Annual PA Early Psychosis Conference

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.

Nicole Branning, MS

Supported Employment and Education Specialist HOPE Team, Children's Service Center

Nicole Branning, a Supported Education and Employment Specialist, has worked for Children’s Service Center for the past six years. Nicole began working as a SEES four years ago when the HOPE Team was established in Wayne and Pike Counties. She received her BA in Psychology, and after many years returned to school to earn her MS in Applied Psychology. Nicole has built close relationships with employers and schools in both counties. She acts as an advocate for her participants in school by being their voice during their annual IEP meetings. In order to help make the community aware of this program, Nicole outreaches to hospitals, schools, and speaks at community events. Nicole is currently in the process of transitioning into a new role at Children’s Service Center where she will continue to provide services as an Outpatient Therapist.

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

Emeka Chima

Students with Psychosis Representative

Emeka Chima lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and has been a six-month Peer Support Specialist in recovery within th
Track Maryland program significantly improving the lives of adolescents and young adults living with mental health di
Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. For the past
an Executive Board Secretary for the non-profit Students with Psychosis coordinating with different hubs and commun
fellow students and advocates with the lived psychosis experience. He has contributed as a Keynote speaker for mental
the Tennessee Conference, Mental Health America National Conference, and the Schizophrenia International Research
Using his lived experience with schizophrenia Emeka has networked with various audiences through his advocacy wor
underrepresented communities to create more fulfilling lives.

Stephen Dages, BS, CPS

Certified Peer Specialist PERC, University of Pennsylvania

Sean Driscoll, CPRS

CSC Trainer/Consultant University of MD Baltimore, Co-Founder Konnect the Dots, Inc. Konnect the Dots, Inc.

Sean “Scoe Romero” Driscoll is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and Trainer/ Consultant at the University of Maryland Baltimore. After spending more than 6 1/2 years serving clients in RCS and on two ACT teams, he currently has served over the last year and a half in his role as the trainer and consultant of the early intervention programs across the state of Maryland, one of which spent time in as a patient with bipolar 1 with psychosis. He is one of 3 cofounders of Konnect The Dots Inc, an educational outreach organization utilizing lived experience to relate to adolescents and young adults to combat mental health problems our youth experience. Sean also utilizes his social media brand “Scoe Romero” to display his extensive holistic self-care routine for how he learned how to manage his mental health without pharmaceutical medication after unknowingly being affected by a medication lawsuit for nine years. He is currently 18+ months med free and stable with bipolar 1 and is a representation of the slogan that recovery truly looks different for everyone.

Arielle Ered, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow, Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Arielle Ered is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania within the Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section and a clinician at the Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center. Dr. Ered completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience at Temple University and a clinical psychology internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center within the psychosis track. She is passionate about recovery-oriented treatment for psychotic disorders and focuses clinically on individuals on the psychosis spectrum who have experienced co-occurring trauma, as well as folks on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Her research examines the impact of stress and trauma on individuals on the psychosis spectrum, both prior to onset of the disorder and in the first episode.

Christian Kohler, MD

Co-Director, HeadsUp

Margaret (Maggie) Manges, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center

Margaret (Maggie) Manges (she/her/hers & they/them/theirs) is a postdoctoral fellow at the Ohio State University Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER). Maggie completed her PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University at Buffalo, SUNY and her predoctoral internship at EPICENTER. She has been working with people in first episode psychosis for five years and is dedicated to promoting equity and social justice for this population. She is particularly interested in promoting a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ people with or at-risk for developing psychosis. In particular, she aims to understand symptom variance, barriers to care, and treatment gaps for this clinically important but significantly understudied population. Her research interests broadly encompass high risk outcomes, such as substance use, sexual violence, bullying, and suicide, for at risk or marginalized populations. She is also deeply committed to the development and dissemination of prevention and intervention science. Her scholarship and dedication to the field of psychology has garnered awards from her university and from professional organizations, including the Ph.D. Excellence Award, the Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Award, and the American Psychological Association Division 44 Rising Star Award in Leadership and Advocacy.

Tushita Mayanil, MD

Child Psychiatrist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Tushita Mayanil, MD, specializes in psychiatry and is certified in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She practices at University of Pittsburgh Physicians, Department of Psychiatry and is affiliated with UPMC Presbyterian, and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She completed her fellowship at Children’s National Health System, residency at University of Illinois College of Medicine and Seth Gordhandandas Sunderdas Medical College/ King Edward Memorial Hospital, and medical degree at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College.

Benjamin McAfee, DrPH(c)

Professional Public Speaker

Christine Michaels, MSHSA

Chief Executive Officer, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania

Christine Michaels, MSHSA, is Chief Executive Officer of NAMI Keystone PA, the state organization in Pennsylvania for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health advocacy organization. Ms. Michaels has more than 35 years of experience in community mental health service delivery, social service agency administration, public policy, and legislative advocacy. Ms. Michaels serves on several planning councils and committees in Allegheny County and Pennsylvania, including the State 988 Advisory Board. Ms. Michaels holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration.

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 is a psychologist in the Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center (PERC) at the University of Pennsylvania.  She spent that past several 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.

Melissa M. Nelson, Ed.D.

School Safety and Security Subject Matter Expert and Trainer United States Risk Training Firm, RSM

Joshua Riley, MD, PhD

Psychiatrist, ENGAGE

Dr. Joshua Riley has been the psychiatrist at the ENGAGE program through Wesley Family Services for Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for 3 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge before completing a PhD in Linguistics at the University of Maryland – College Park and an MD at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. After medical school he completed residency training in psychiatry at Western Psychiatric Hospital/UPMC, during which he designed and co-led an ACT for Psychosis therapy group on an inpatient schizophrenia unit. In the past he also worked as a psychiatrist at Mon Yough Community Services. Currently he is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh and teaches an annual course on the history and philosophy of psychiatry to psychiatry residents. He is also in private practice in Pittsburgh at OCD Spectrum. He is especially interested in the intersection of OCD and psychosis and the overlap in psychotherapeutic approaches useful for both challenges, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He is also interested in phenomenological approaches to understanding psychosis as a self-disorder and the implications for treatment.

Kait Rosa, LCSWC

Co-Founder Konnect the Dots, Inc. Catholic Charities

Kathryn Sabella, PhD

Assistant Professor, Director of Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research University of Mass, Chan Medical School

Maggie Smith, BS

Research Assistant Temple University

Gretchen Snethen, PhD, CTRS

Professor, Associate Director Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion

Dr. Gretchen Snethen is a Professor in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University and the Associate Director of the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. She is a recreational therapist by profession. Her research centers around the premise that community participation broadly, and leisure participation specifically, are medical necessities. That is, community participation is an important independent outcome and a catalyst for improved health. To that end, her work centers on the cross-section between community participation, health, and environment and includes both intervention development and efficacy, as well as exploratory research. She has funded projects that aim to increase community-based leisure participation for young adults; promote independent transportation usage; support parents to engage in meaningful activities with their children; and research that explores the relationship between community and personal factors and health behaviors. She is published in both academic journals and develops a number of evidence-based training resources and plain-language documents in order to increase provider and consumer access to research and stimulate the translation of research to practice.

Alison Swigart, MD

Assistant Professor, Penn State Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and Director,Penn State Community Psychiatry Program

Dr. Alison Swigart graduated from medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed psychiatry residency training at Brown University. She is an Assistant Professor in the Penn State Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and serves as Director of the Penn State Community Psychiatry program. She works as an attending psychiatrist at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Harrisburg, PA, where she focuses on treatment of individuals with First-Episode Psychosis as well as Schizophrenia across the lifespan. She has worked with participants in Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s CAPSTONE FEP program since 2018. She is actively involved in education of medical students, residents and fellows, and has received multiple awards for teaching.

Andreea Temelie, PharmD, BCPP

Clinical Pharmacist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Dr. Andreea Temelie received her BS in psychology from the University of Michigan and PharmD from the University of Minnesota with an integrative interprofessional mental health focus and leadership emphasis. She completed psychiatric pharmacy residency training at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. Following residency, Dr. Temelie expanded clinical pharmacy services within the UPMC ambulatory child/adolescent psychiatry service line through integration into several hospital-based clinics and partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient programs. As a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist, she provides clinical pharmacy services and education for patients and providers on evidence-based treatment for developmental and behavioral health conditions.

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.

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.

Sarah Y. Vinson, MD

Professor, Chair of Psychiatry Morehouse School of Medicine

Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson is a triple board-certified child & adolescent, adult and forensic psychiatrist and Professor and Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). A proud alum of Florida A & M University for undergraduate, she graduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine as an inductee in the Chapman Humanism Honors Society and with research honors. She then completed her general psychiatry training at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School. This was followed by fellowships in both child and adolescent and forensic psychiatry at Emory School of Medicine, where she remains on the adjunct faculty. At MSM, she was the lead architect and the inaugural Program Director for the Child Psychiatry Fellowship, the first at an HBCU medical school. Dr. Vinson is the co-editor of two texts, she has written book chapters and/or peer reviewed articles, and she has received multiple awards in recognition of her leadership and service.

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.