mercer, which is a specialty pediatric anxiety and OCD clinic dedicated to serving youth in the public mental health system. Emily is a clinical psychologist and implementation scientist dedicated to improving the quality of mental health services in community settings. She also holds expertise in the clinical assessment and treatment for youth with anxiety disorders and complex psychiatric comorbidities, as well as in measuring fidelity within the context of evidence-based practice implementation. She is delighted to be a part of the HeadsUp team and work to ensure that those with serious mental illness are able to access effective intervention.

Melanie Bennett, PhD

Division Director for the Division of Psychiatric Research Services (DPSR), University of Maryland

Melanie Bennett, PhD, is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She was an investigator on NIMH’s RAISE Implementation and Evaluation Study and contributed to the development of Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC)’s psychosocial intervention components. She leads Training and Implementation Support Services for the Maryland Early Intervention Program, a state-funded center of excellence in early psychosis, where she directs CSC implementation in Maryland. In 2020 she and her team -in collaboration with colleagues at Johns Hopkins, Sheppard Pratt, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine -joined NIMH’s Early Psychosis Intervention Network, a national effort to create a national database to support research that will improve practice.

May Booth, BA

Education Specialist, Mazzoni Center

May Booth, BA (they/them) holds the role of Education Specialist at Mazzoni Center where they focus on interpersonal violence and LGBTQIA+ identity education. They have a long history as a victim’s advocate for survivors of interpersonal violence, and they love creating survivor-centered education and events that honor survivors and their stories. May’s current work intends to create a broad, intersectional, LGBTQIA+ competent resource network for LGBTQIA+ survivors of interpersonal violence in the Philadelphia area to ensure LGBTQIA+ survivors receive quality and competent care wherever they access services. May has presented on many stages ranging from the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference to the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice, and they’ve trained over 1500 people on topics such as trauma-informed care, interpersonal violence dynamics, supporting survivors, LGBTQIA+ identity, trans-affirming care, and transformative justice.

Andrea Bowen, MD

Psychiatrist, PEACE

Andrea Bowen, MD, MPH,has been a psychiatrist at the PEACE program of Horizon House in Philadelphia for 5years. She earned her MD at Duke University and MPH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was part of the Clinical Research Scholars Program. Prior to working at PEACE, she specialized in women’s mental health, psychotherapy, and integrated primary-psychiatric care at Crozer Chester Medical Center, and was an outpatient psychiatrist and lead of the Women Veteran’s Mental Health Clinical team at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia. In addition to her work at PEACE, she is the Chair of the Women’s Committee of the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society.

Aaron P. Brinen, PsyD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Director of Psychotherapy Training Psychiatry Residency Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Aaron P. Brinen, PsyD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he directs psychotherapy training in the psychiatry residency program. He is a primary developer of recovery-oriented cognitive therapy (CT-R) along with Aaron T. Beck, MD. Under the guidance of Dr. Beck, Dr. Brinen has worked to formalize and standardize the CT-R protocol for individual and group therapy settings, as well as for use in team-based psychiatric care and during inpatient treatment. He is a co-author of the manual of CT-R for serious mental health conditions, and has been active in the training of community therapists from around the world. Dr. Brinen is interested in researching the impact of recovery-oriented cognitive therapy on inpatient and outpatient individuals. Additionally, he is interested in the crossover of different evidence-based treatments, particularly prolonged exposure for PTSD applied to individuals living with both PTSD and schizophrenia. He is the principal investigator in a study applying CT-R during medication management checks and also the supervisor for the WISEUP clinical trial, studying treatment for persecutory delusions.

Speaker obtains author royalties from Guilford Publications 

Monica Calkins, PhD

Co-Director, HeadsUp

Monica E. Calkins, Ph.D., is the HeadsUp Co-Director who oversees outreach, education, training, and coordinated specialty care program evaluation and fidelity. Dr. Calkins grew up in Philadelphia, attending Philadelphia public schools and earning a Bachelor’s degree from Temple University. She earned a doctorate in Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research from the University of Minnesota and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania before joining its faculty, currently Associate Professor. Dr. Calkins’ research and clinical work focuses on early identification and intervention in psychotic disorders, and she has authored more than 190 scholarly publications in this area. Her work and mission is to improve the lives and experiences of young people with psychosis and their families.

George Corona, LSW, CPRP

Team Leader, ENGAGE

Adam DiBattista, MS, LSW

Team Lead, Connect 2 Empower

Adam DiBattista, MS, LSW, has been providing services in community mental health for six years. Of those six years, five have been in early psychosis intervention. First, as a psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner, then as a team leader and psychotherapist. Adam also enjoys working and engaging with Hospital inpatients when he is working for the Geisinger Health System. He has been recognized for his service delivery and positive outcomes. Adam enjoys traveling, trying new local restaurants, and spending time with his friends in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Ashleigh Hillard, CPS

Certified Peer Specialist, HOPE

Ashleigh Hillard, CPS is a graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School. Knowing she wanted to work with children, she obtained employment at a daycare center as a classroom aide. She worked diligently and became certified to become a Pre-School teacher and continued in that position for a total of six years. She then went on to obtain her Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. Ashleigh completed her internship at the Children’s Service Center. Later, when an employment opportunity became available at the Children’s Service Center, she applied and obtained the position. She started as the Support Staff of the HOPE Team, which is a First Episode of Psychosis program. After being in that position for two years, Ashleigh wanted to further herself within the field. She took the course and became state certified as a Certified Peer Specialist. She has been a Certified Peer Specialist for a year now and uses her own life experiences to relate to the participants she works with. Ashleigh feels she has found her true purpose in life in this position.

Katherine Hutcheson, MSW, LSW

Therapist, CAPSTONE

Katherine Hutcheson, MSW, LSW, is a therapist with the CAPSTONE FEP program in Harrisburg, PA. She has a Master’s in Social Work and is a Licensed Social Worker. She has been with the CAPSTONE program for almost one year as the Family Education Specialist. Previous work experience includes community mental health work and co-occurring disorders.

Meredith Jacoby, BA

Outreach Coordinator, HeadsUp

Meredith is the HeadsUp Outreach Coordinator and uses a variety of creative tools to help educate and inform people about early intervention resources for psychosis. After receiving a BA in psychology from Temple University she has worked for over two decades in outreach and marketing for many organizations and businesses including two of her own creation. She hopes her work will empower people who are struggling and will continue to shift societal stigma around serious mental illness.

Megan Jumper, MS

Data Analyst, HeadsUp

Megan is the HeadsUp Data Analyst. She evaluates data from the FEP programs across Pennsylvania which, to date, have provided statistical evidence of improved outcomes and participants’ experiences over the course of engagement with FEP care. Megan received her Master’s in Applied Statistics from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and has worked in the medical field for 7 years—including 5 years at the University of Pennsylvania. Megan is passionate about supporting the dedicated efforts of FEP programs through data exploration and analyses.

Christian Kohler, MD

Co-Director, HeadsUp

Christian Kohler, MD, is the co-director of HeadsUp.  Dr. Kohler grew up in Austria and obtained a doctorate in medicine from Innsbruck University. He completed residencies in psychiatry at Wright State University and neurology at the University of Cincinnati, and subsequently a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kohler has been on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania since the late 1990’s and he is currently professor of psychiatry and neurology. He has participated in research on emotional processing, brain related studies and novel treatments resulting in over 100 publications to date. Dr. Kohler has extensive experience in the treatment of severe mental illness and, in particular, of young persons with recent onset of psychosis – a challenging and rewarding area to pursue improvement in clinical symptoms and functioning.

Dennis Laughery, CPS

Certified Peer Specialist, Wesley Family Services

Dennis Laughery is a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) for Wesley Family Services. Dennis is a valued member of the Coordinated Specialty Care Team of the ENGAGE Allegheny, First Episode Psychosis Program. Prior to working with ENGAGE, Dennis was providing peer support to adults and older adults who had a diagnosis of severe and persistent mental illness orco-occurring disorders as a CPS for Wesley. He was introduced to the professional role of peer support through his own recovery. Dennis is trained in working with older adults, those who have substance use histories and transition age youth and young adults living with early psychosis. He has obtained his Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) Certification and actively shares his knowledge of his own recovery with the peers that he supports through his work with ENGAGE as well as his colleagues and team members. In Dennis’s free time, he values being with his family; enjoying anything that he can do (preferably active and outdoors) with his two boys (Alec and Aiden) and his wife (Allison).

Amanda McKinney, MSW, LSW

Therapist, CAPSTONE

Denise Namowicz, MSW, LCSW

Director, HOPE

Denise is a graduate of Marywood University (MSW) and Lock Haven University (BSW). She has 41 years of experience in the Health & Mental Health Field and Management. She is a licensed Clinician and has held many management positions involving Program Development, Integration and Implementation of Evidence-Based Programs, Program Redesign, Quality Assurance, Peer and Family Peer Role Development. Her clinical experience is reflective in mental health and substance abuse with children, adolescents, adults and seniors through the practice modalities of individual, family, relationship/marital counseling and group therapy. Currently, Denise is the Director of HOPE (First Episode Psychosis Program) at Children’s Service Center. She is a Certified PCIT Therapist, Certified Peer Supervisor, State wide Trainer for First Episode Psychosis and Co-Author of Pennsylvania Coordinated Specialty Care Programs for First Episode Psychosis: Six- and Twelve-Month Outcomes in Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

Elisa Nelson, PhD

Psychologist, Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center, PERC

Dr. Elisa Nelson, PhD, is a psychologist in the Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center (PERC) at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). She spent the past 5 years developing specialized training in Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) for individuals with serious mental health conditions. She completed her post-doctoral training in CT-R at UPenn and has worked at the Beck Institute for the past 2 years training staff from various disciplines in this approach. She is currently interested in researching CT-R concepts and the effectiveness of this approach in coordinated specialty care programs, including ways CT-R can be adapted to support families.

Elijah Nnaeto

Certified Peer Specialist, CAPSTONE

Elijah Nnaetois a certified peer support specialist within the CAPSTONE FEP program located in Harrisburg, PA. He’s genuinely passionate and motived about working with individuals experiencing psychosis. Elijah has 4 years’ experience working with individuals with first episode psychosis. Elijah works relentlessly to provide the best supporting, and quality care on a consistent basis for the individuals within the Capstone program.

Bette Stewart, BS

FamilyPsychoeducation Consultant and Trainer, University of Maryland

Bette Stewart, BS, is the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Psychiatric Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, Evidence-Based Practice Center, Family Psychoeducation Consultant and Trainer and has worked in the Behavioral Health field for over three decades as an advocate, a family peer, and a trainer.

Marci Sturgeon-Rusiewicz, MS, LPC, NCC, CPSS, CPRP

Senior Manager of Recovery and Resiliency, Wesley Family Services

As the Senior Manager of Recovery and Resiliency for Wesley Family Services, Marci is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Doctoral Candidate of Counseling Psychology. Her clinical work involves both assessment and psychotherapy to youth and young adults within a university counseling center as well as adults and older adults in a community behavioral healthcare setting. She is the Clinical Director of the First Episode Psychosis Programs (ENGAGE) at Wesley Family Services. Marci has a background in program development within the community based behavioral healthcare setting. Her work emphasizes a bio/psycho/social support system from a strengths-based perspective for youth and adults. She holds an undergraduate degree in education from Carlow College and earned a Master of Science in professional counseling from Carlow University.

Jerome Taylor, MD

Co-Director and Psychiatrist, CHOP FEP

Jerome H. Taylor, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. He spends 30% of his time treating children and adolescents with psychosis (ages 10-21) and with the CHOP First Episode Psychosis Program and 70% of his time on research. Dr. Taylor’s research program focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychotic features, to inform novel biologically-targeted treatment development. He is particularly interested in the roles that oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and circadian rhythm play in psychosis symptom progression in youth.

Dr. Taylor graduated summa cum laude from Rice University with a BA in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, completed an Applied Epidemiology Fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, received his MD from the University of Virginia, and completed his psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Yale, where he was Chief Resident with Dr. Justyna Piasecka. At Yale, he conducted clinical research focusing on anxiety and obesity.

Elizabeth Thomas, PhD

Assistant Professor, College of Public Health at Temple University

Dr. Elizabeth Thomas, PhD, is an assistant professor in the College of Public Health at Temple University. She is a psychologist and mental health services researcher with a background in psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery-orientedtreatment for individuals with serious mental illnesses. Her research has particularly centered on early intervention in psychosis, treatment decision-making, and the role of peer specialists in fostering service engagement and community participation. Currently, Dr. Thomas is pursuing research on peer-delivered decision support to enhance emerging adults’ engagement in early intervention services and participation in the community with grant support from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research. She is grateful for the profound influence that peer specialists have had on her work and understanding of how to best serve individuals with significant mental health issues.

Crystal Vatza, MS

Education and Tele-Health Manager, HeadsUp

Crystal is the HeadsUp Education and Tele-Therapy Manager. She uses a variety of tools and resources to educate clinicians and the community about psychosis assessment and early intervention both in person and via tele-health platforms. After receiving a BA in Psychology from East Stroudsburg University and MS in Counseling from Cairn University, she achieved her status as a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor and Board Certified – Tele Mental Health Professional. She has spent more than a decade specializing in psychosis and severe and persistent mental health conditions across all ages, populations, and levels of care. She has been a national trainer in many certified and evidenced-based curriculums as well as developed and presented individualized trainings ranging from small groups to national conferences. Crystal is driven to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health difficulties and improve access to care for those in need. Her hope is that her service to others will empower those who are struggling to realize their full potential and ability to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

R. Marie Wenzel, MSW, LSW

Director, PEACE

Marie Wenzel, LSW, is the Director of the PEACE program in Philadelphia. Over the last 6years, Marie quadrupled the size of PEACE, now proudly serving 150 individuals. Recognizing the challenges participants faced after discharge, Marie developed a stepped-care model incorporating Occupational Therapy as the primary intervention in the step-down program, known as Step Up. Feeling confident in the PEACE program’s fidelity to CSC, Marie is interested in developing impactful and efficient care models for post-discharge from EIP programs.

Kris Wright, LCPC

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Clinical Supervisor

Kris Wright, LCPC, is a trainer in empirically supported practices and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Clinical Supervisor in Maryland and Virginia. Kris’s work focuses on the Person-Centered holistic approaches working with individuals with emerging and persistent behavioral health concerns, co-occurring substance use, and trauma histories focusing on identifying and addressing the impacts of multiple life domains on individuals’ behavioral health.

Melanie Yabs, PharmD, MS, BCPP

Clinical Pharmacist, STEP

Melanie Yabs, PharmD, MS, BCPP, is an outpatient psychiatric clinical pharmacist at Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH), affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Dr. Yabs’s clinical focus is on transitioning patients from inpatient to outpatient care and medication/side effect management at WPH’s outpatient facilities, including Services for the Treatment of Early Psychosis (STEP). Dr. Yabs’s passion for the treatment of psychosis spans over a decade as she helped run clinical trials for a long-acting injectable antipsychotic that many of her patients are now stabilized on. During her pharmacy residency, Dr. Yabs also conducted research on the outcomes of long-acting injectables in early psychosis.

Sarah Zagorac, OTD, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist, PEACE

Sarah Zagorac, OTD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist at PEACE in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to joining PEACE, Sarah earned her bachelor’s in neuroscience and psychology at King College, a master’s in liberal arts at the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in occupational therapy from Thomas Jefferson University. She has worked in behavioral research for eight years, six of which focused on psychosis research. Sarah is passionate about amplifying the voices of participants and increasing access to services.