11th Annual PA Early Psychosis Conference

Melanie Bennett, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Dr. Bennett is a psychologist and has been involved in research on treatment for early psychosis for the last decade. She has participated in funded research in this area and is active in training clinicians and programs throughout the state of Maryland on the different components of Coordinated Specialty Care. 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 School of Medicine – joined the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET), a national effort to create a national database to support research that will improve practice. This project supports the Connection Learning Healthcare System, a Pennsylvania-Maryland partnership to support Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs and improve services in both states.

Aaron P. Brinen, PsyD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and 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. He is the author of Living Well with Psychosis, a book for those living with psychosis. 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 CT-R 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 

Joshua Calarino, CRPS

Data Analyst

Joshua Calarino, CRPS, believes in uplifting the voices of youth, young adults, families, and consumers to create meaningful, lasting change within systems of care. He is passionate about ensuring that people with lived experience are empowered as leaders and partners in transforming behavioral health systems.

Over the last decade, Joshua has grown from a youth advocate supporting his local community to a professional with lived experience who works nationally to advance equitable access to systems of care. Throughout his career, he has served as a Youth Program Coordinator, Lead Peer, Peer Evaluator, Training Coordinator, Youth Advocate, Consultant, and Youth Advisory Board member. He draws upon his lived and professional experience to strengthen behavioral health systems and improve outcomes for youth, young adults, families, and communities.

As a Youth Program Coordinator at Youth MOVE National, Joshua supported communities in implementing youth peer support services, developed and expanded training curricula, and delivered training and technical assistance nationwide. He also created programming to help communities implement racial equity practices and believes that lasting innovation is achieved through authentic partnerships and collaboration.

Joshua also served as Board President of Youth MOVE National, providing governance leadership, supporting the Executive Director, Johanna Bergan, and supporting organizational growth while ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and vision. Throughout his work, he prioritized continuous quality improvement and maintained his credential as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) in Florida.

As the staff lead at Youth MOVE National for the University of Connecticut School of Social Work’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) initiative, Joshua partnered with national leaders to strengthen youth-centered crisis response systems. His contributions included leading the six-part webinar series, Designing with Youth: Strategies for Building Crisis Response Systems; contributing to the publication Mobile Response & Stabilization Services National Best Practices; participating in monthly coaching sessions with MRSS Quality Learning Collaborative (QLC) sites; and helping develop tools and resources that support MRSS implementation and sustainability.

These experiences reinforced Joshua’s commitment to building equitable, youth-driven systems of care and deepened his appreciation for collaborative partnerships that improve services for youth, young adults, and caregivers during their most vulnerable moments. He continues to champion authentic youth partnership, peer support, and systems transformation, believing that sustainable change happens when communities intentionally design solutions alongside those with lived experience.

Monica Calkins, PhD

Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry; Co-Director, HeadsUp; Director, Clinical Research Assessment, Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section; Associate Director, Penn Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center (PERC), University of Pennsylvania

Joscelyn Cura, BA

Supportive Employment and Education Specialist, STEP Team, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Joscelyn Cura, BA supports recovery from the inside out—across inpatient and outpatient care.
As a Milieu Therapist at Western Psychiatric Hospital, she continues to work on the unit providing direct care and group facilitation. In her full-time role as a Supported Employment & Education Specialist within a First Episode Psychosis clinic, she helps individuals navigate employment, education, and long-term recovery. Her work across both settings focuses on empowerment, skill-building, and meaningful community integration.

Jessica Engel, BA, CPRS

Communications and Outreach Manager, PathLab, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

Jessica is a writer of fantasy genre fiction as well as a costume jewelry designer. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in creative writing from George Mason University. Jessica is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Maryland who specializes in first episode psychosis care for young adults. She has created and facilitated workshops to improve the wellbeing of individuals. In her free time, she likes to play Role-Playing Game (RPG) video games and craft collage art.

Arielle Ered, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Medical Center; Psychologist, Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER)

Arielle Ered, PhD received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience from Temple University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine within the Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section before joining the EPICENTER Faculty. Her research focuses on neural, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes following early life adversity (including neighborhood-level environmental factors, psychosocial stress, and trauma) within the psychosis spectrum.

Jennifer Gerlach, LCSW

Psychotherapist

Jennifer Gerlach, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and person with lived experiences who specializes at the crossroads of neurodiversity and mental health. She is author of The Psychosis and Mental Health Recovery Workbook: Activities for Young Adults from ACT, DBT, and Recovery-Oriented CBT. She provides ongoing training including regular presentations on a national level on therapy with autistic clients through PESI, Inc. She also serves as a ‘lived experience consultant’ for Missouri’s Early Psychosis Care team. She holds an upbeat perspective on the possibilities for individuals experiencing early psychosis.

Amanda Fooks, MSW, LCSW

Team Leader, CAPSTONE

Amanda Fooks, MSW, LCSW, has been working with individuals experiencing psychosis since 2010 and has been dedicated to the CAPSTONE program since its inception in March 2017. She coordinates a team of providers from multiple agencies to provide comprehensive care for individuals living with first episode psychosis. In addition, she has been instrumental in efforts at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (now Penn State Psychiatry and Behavioral Health) to expand and improve care of people experiencing psychosis across the life span. This has become her passion, and she continues to strive to engage and motivate her participants and staff alike.

Keith Karabin, MSCC, LPC

Counselor, On My Way, Child and Family Focus, Inc.

Keith Karabin, MSCC, LPC is the Clinical Team Lead for Child and Family Focus’ On My Way program in Bucks County, PA. He is known for a joyful “never give up” approach to living well, even after 30 years of counseling experience. As a person on his own healing journey, Keith relates to each client with hope, without judgement and most of all, as equal partners in their growth. Keith works with those successfully navigating psychosis, other mental health issues, and everyday struggles in their pursuit of healthy modern living. Many of these individuals—usually his favorites!—have been referred to him because they, or those who care about them, had felt that healing wasn’t possible. Outside the counseling studio, Keith serves as a group clinical supervisor, co-program developer and public speaker, contributing to multiple County‑level initiatives that improve mental health care and reduce stigma barriers so that all people can pursue wellness without fear.

Nicole Kastner, CPS

Certified Peer Specialist, Helping to Overcome Psychosis Early (HOPE), Children’s Service Center

Christie Kelly, MA, LPC

Program Supervisor, UPMC Services for the Treatment of Early Psychosis (STEP) Program

Christie Kelly, MA, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor with 20 years of experience in varying settings of the mental and behavioral health field. Christie currently practices as a therapist and Program Supervisor at the UPMC Services for the Treatment of Early Psychosis (STEP) clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. Christie received her undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Gannon University and Masters degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling from Edinboro University and Business Administration from Capella University. She is currently completing a Master’s in Business Administration with Capella University. Previous experience includes supervising outpatient mental health and school-based mental health programs, supervising one of the largest research-based summer treatment programs in the country, and owning a small, private practice in the Pittsburgh area. Christie is passionate about learning new therapeutic techniques and offering guidance and supervision to the future counselors of Pennsylvania. Christie has extensive training and experience in treating various mental health populations including psychosis, autism-spectrum, intellectual disabilities, anxiety disorders, tic disorder and ADHD, including being trained in the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA). Through her work within school settings across Pennsylvania, she has gained a grounded perspective in the unique challenges affecting children, adolescents, and transition-aged youth.

Nina Koch, MSS, LSW

Program Director, PEACE Program, Horizon House, Inc.

Nina Koch, MSS, LSW, is the Program Director of PEACE (Psychosis Education, Assessment, Care, and Empowerment), a Horizon House program in Philadelphia that serves young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. She joined the team in 2019 as a Resilience Counselor, later stepped into a Lead role, and now oversees the program’s multidisciplinary team.

Nina is a licensed social worker with a master’s degree from the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She has a strong clinical foundation and supports people through a trauma-informed lens, drawing on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic and Relational Approaches, and Motivational Interviewing.

A native Philadelphian, Nina brings more than a decade of experience working with youth and advocating for Black, Brown, and marginalized communities. Her work is rooted in community advocacy, including access to food and care, and healing from the impact of community violence. She received the Golden Bowtie Award from the Beck Institute Center for Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy and is a member of the Philadelphia Regional Forum on Early Psychosis Care. She is passionate about social justice, mental health equity, and leading with creativity and connection.

Christian Kohler, MD

Professor of Psychiatry; Co-Director, HeadsUp; Clinical Director, Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section; Director, Penn Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center (PERC), University of Pennsylvania

Spencer G. Lawson, PhD

Assistant Professor in University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School’s Law & Psychiatry Program

Spencer Lawson, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Law & Psychiatry Program and faculty in the Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School. He is also the Co-Principal Investigator of the Implementation of Risk-Need-Responsivity: Service Accessibility for Justice-Involved Transition Age Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions study, which is one of the research projects of The UMass Chan & Temple Collaborative Center for Community Inclusion and Reflective Collaboration (CIRC Center). As an interdisciplinary community-engaged criminologist, Dr. Lawson’s career mission is to a) manage and prevent behavioral health disorders and b) improve responses to individuals’ criminogenic risk-need profiles across multiple points in the legal system via implementation and applied research of valid risk screening and assessments paired with Risk-Need-Responsivity approaches. Dr. Lawson is a Level 1 Certified Implementation Support Specialist, bringing expertise in implementation support and the application of implementation science methods to improve the uptake and sustainability of interventions across justice and behavioral health systems. Dr. Lawson’s funding comes from federal sources (e.g., National Institute of Justice, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research), along with state funding from Indiana, Massachusetts, and Colorado, and philanthropic funding (e.g., John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation). Dr. Lawson was a W.E.B. Du Bois Fellow on an early career award from the National Institute of Justice to work with the Massachusetts Department of Correction on assessing predictive accuracy and neutrality within their objective prison classification system.

Frank T. Leone, MD, MS

Director, Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program, University of Pennsylvania

Frank Leone, MD, MS, is a practicing pulmonologist and Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He directs Penn’s Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program, a multidisciplinary care resource that provides consultative evaluation and management services to patients suffering complex manifestations of tobacco use disorder. Dr. Leone is a Senior Fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics; his scholarship focuses on investigating advanced treatment strategies for tobacco use disorder. Dr. Leone has published over 145 peer-reviewed papers including several evidence-based treatment guidelines, and has co-authored a clinical handbook of tobacco dependence treatment titled Why People Smoke: An Innovative Approach to Treating Tobacco Dependence.

Alicia Lucksted, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Alicia Lucksted, PhD, is a clinical-community research psychologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Veterans Administration VISN-5 MIRECC (Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center) in Baltimore Maryland.  Her work focuses on development, testing, change processes, user experiences, and dissemination of psychosocial interventions promoting mental health recovery, including self-help among program participants and family members, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Current focus areas include societal and internalized (self) stigma regarding mental illness and other health conditions, stigma and engagement in healthcare and recovery, and supporting the thriving of young adults experiencing psychosis and other mental health conditions as part of the Connection-Learning Healthcare System Early Psychosis Intervention Network hub (NIH) and the University of Massachusetts Chan Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation Among Transition Age Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions From Disadvantaged, Vulnerable, or Marginalized Backgrounds (NIDILRR).

Margaret (Maggie) Manges, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Margaret (Maggie) Manges, PhD, is an assistant professor of psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Ohio State University Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER), and her PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. Dr. Manges’ research focuses on high-risk outcomes, such as bullying, sexual violence, substance use, and suicide, among the LGBTQ+ community and people with early episode psychosis. In particular, she aims to understand symptom variance, barriers to care, and treatment gaps for LGBTQ+ youth and young people with emerging psychosis. 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 PhD Excellence Award, the Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Award, and the American Psychological Association Division 44 Rising Star Award in Leadership and Advocacy.

Alexandra Miller, MD, MSEd

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Alexandra (Alex) Miller, MD, MSEd, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her medical degree at the Perelman School of Medicine and earned a master’s in education from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. She went on to complete her psychiatry residency at the University of Pennsylvania, where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Miller is actively involved in medical education, serving as Associate Program Director for the Resident Didactic Curriculum, Associate Director for Medical Student Education in Psychiatry, and Co-Director of the Doctoring 1 course for preclinical medical students. Clinically, Dr. Miller provides both medication management and psychotherapy to individuals experiencing psychosis at the Penn Behavioral Health Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, with a special focus on young people transitioning from Coordinated Specialty Care programs. She is passionate about addressing the impact of trauma and marginalization on mental health and is committed to providing holistic, patient-centered care aligned with each person’s values and goals.

Mark Morales, MD

Psychiatric Director, CFG Health

Dr. Morales earned his BA in Slavic Studies at Brown University. Prior to medical school, he taught high school math in the Philadelphia public school system and served as an Americorps volunteer in Camden, NJ for a community health team. He attended medical school at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and stayed at the University of Pennsylvania for psychiatry residency. After residency, he worked as an attending psychiatrist at Horizon House, Inc. in the PEACE program, where he worked with adolescents and young adults experiencing their first psychotic break. Dr. Morales transitioned into the world of corrections full time in August 2025 and serves as the psychiatric director for the Philadelphia Department of Prisons with CFG Health. He currently oversees the delivery of psychiatric services to the roughly 3,300 individuals incarcerated there, including approximately 400 patients living with serious mental illness.

Michelle G. Mullen, PhD

Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School; Co-PI of the Learning and Working During the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC); Senior Vice President, Chief Impact Officer at The Jed Foundation

During the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC); Senior Vice President, Chief Impact Officer at The Jed Foundation

Michelle G. Mullen, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School and Founder and Principal of Strategy Lab, a consulting group focused on translating research into innovative, effective services for youth and young adults. Dr. Mullen is a researcher, intervention developer, and implementation specialist with more than 20 years of experience designing, evaluating, and implementing education, employment, and mental health services for individuals with mental health conditions. Her work focuses on improving career development opportunities and long-term educational and employment outcomes for young adults from historically discriminated against communities, including those with mental health conditions.

Dr. Mullen is the principal developer of Helping Youth on the Path to Employment (HYPE), a comprehensive career development intervention that integrates supported education and employment services to help young adults identify, pursue, and achieve meaningful career goals. She also developed Focused Skill and Strategy Training (FSST), an evidence-based cognitive remediation intervention designed to strengthen executive functioning skills and improve academic and employment outcomes. Her research examines approaches to improving educational persistence, career development, and economic self-sufficiency among young adults with mental health conditions.

Dr. Mullen currently serves as the Co-Director of the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research at UMass Chan Medical School, which focuses on improving outcomes among young adults with mental health conditions. She is also the Co-Principal Investigator of a federally funded research and training center, entitled Learning and Working During the Transition to Adulthood, that focuses on enhancing employment and educational outcomes for young adults.

Dr. Mullen has extensive experience working with state behavioral health systems and community-based organizations to develop and implement services for young adults, including those experiencing first-episode psychosis (FEP). In **Louisiana**, she partnered with the State Office of Behavioral Health to conduct statewide needs assessments, develop FEP service options aimed at reducing the duration of untreated psychosis, examine sustainable funding mechanisms, and provide training to support implementation. In **New Jersey**, she worked with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and a multidisciplinary team of experts to train community mental health providers and stakeholders on early intervention programming and career services for individuals experiencing FEP.

Previously, Dr. Mullen served as Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at The Jed Foundation (JED), where she led national efforts to strengthen mental health systems for teens and young adults. Across her research, leadership, and consultation roles, she is committed to bridging the gap between research and practice to improve services and meaningful life outcomes for young people living with mental health conditions.

Elisa Nelson, PhD

Psychologist, Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center, PERC

Elisa Nelson, PhD, is a psychologist in the Psychosis Evaluation and Recovery Center (PERC) at the University of Pennsylvania. She spent five years providing training to mental health providers in Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) for individuals living with serious mental health conditions.  She completed her post-doctoral training in CT-R at UPenn and worked at the Beck Institute for two 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.

Assistant Professor of Practice, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh

Haley Payne, MA

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)

Haley Payne, MA, is a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Haley has worked across the lifespan, primarily focusing on youth and young adult populations. Her clinical and research interests focus on developmental trauma and the lived experiences of individuals with mental health conditions in workforce participation.

Mei Elizabeth Pearlstein, BS

Young Adult Mental Health Advocate, Research Coordinator, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Mei Pearlstein, BS, is a Young Adult Mental Health Advocate and Research Coordinator at UMass Chan Medical School, where she supports community-engaged research focused on improving community living, education, and employment outcomes and advancing health equity for youth and young adults with the greatest support needs.

Since joining UMass Chan in 2022, Mei has coordinated multiple research initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities and improving social determinant of health outcomes of young adults. She manages multiple concurrent research projects, overseeing project coordination, participant recruitment, community partner engagement, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, and dissemination activities. Her experience includes conducting focus groups and interviews, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and contributing to academic manuscripts, conference presentations, webinars, and toolkits.

Prior to joining UMass Chan, Mei completed her undergraduate practicum with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, where she contributed to the empirical evidence of the peer role being a crucial support for mental health recovery and furthered the science of the growing peer mentor field.

Mei’s commitment to health equity began during her internship with the International Institute of New England, where she supported refugees and asylees as they navigated employment, housing, healthcare, and community resources. This experience reinforced her dedication to addressing the social determinants of health and promoting equitable access to care.

Mei earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Boston University in 2022. She is a co-author of the 2024 peer-reviewed publication, Relational Complexity of the Near-Age Peer Support Provider Role in Youth and Young Adult Community Mental Health Settings, and has presented her work at state and national conferences, including the Alliance for National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Grantees meeting and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Young Adult Peer Mentor Summit.

Her research interests include community-engaged research, youth and young adult mental health, peer support, implementation science, and advancing equitable behavioral health systems.

Phii Regis, MPS

Manager of Public Training, The Trevor Project

Phii Regis (they/them), MPS, is the Manager of Public Training at The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. Phii helps manage the design and facilitation of public training that empowers youth-serving professionals and other audiences to be impactful supporters of LGBTQ+ youth. Prior to joining The Trevor Project, Mx. Regis delivered LGBTQ+ inclusion training at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. They hold a BA in Political Science from Adelphi University and an MPS in Political Management from The George Washington University.

Aaron Richter, BJ, BA

Master of Social Work Student, Temple University

Aaron Richter, BJ, BA, is an MSW student at Temple University in his advance year. For nearly 20 years, he’s worked as a full-time editorial and commercial photographer. His background is in journalism and magazine-making. He launched his photography career in New York with an emphasis on portraiture and developed an extensive client list of magazines, newspapers and brands, including the New York Times, Esquire, Saks Fifth Avenue and Men’s Health. You can explore the portfolio of images he’s made at www.aaronrichter.com. In 2021, Aaron moved to Philadelphia, and while continuing to work as a photographer, he returned to school in 2025 with the hope of developing a therapy practice that recognizes photography as tool for healing. He completed his generalist-year internship with Philadelphia’s PEACE program, an early intervention service for young adults experiencing first-episode psychosis, and he is currently in his advanced-year internship with Princeton House Behavioral Health, a New Jersey–based partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient program, working within the dual diagnosis track. During his time at PEACE, Aaron began developing Learning Photography as a Mindfulness Practice (LPMP) as an at-present six-module training designed to teach agency staff techniques and strategies for incorporating picture-making into community-based therapy processes. Aaron still maintains a regular photography practice and is looking to revise and expand LPMP and explore ways to develop an evidence base behind his training.

Joshua Riley, MD, PhD

Psychiatrist, ENGAGE, Wesley Family Services

Joshua Riley, MD, PhD, has been the psychiatrist at the ENGAGE program through Wesley Family Services for Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties for three 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 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (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.

Kristin Rivera

Co-Investigator and Young Adult Advisory Board Member

Over the years, Kristin has embraced their passion for advocacy and the peer movement. By using their combined personal and professional experiences, Kristin supports youth, young adults, and families who are navigating child-serving systems and/or transitioning into adult service systems. Kristin specializes in engagement strategies, youth and adult partnerships, and event planning to cultivate intergenerational connections and collaboration across local, statewide, and national communities. Outside of work, Kristin enjoys spending time with loved ones, taking adventures in nature, and tending to their houseplants. Kristin aspires to “be the change they wish to see in the world” and continue uplifting the voices of system-impacted youth and young adults.

Krissa Rouse, MA, LCPC

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Carpenter Clinic, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Krissa Rouse, MA, LCPC, is a Senior Counselor with the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Carpenter Clinic, where she provides specialized care for young people navigating early psychosis and their families. With more than 10 years of experience in Coordinated Specialty Care, she has developed and leads the clinic’s family programming and serves as a community liaison, building partnerships to expand access to early intervention services—so support is available to those who want it, when they want it.

Krissa is actively involved in the national Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET), contributing to numerous committees, workgroups, and projects, including the SPARK Engagement Team. Grounded in recovery-oriented, person-centered care, she has seen that no two people experience, interpret, or relate to psychosis in the same way — and that each person has the right to define what that experience means to them, and what kind of support, if any, they want. She works alongside individuals and families to understand each person’s perspective, respecting their autonomy at every step while helping build resilience and chart a path forward that reflects their values and goals.

Through her clinical work, family education, and community outreach, Krissa advocates for early access to support and meaningful connection, paired with compassionate, evidence-based care for those who choose it.

Andrea (Ande) Silverman, LCSW, Manager

Lead Resilience Counselor of PEACE Program

Ande is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Philadelphia. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Temple University and has focused her work on early psychosis care for the last six years. She currently holds a dual Manager-Therapist role on Horizon’s House’s PEACE (Psychosis Education, Assessment, Care, and Empowerment) Team, a First Episode Psychosis program serving young people in Philadelphia. Central to her clinical work is a focus on building trust and relationships with an understanding of how trauma and systemic oppression impact early psychosis experiences. In 2024, Ande received Horizon House’s Elizabeth Brumbaugh Award for outstanding work and commitment to program participants. Ande is also an Adjunct Instructor for Widener University’s Trauma Certificate.

Alison Swigart, MD

Assistant Professor, Penn State Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State College of Medicine; Psychiatrist, CAPSTONE

Alison Swigart, MD, 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 (now Penn State Psychiatry and Behavioral Health) in Harrisburg, PA, where she focuses on the treatment of individuals living with First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) as well as Schizophrenia across the lifespan. She has worked with participants in the CAPSTONE FEP program since 2018. She is actively involved in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, and has received awards for teaching.

Andreea Temelie, PharmD, BCPP

Clinical Pharmacist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Andreea Temelie, PharmD, BCPP, 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, Temple University

Elizabeth (Liz) 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-oriented treatment for individuals living 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 with support from a K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award from the National Institute of Mental Health. She is grateful for the profound influence that peer specialists have had on her work and understanding of how to best serve individuals living with significant mental health issues.

Daniel Wolf, MD, PhD

Telehealth Director, HeadsUp

Dan Wolf, MD, PhD, is the HeadsUp Telehealth Director, as well as a practicing psychiatrist and brain imager specializing in psychosis treatment and research. He completed medical and neuroscience training at Yale University, residency training in psychiatry at Harvard University, postdoctoral training in neuropsychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, and has been a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania since 2008.

Kris Wright, LCPC

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor 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. www.kriswrightwellness.com

Gina Vincent, PhD

Professor & Co-Director of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School’s Law & Psychiatry Program

Gina Vincent, PhD, is a Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director of the Law & Psychiatry Program, and faculty in the Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School. She is also the Co-Principal Investigator of the

study. She received her PhD in Experimental Psychology with a Forensic Psychology and Law Specialization from Simon Fraser University. Dr. Vincent has received funding from the National Institute of Justice, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Drug Abuse, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for studies relevant to implementation outcomes of risk assessment and risk-need-responsivity in legal settings, and behavioral health and substance misuse concerns among youth. She is author of the Risk Assessment in Juvenile Probation: A Guidebook for Implementation manual. She has used these methods to provide implementation assistance and training to over 50 county or state juvenile justice agencies in their selection and use of risk screening and assessment instruments and risk-need-responsivity-based treatment planning. She has over 80 publications in the areas of risk assessment validation, implementation of risk-needs assessment in youth justice settings, adolescent substance misuse, and mental health symptoms in legal settings.

Melanie Yabs, PharmD, MS, BCPP

Clinical Pharmacist, UPMC Services for the Treatment of Early Psychosis (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.

Davy Yue

Co-Investigator and Young Adult Advisory Board Member, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Davy works in the mental health ecosystem as a consultant/advisor to nonprofits, a public speaker at conferences and summits, and a cross-sector advocate for innovations in biopsychosocial holistic recovery, especially leading with lived experience and expertise. He serves as a co-investigator on the How Do You Do Community study as well as a longtime member of the Young Adult Advisory Board at UMass Chan Medical School, having also presented his team’s qualitative research at the NARRTC conference in 2026 and 2025.

Davy works as a strategic consultant who partners with mental health nonprofit organizations to convert visionary concepts into high-impact, measurable programs. With expertise in systems thinking, data analytics, and human-centered design, he develops scalable solutions reflecting shared leadership in lived experience.

Davy looks forward to engaging in building meaningful spaces for people living with more stigmatized mental health conditions to be understood, heard, and recognized. Davy earned his bachelor’s from Vanderbilt University in engineering and is informed by the perspective that the body is hardware and the mind is software, open to resilient updates and system revisions. He loves painting, playing his alto sax, and folding origami as a metaphor for wellness.