Meet the Teams

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Emine Rabia Ayvaci is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). She currently works as a child & adolescent psychiatrist at the Children's hospital Psychiatry Clinic. She also works as a research faculty at the Center for Depression Research at the UTSW. She obtained her medical degree from the Hacettepe University Medical School in Ankara, Turkey. She completed a psychiatry research track residency and child psychiatry fellowship at the UTSW Medical School. During her training, she worked on projects that explored health care access for underserved populations. She continues her clinical and research efforts with a focus on pediatric populations suffering from depressive disorders.

James Baker, M.D., M.B.A., is a pediatric psychiatrist with over 25 years of academic and public-sector administrative experience in behavioral health, including service as Systems Chief Medical Officer of the community mental health center in Austin, Texas, Chief Executive Officer of the community center for Dallas County, and Medical Director for Behavioral Health with the Texas Department of State Health Services. He also served as Associate Chair in the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Dr. Baker is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a recipient of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Exemplary Psychiatrist Award, as well as of the Mental Health America of Greater Dallas Pamela Blumenthal Memorial Award for long-term commitment to quality of care and delivery of services to people with mental illnesses.

Esmirna earned her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and her Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Texas at El Paso. Esmirna is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been a social worker since 2015. She has extensive training in the pediatric integrated behavioral health model and trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and family interventions. Esmirna provides culturally competent services to help children, teens, and families reach their optimal well-being level. Esmirna aims at empowering those around her to obtain the overall success of the community.

Ambar earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Family Psychology from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX. Ambar is a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor with over 12 years in the field. She has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Ambar is trained it trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and systems. Prior to coming to Children’s Health, she worked in trauma-informed care for youth, substance abuse treatment, and court-ordered treatment. Ambar is passionate about being able to be a part of the betterment of the individual through client-centered approaches.

Dr. Ghai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Ghai earned her medical degree at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She completed a residency in general psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she also received advanced training through a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry, during which time she served as Chief Resident of the section. Certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, she joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2021. Dr. Ghai has a special interest in in anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, resilience, community mental health, cultural issues in medicine, and medical education.

Kirstin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas for over 13 years. The majority of this time has been spent working with patients and families in the Solid Organ Transplant Department, before eventually transitioning to the CPAN team in October 2022. Kirstin received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Asbury University in Kentucky (2005) and later obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington (2007). Prior to joining Children’s, Kirstin spent time working internationally as a social worker in both Surrey, England and Lusaka, Zambia. She also worked for a number of years supporting Hurricane Katrina evacuees through a FEMA-funded program with The Salvation Army. Kirstin has experience working with individuals coping with chronic illness, grief and loss, mental health needs, family conflict and trauma. She is passionate about serving and supporting children and adolescents, as well as their family members, by providing compassionate care and intervention.

Jason is an accomplished human services leader with over 20 years of experience in Behavioral Health and a proven record of success at both non-profit and publicly-traded companies. He is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Texas and is a Certified Case Manager. Additionally, he earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Jason has clinical expertise in family, child and adolescent treatment and specifically, child maltreatment. He received formal training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through Duke University’s Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Center. He is also a state level trainer and conference speaker on effective practices for multidisciplinary teams.

Jennifer earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Texas A&M University-Commerce and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2012. Prior to joining Children’s Health, she worked with children and adolescents in public schools, and adults in a local crisis center providing crisis intervention counseling and assessments to at-risk clients. Jennifer has a specialized focus in crisis resolution and the care of LGBTQ+ and Gender Diverse clients. Jennifer believes in advocating for access to mental health care for all children and families, as well as teaching other health care professionals about mental health and wellness.

Dr. Karni is a Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Medical Director of the Outpatient Clinic at Children’s Health, Children’s Medical Center Dallas. She obtained her medical degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and completed her training in psychiatry at New York Medical College and Westchester Medical Center in New York. Dr. Karni then completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Mount Sinai Hospital, also in New York. Her clinical and research interests focus on Early Childhood Mental Health conditions, including Autism, Developmental Disabilities and Trauma, with related emotional and behavioral problems, anxiety disorders, ADHD and learning disorders. Dr. Karni is certified in the specialties of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the recipient of the David A. Waller, M.D. Outstanding Child and Adolescent Teacher of the Year Award several times, and a Former President of the Texas Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Khandheria earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Texas Tech. She went on to complete her medical degree and Master’s in Business Administration at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She completed her residency in adult psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and her fellowship in child psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Khandheria is the Medical Director for the Child Psychiatry Access Network and Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) programs at UT Southwestern. She has experience in a variety of settings including community mental health, integrated behavioral health, and telepsychiatry. She enjoys working with children and teens, believes that care collaboration helps to provide the best outcomes, and that early intervention is the key to success. Dr. Khandheria looks forward to working with families regarding diagnosis and medication management.

Dr. Muruga Loganathan, currently serves as Assistant Professor, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX. He obtained his medical degree from Stanley Medical College, India. He completed his psychiatry residency and child fellowship in Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh. He started his career as an outpatient child psychiatrist and served as a medical director in partial hospitalization program serving rural Pennsylvania for 5 years. Later, he was a faculty at West Virginia University, Morgantown for 3 years as Assistant professor of psychiatry; he managed consultation liaison psychiatry, and served as medical director of inpatient psychiatry. He received WVU BMED Chairman Teaching Award in 2021. Recently he moved to Dallas, joined UT Southwestern Medical center as faculty. He is now playing an integral role in managing Child psychiatry workforce expansion program and Child psychiatry access network, part of Texas Child Mental Health Consortium. He is passionate about helping children, teaching students, residents, and child fellow physicians. He is interested in childhood depression, suicide, and impulse control disorders. He is actively involved in clinical research and wrote many clinical review papers. He is a member of both American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He likes to travel, and is interested in soccer and badminton.

Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, and her master’s degree from The University of North Texas. She has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2016. Kelly has experience in working in the mental health field in inpatient and outpatient facilities and has worked for Children’s Health for 9 years. Kelly has been specifically trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma informed care, and has experience in treating adolescents struggling with eating disorders. She loves working with children and adolescents and their families. Kelly believes in creating a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment to help students and their families work through life challenges and transitions.

Brittany earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Texas Wesleyan University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 6 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with multicultural backgrounds in a variety of settings. Prior to joining Children’s Health, she worked with children and their families who experienced human rights abuses, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Brittany’s experience also includes crisis intervention, complex trauma, behavioral interventions, parenting support and care coordination. Brittany enjoys working in multidisciplinary teams and taking a holistic approach to achieve the best outcomes for patients.

Heather earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University of Missouri-Columbia and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1998. She has over 25 years of experience working with children, youth and families in a variety of settings, including public health clinics, pediatric hospitals, and college campuses. Heather’s expertise includes affirmative care for LGBTQ+ and gender diverse youth, as well as those with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other life experiences. Heather uses a collaborative, strengths-based approach, focusing on mindfulness, family systems theory, and cognitive behavioral therapy to support clients in all stages of life.

Tim Shreve graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Tim has been a master’s level social worker since 2013. He spent 10 years working as a conservatorship worker and supervisor at Child Protective Services and 4 years as a medical social worker at Children’s Medical Center. Tim has extensive knowledge helping children work through traumatic experiences, chronic illnesses, and at-risk behaviors. Tim strives to use evidence-based treatments to empower children and help them develop skills and knowledge to thrive and be their best.

Suzanne Stephens is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her master’s degree in social work from University of Texas at Arlington. Suzanne has been a master’s level social worker since 1999. She spent 25 years working at Children’s Health with the majority of that time working as a medical social worker with the Trauma Service. She also worked as a therapist at Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center helping children and families through traumatic experiences such as physical and sexual abuse and those who have witnessed violent crime. Suzanne enjoys teaching master’s level students at University of Texas at Arlington as an adjunct professor and sharing her enthusiasm for the profession with students. Suzanne is trained in several evidence-based treatments including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Suzanne enjoys cycling, traveling and time with her golden retrievers, Bailey and Lincoln.

Jamie Ward is a licensed professional counselor with over a decade of experience in the counseling field. She graduated from North Greenville University in Greenville, SC with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and graduated from Walden University with her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling. Prior to joining Children’s Health, Jamie worked with children and adolescents in the community mental health setting and juvenile justice system. Jamie is trained in several brain/body techniques including: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), BrainSpotting, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Her clinical focuses are emotionally abusive relationships, narcissistic parents, child abuse and trauma, and post-partum mood disorders.

Liz Widtfeldt is a licensed professional counselor and received her master’s degree in counseling psychology, with a focus in child and family therapy, from Arcadia University. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware where she majored in sociology. From 2013-2016, she was trained in and practiced Functional Family Therapy, an evidence-based family therapy model designed for youth exhibiting externalizing and disruptive behaviors putting them at risk for legal involvement. Liz has experience providing therapy services in a runaway and homeless shelter for youth as well as in a school setting. She moved to Dallas at the end of 2016 and joined Children’s Health. She leads the TCHATT team. She is passionate about making mental health services more accessible to children and their families.

Jenn Zigler has a background in Education and Child/Adolescent Mental Health. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas, and she works part-time for Children’s Health on the CPAN – UTSW team. Jenn received her bachelor's degree in Education from Indiana University and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University Chicago. She worked as a School Counselor at Alcuin School, a Dallas are Private School, for 6 years where she helped students navigating socio-emotional challenges as well as supported students with diagnosed learning needs. In addition to her work with CPAN, Jenn currently operates a private practice where she works with school-aged children and families both therapeutically and with regard to finding each child’s best school fit. Jenn is privileged that each of her roles offers a unique vantage point when it comes to making lives better for children - clinically, educationally, and at the family level. In her free time, Jenn enjoys cooking, working out, and doing just about anything with her sweet dog, Zoey!

Sophia Banu, M.D., is a board-certified Adult and Child and Adolescent psychiatrist, Associate Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She completed her medical education in New Delhi, India, Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University, New York and during her Psychosomatic fellowship at the Bellevue / NYU Hospital, she worked primarily with refugees and survivors of torture at the Bellevue/NYU program for Survivors of Torture. She served as the Deputy Chief of Psychiatry, Director of the Adult Outpatient psychiatry clinic, Director of the Child and Adolescent clinic, Psychiatry Director of the Intensive outpatient program for Adolescents at Ben Taub Hospital Center.

Anna J. Blum, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) completed her education at The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Anna previously served as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Social Work Intern providing brief trauma and grief focused support to families and caregivers. Anna is trained in Unified Protocol for Children and Adolescents and utilizes techniques from Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Compassion-Focused Therapy in her clinical practice. Anna takes a holistic and person-centered approach to mental health care by collaboratively engaging with individuals and their families to create lifestyle choices that support both their mind and body.

Tracey has a B.A in Psychology and received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work. She has experience working with high acuity adolescents and adult patients in a psychiatric hospital as well as experience as a therapist working alongside psychiatrists in an outpatient clinic. Tracey’s therapeutic modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Unified Protocol for Children and Adolescents, Trauma-Focused CBT, and Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents. Tracey prefers to use a strength-based approach with her clients and is always looking for new ways to improve patient/client outcomes.

Dr. Nicole Cirino is a psychiatrist who has worked in the field of Reproductive Psychiatry (also known as Women’s Mental Health or Perinatal Psychiatry) for the past 20 years. She specializes in Reproductive Psychiatry clinical care, education and research for women with perinatal, perimenstrual and perimenopausal psychiatric conditions, as well as disorders of female sexual dysfunction. This includes postpartum depression, perinatal loss, sexual -trauma related conditions, postpartum psychosis, perinatal OCD, PMDD and other mental health conditions that occur during the reproductive life span. She holds a senior faculty appointment at Baylor college of Medicine where she also serves as the Director of the Division of Reproductive Psychiatry in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She teaches clinical aspects of Reproductive Psychiatry to more than 800 medical clinicians a year and serves in leadership roles on many national committees, including Postpartum Support International (PSI), American Psychiatric Association (APA), International Society of Reproductive Psychiatrists (ISRP) and International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH). She is grew up in Portland, Oregon, earned her Bachelor’s in creative writing at Santa Clara University, her medical degree at Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine and finished residency and fellowship at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. She recently relocated to Houston, Texas to lead the Reproductive Psychiatry program at Baylor College of Medicine, within Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women.

Rachel Flinn is a licensed master social worker. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography from The University of Texas at Austin and is a proud UT alumna (Hook ‘em Horns!). Rachel went on to earn her Master of Social Work in 2012 from The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and has been practicing social work since 2013. She has experience working with clients from across the age spectrum as well as various practice settings; including hospitals, schools, hospice, and private practice. Rachel specializes in the treatment of trauma, especially in first responders, veterans, and older adults. She is trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure (COPE) and has reached provider status in both CPT and PE.

Dr. Goetz is an Assistant Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Florida State University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She completed her pre-doctoral psychology internship at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine followed by post-doctoral fellowships at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center. Dr. Goetz has a passion for helping children, adolescents, and their families improve their day-to-day functioning and overall quality of life, and she has a special interest in improving access to behavioral health services.

Andrew is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. His research and clinical interests are in the assessment and treatment of children and adults with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, mood, and related disorders. Within TCHATT, Andrew directs a sub-project, the TCHATT-Stepped Care Program, which provides training to TCHATT therapists in an evidence-based treatment approach for youth with mood and anxiety disorders, and facilitates the implementation of this therapy in a structured, personalized manner across several Texas health research institutes. He also provides therapy and supervises trainees in the BCM OCD and Mood Disorders Programs in Baylor Psychiatry Clinic.

Karissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of psychotherapy and clinical experience. Karissa is a Louisiana native with an extensive history of working with children, youth and families in various settings. Such settings include: in-home, schools, respite care, juvenile court & corrections, mobile crisis and pediatric oncology. She has a genuine passion for helping others reach their best potential by helping them learn healthier ways of navigating life's stressors and managing emotions.

Lauren Havel is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Texas Children’s Hospital. She serves as the medical director of Baylor’s CPAN Hub. In addition to her clinical work, she supervises junior and senior psychiatry trainees in medication management and psychotherapy. Lauren is a native Houstonian and graduate of Yale University and Baylor College of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Her academic and clinical interests include medical education, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Karen Horst is a reproductive psychiatrist at Texas Children's Hospital, Pavilion for Women. She serves as the medical director for Baylor's PeriPAN hub. She is also medical director of The Women's Place and The Menopause Center at the Pavilion for Women. Karen is a native Houstonian and graduate of Yale University and Baylor College of Medicine. She completed two years of residency in obstetrics & gynecology prior to joining the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry residency program. She completed training in psychoanalysis and had a private reproductive psychiatry practice in Colorado prior to returning to Houston and Baylor in 2019.

Dr. Matin completed her general psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai in New York, and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. She has been a presenter at numerous seminars on the topics of health in the community, the juvenile justice system, and among refugee populations. She is passionate about serving the marginalized, impoverished, and needy members of our society by service and advocacy.

Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Texas at Austin in 2014 and her Master of Education in Counseling from University of Houston in 2018. She has provided individual and group therapy to university students on a wide range of presenting concerns, as well as with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Rachel practices from a humanistic and feminist standpoint and utilizes techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy when needed to assist clients in recognizing and utilizing their strengths and accomplishing their goals.

Dr. Otite is currently an Associate Professor at the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. She received her medical degree from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1991. She completed residency in General Psychiatry with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UTMB, Galveston, TX. Further to this, she completed a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Otite was on faculty at Kennedy Krieger Institute where she was Medical Director of the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University. In 2014, she joined faculty at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Otite is triple boarded in child and adolescent, adult, and addiction psychiatry.

Dr. Ramirez offers expertise in the care and treatment of depression and anxiety during infertility treatment, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. She believes her role as a psychologist is to help women identify how their thoughts, behaviors, and relationships impact their emotional wellbeing. She prioritizes providing individualized and empathetic care for each of her patients, using evidence based therapy techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Jessica earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work in 2000. She worked as non-profit administrator and school social worker in under-resourced communities in the Houston-area for 10 years prior to joining the team at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics & Autism and receiving an Instructor appointment in Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. She also served as the primary social worker for TCH Department of Psychiatry through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jessica’s research, interests and specializations are neurodiversity, autism, ADHD and increasing mental health, education and employment accessibility for disabled individuals. Her passion is parent coaching and working with patients and clients from a strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming framework.

Dr. Thao Vu-Sowers completed her medical education at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and general psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. She has been involved in efforts to provide mental health awareness and education in the community. She has an interest in understanding and promoting resiliency in family systems.

Dr. Abdullah is a board-certified clinical psychologist, credentialed health service psychologist, and assistant professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Abdullah trained in clinical psychology and neuropsychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the APA accredited program, Wasatch Mental Health in Provo, UT and received post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology at ARCC Neuropsychology in Chicago, IL.. Increasing access to neuropsychological services to Black and Latinx populations is an important area of work to Dr. Abdullah, who strives to engage in culturally sensitive applications of assessment and intervention. In the Rio Grande Valley, an area of health disparity, Dr. Abdullah is recognized as a pioneering professional to bring neuropsychological assessment services to the school of medicine. She has research and fellowship education in diversity studies and has co-authored a book chapter in the Handbook of multicultural counseling (2017) with Dr. Patricia Arredondo. She continues to work in DEI and provides a guest lectures and CE/CME in diversity topics. Dr. Abdullah is involved in local and national committees in psychology as a member of the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers (APAHC) Diversity and Disparities committee, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), UTRGV school of medicine Diversity committee, UTRGV Optimal Learning Environment Committee (OLEC) and UTRGV school of medicine faculty assembly executive committee (FAEC). In her free time, Dr. Abdullah enjoys running, mountaineering, and visiting national parks.

Dr. Alcides Amador is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the UTRGV School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. He is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist in both Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Amador is also the Medical Director of the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) under the Texas Child Mental Health Consortium at UTRGV where he provides telemedicine-based behavioral health services.

Alma Castaneda is board certified in Professional Counseling by the Texas State Board of Professional Counseling. In addition, she is also a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor for the state of Texas. Alma earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Tx in 1994. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in psychology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in Kingsville, TX in 1997 and completed an internship in professional counseling in the Rio Grande Valley in 1999. Alma Castaneda graduated with a doctorate in psychology from Northcentral University in San Diego, CA in 2022. Alma Castaneda has been counseling adults, families, couples, children & adolescents since 1998 throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Currently she is a behavioral health consultant at the UTRGV School of Medicine in the Texas Child Mental Health Consortium (TCHATT)program.

Ms. Dernay Coley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has over 20 years of clinical, supervisory, teaching, and management experience. She received her master’s in social work from the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University in New York City, and is licensed in New York, Missouri, and Texas. Her areas of clinical expertise include medical and behavioral health. She has extensive experience working with patients with acute and chronic medical and behavioral health conditions to increase their treatment adherence, engage in behavioral changes that support their health and wellbeing, and access psychosocial and concrete supports. She has conducted individual, couples, and group therapy in a variety of settings, from medical settings and substance abuse programs to schools and Employee Assistance Programs. Currently Ms. Coley is at the UTRGV SOM Psychiatry department. She is an instructor of psychiatry, and she sees patients for individual, couples, family, and group therapy in their Harlingen clinic.

Ledy Cruz is a Licensed Professional Counselor, at the University of Texas Rio Grande. Ledy Cruz received her Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling at the University of Texas. She went on to work for a non-profit organization serving unaccompanied children of various cultural backgrounds. Ledy Cruz recognizes the mental health needs of her community and has strived to serve the community to the best of her ability during her training. She has worked extensively with her community through government agencies, juvenile detention centers, schools, and the private sector. Ledy Cruz will now be providing counseling services to children of various school districts in the lower South Texas region under the UTRGV school of medicine. During her leisure time Ledy Cruz enjoys traveling, cooking, and watching history documentaries.

Dr. Cynthia Garza, PsyD, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist at the UT Health RGV. With advanced training and experience, Dr. Garza uses evidenced-based care, the latest techniques and advancements in clinical psychology to provide patients with the highest level of care. Dr. Garza graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas San Antonio in 2008 and received her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2018. She completed her clinical internship at Norton Sound Health Corporation Behavioral Health Services in 2018. Additionally, she completed her fellowship in Primary Care/Health Psychology at the Norton Sound Health Corporation Behavioral Health Services in 2019. As a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Garza has served patients of all ages in primary care, community mental health, college counseling, emergency response and inpatient settings. Dr. Garza has experience providing trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral reinforcement and modification planning, suicide prevention and counseling, motivational interviewing, substance abuse counseling, grief counseling, couples, family therapy and psychological evaluations for developmental disabilities and learning disorders. Additionally, Dr. Garza is a member of several notable organizations such as the American Psychological Association and National Latinx Psychological Association. Dr. Garza currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the UTRGV School of Medicine, educating and training the next generation of physicians. In her clinic work, Dr. Garza serves as a Behavioral Health Consultant for the Texas Child Healthcare Access Through Telemedicine program with the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium.

Dr. Delisa Guadarrama is board certified in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She graduated from medical school at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed three years of general psychiatry residency at UTHSCSA, and then continued training for an additional two years of child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UTHSCSA. She also recently became a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Dr. Guadarrama has been treating children & adolescents in outpatient community-based practice throughout Hidalgo County since 2016. Dr. Guadarrama, a native of the Rio Grande Valley, joins the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley as the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Director and as an assistant professor in the UTRGV School of Medicine Psychiatry Department.

Johanna Nardini, MD is a double board-certified psychiatrist in child & adolescent psychiatry and general adult psychiatry. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University College of Medicine receiving her medical degree, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame receiving a Bachelor of Science degree and a graduate of University of North Texas Health Science Center receiving a Master of Science degree. She completed her psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt psychiatry residency and fellowship program where she also served as Executive Chief Administrative Fellow in Baltimore, MD. She is a native South Texan and currently serves as community faculty for the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN), Community Psychiatry Workforce Expansion (CPWE), and Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) at UTRGV-School of Medicine for the Texas Child Mental Healthcare Consortium (TCMHCC). In addition to her clinical work, she supervises UTRGV-SOM psychiatry residents in medication management focusing on child and adolescent psychiatry. Her professional interests include medical education, community psychiatry, school based mental health, and treatment of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents.

Dr. Reséndiz Rodriguez is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Reséndiz Rodriguez trained in clinical psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology – Argosy University in Chicago, completing a pre-doctoral APPIC approved internship at MacNeal Hospital Family Medicine Residency program in Berwyn, IL. Increasing access to mental health services for the Latinx community and underserved populations has guided Dr. Reséndiz Rodriguez’s career as she has served individuals of all ages, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including patients of a family medicine practice, incarcerated teen girls and women, women experiencing post-partum depression, and individuals experiencing substance abuse. Dr. Reséndiz Rodriguez has sought specialized training in Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) from the University of Massachusetts as well as certifications in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) as she consistently strives to enhance her clinical skills. Since joining UTRGV, Dr. Reséndiz Rodriguez is engaging in her own research on health disparities among Latinas of the RGV, participates with a colleague to provide DEI lectures and CE/CME in diversity topics, and participates as a member of the UTRGV school of medicine Admission Committee and lead of the UTRGV school of medicine Psychiatry department Wellness Committee. In her free time, Dr. Reséndiz Rodriguez enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting new places, and seeking out small adventures.

Dr. Sason Tavakoli-Sabour is board eligible in general psychiatry. He graduated from The University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM). Dr. Tavakoli-Sabour completed 4 years of general psychiatry residency training at The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. He also has experience working in private inpatient settings as well as with the local mental health authority in the Galveston county region prior to arriving at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians. Dr. Tavakoli-Sabour joins UTRGV as an assistance professor in the UTRGV School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry.

Jamon Blood, DO, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at UT Health East Texas Behavioral Health at North Campus Tyler. Dr. Blood believes family has a great influence on a child’s mental health and outcomes. Therefore, he works with the whole family when treating a child. “I believe you treat the whole family and not just the child. Working within the family system allows me to address all the challenges my patients are facing.” Inspired by a mission trip to Brazil, Dr. Blood’s desire is to help his patients make positive changes in their lives. “I want to be able to help change a child’s trajectory through their life,” he said. “I love working with very young children to young adults. I’m also interested in working with those who have special needs.” When not working with patients, Dr. Blood enjoys woodworking, gardening, serving in his church, riding dirt bikes and all kinds of sports, especially basketball.

Kourtney is Licensed Professional Counselor that has obtained supervisor status through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. She is a graduate of Nacogdoches High School and Gardner-Webb University. She has worked in the mental health/counseling field for over 16 years with experience in local independent school districts, inpatient treatment, the prison system, crisis centers, and outpatient community mental health. Her therapeutic knowledge includes areas of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body image and gender issues, psychosis, personality disorders, trauma, substance abuse, behavioral disorders, autism spectrum and other sensory disorders, attention deficient disorders, intellectual and

Elisabeth is a native of Louisiana, having completed her undergraduate and graduate education in counseling at Louisiana Tech University (Go Bulldogs!) in Ruston, Louisiana, moving to Texas in 2018. While working in Louisiana, she spent time working with clients in the drug court system. Since her arrival in Texas, she has worked as a crisis counselor, providing therapy services for child and adult survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. While attending Louisiana Tech, she earned a graduate certification in Dynamics of Domestic and Family Violence. She is recognized as a nationally certified counselor by the National Board for Certified Counselors and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Elisabeth joined The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler as a Behavioral Health Specialist in September 2020.

Tiya Johnson, MD, is a board- certified child and adolescent psychiatrist at UT Health East Texas Behavioral Health at North Campus Tyler. “I believe that patients deserve individualized care where all factors affecting their lives are considered as contributors to their mental health. I believe in treating the entire patient and not just the mental illness for which they are seeking treatment,” said Dr. Johnson. “I’ve always loved helping people and I felt that being a physician was the ultimate career that would allow me to help those who are suffering.” Her special areas of interest include child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Johnson provides comprehensive treatment to children, adolescents and young adults. This includes, but is not limited to, the treatment of the following disorders: depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHA), schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Her hobbies include mentoring, community service and dancing.

Katherine Kerr, MD is a pediatrician and child psychiatrist at UT Health East Texas Physicians North Campus Tyler. Dr. Kerr believes in caring for the whole person, both physically and mentally. “I firmly believe that physical and mental health are closely linked and both must be considered in any treatment plan. I also believe that taking care of patients is a team effort, and the provider, patient and family all have important roles. “I have always known that I wanted to work with children in some capacity, but it wasn’t until college that I discovered the unique challenge of science and medicine. Healthcare seemed like the perfect combination of both my passion and the opportunity to continue to learn and grow through my career.” Dr. Kerr’s special areas of interest include treating attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), early childhood mental health, mental health treatment in primary care and college mental health.

Jenifer is Licensed Professional Counselor that has obtained supervisor status through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Throughout her 16 years of working in the mental health/counseling field she has experienced work within inpatient treatment, private practice, and outpatient community mental health.

Wylie Martin was born in Dallas but considers himself a native of East Texas after moving here at age nine. Wylie attended Texas A&M University Commerce for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has been in the mental health field for over 20 years and has held professional licensure for the past 12 years as an LPC-S. His areas of interest include working with children, couples, and families with a wide range of difficulties. Wylie has served as the Director of Crisis Services for a local mental health authority in East Texas during the crisis redesign in Texas between 2008-2010, worked in private practice for several years and has been a team lead for a counseling center in Sulphur Springs. He has prior work in residential treatment centers that served girls ages 5-14 and counseling for a women’s shelter in Northeast Texas.

Throughout her career, Jennifer Peoples has worked with numerous organizations geared towards improving mental health and quality of life in adults, adolescents, and children. In 2009 she became an employee with The University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler and has worked on multiple grant-funded research programs such as COPD SMART and Behavioral Health Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment. Her counseling experiences include encouraging individuals to self-manage both their physical and mental health by becoming more educated about their illness(s), receiving information on how to become an advocate for their health, and working towards increasing their quality of life. After earning a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University she became a Licensed Professional Counselor and counseled patients at four different clinics associated with UTHSCT. She worked to provide a more integrated approach to the medical setting by incorporating mental health into a patient’s care. Currently she is a program manager for the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine Program that provides mental health services to students across 25 counties within Northeast Texas and assists in coordination of continued care. As of 2020, she obtained her Licensed Professional Counselors Supervision status.

Laura obtained her bachelor’s degree from Winona State University in Minnesota and Public Health Certification from the State of Minnesota. Since becoming a nurse, Laura has spent time in bedside geriatric nursing, as adjunct faculty for a Junior College, and caring for pregnant women in maternal-child public health; however, she found over the last 15 years that nursing leadership and operations were her forte. She joined The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (UTHSCT) in September 2016 to develop a new program at the institution for pregnant, low-income, first-time moms. Within one year this program was considered one of the ‘go-to’ sites in Texas and, by the fourth year, it had doubled in the number of new moms and babies it could serve. In June of 2020, Laura accepted the position as the Sr. Program Manager for the UTHSCT Child Psychiatry Access Network.

Torey Andrews LMSW is originally from Indianapolis, IN and received her Master of Social Work from New York University. Before joining the TCHATT team, Torey worked in oncology as a Stem-Cell Social Worker. She has over five years of social work experience working with children, adults, families, child welfare, mental illness, crisis intervention, grief & loss and chronic illnesses.

Taiwo Babatope, MD , MPH, MBA serves as associate program director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program and Director of the Autism Spectrum disorders and Neurodevelopmental specialty clinic. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and a telemedicine-based provider with the UTHealth Houston Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN). Babatope has a special interest in early childhood disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities. She has extensive training and experience working with this special population and continuously explores innovative approaches to provide the best possible care to her patients. Babatope also has strong interests in Ethics, Professionalism and in promoting evidence-based clinical care with measurable outcomes. She enjoys opportunities to inspire, educate, and mentor her trainees.

Dr. Bartek is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with over ten years of nursing experience. She received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Creighton University in 2020. Before joining the TCHATT team, Dr. Bartek specialized in child and adolescent psychiatry, focusing on sleep quality, eating disorders, and healthy eating. Collaboration with patients and families is a cornerstone of Dr. Bartek’s practice, and she believes that shared understanding and clear communication are critical first steps in recovery from mental illness.

Erin Cochran received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from The University of Texas at Austin in 2013. As a Registered Nurse, she worked in a Neurological Intensive Care Unit in Houston’s Medical Center for over three years. She went on to complete her nursing education at The University of Texas Health Science Center and earned her Master of Science in Nursing in 2017. Erin is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with eight years of nursing experience and over three years of experience as a PMHNP. Before joining the TCHATT team, Erin worked in a thriving outpatient psychiatric clinic serving children, adolescents, and adults. Erin has a passion for the pediatric population and is dedicated to improving mental health access to children and adolescents.

Danita Gallegos, LCSW-S received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and her Masters in Social Work degree from the University of Houston. Danita began her social work career at Texas Children’s Hospital where she covered the pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit, the emergency room child physical and sexual abuse cases and the pediatric cancer center. Danita then continued her professional journey as a School Social Worker in Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District for 6 years. Before joining the TCHATT Program, she served as a Psychotherapist with Clearhope Counseling and Wellness Center in Pasadena, Texas where she performed office and school-based therapy. For over 8 years, she has worked with the Behavioral Health Connection’s Mobile Assessment Team where she completes psychiatric assessments. She has a strong passion for diversity and serves as a Trainer and Consultant with the National Hispanic and Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network.

Meaghan Warner, LCSW-S has many years’ experience working with a wide array of at risk populations. Her specialty areas include treating substance use disorders and complex trauma. She has various training in her background, including EMDR, DBT, PE, CPT and is TF-CBT Certified. She has provided individual, family, and group therapy sessions and crisis interventions.

Dipti Patel, LCSW, graduated with her Master’s Degree from Boston University School of Social Work. She specializes in behavioral medicine and behavioral health as well as working with children, youth, and families. She is a licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience working with vulnerable populations. She has worked as a social worker, an inpatient psychiatric clinician, an outpatient therapist, a neighborhood client services coordinator, and a program director. She has worked in schools, hospitals, non-profit organizations, and for profit organizations. In all of her work settings, she remains passionate about social justice, racial justice, and helping those that are low income and underinsured. She has experience providing individual, family and group therapy and speaks conversational Gujarati.

Qianesha Vallot LCSW, originally from Chicago IL, has more than 19 years of experience working with children, adults, couples and families in the areas of maternal/child health, school-based interventions, child welfare, mental illness, domestic/intimate partner violence, parental skill development, trauma, grief & loss and substance abuse. She also provides training to staff, clients and communities specializing in mental health, child maltreatment, crisis intervention and domestic violence/intimate partner violence.

Jennifer Yen, M.D., F.A.A.C.A.P. is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist practicing in Houston, Texas. She graduated medical school from University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and went on to complete her general psychiatry residency there. She then attended Baylor College of Medicine for her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship. Since then, Dr. Yen has been active in private practice, community psychiatry, and academic medicine. She is on the editorial board for Clinical Psychiatry News, and has authored multiple academic publications and presented at both the local and national level.

Dr. Aligeti is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. He is board certified in Adult, as well as Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. His completed his medical school from University of Mumbai (India), General Psychiatry residency at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas. Additionally, he has a Masters in Health Administration (MHA) degree. He has been instrumental in providing mental health services in the state of Texas via collaborative care (with pediatricians and primary care physicians) and telepsychiatry since 2008. He helped develop a hospital based telepsychiatry service at Baylor Scott and White Health; the biggest healthcare system in Texas. He is an active consulting psychiatrist for 24 different Baylor Scott and White Health hospitals via telepsychiatry. His background includes working at various organizations at the federal level (Veterans Affairs), state institutions (Terrell State Hospital), local community clinics, and correctional facility (Montford, Texas Department of Criminal Justice).

Lonn holds a Master of Arts in Counseling focusing on Mental Health Counseling from Harding School of Theology. Lonn is a Licensed Professional Counselor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. He has worked in the mental health field for the past 8 years. Lonn has worked with StarCare in assessment and case management roles, in correctional settings and community mental health, and has worked in private practice with children, families and adults since 2014. Lonn has a desire to work with people living with mental health issues in underserved, rural West Texas communities and is excited about how CATR: Supported by TCHATT is working to meet those needs.

Nefertiti Beck holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and a Master of Science in Counseling from Creighton University. She has an extensive background in higher education serving in roles to include academic advising, university housing, along with program development and management. Nefertiti’s counseling and mental health experience includes populations in corrections (county jail, probations, juvenile diversion programs), children and adults in residential treatment facilities, college and career readiness, intercultural identity development, and racialized trauma. She has served on the Crisis Team for the Lubbock Police Department as well. Nefertiti has a passion for working with diversity, equity, inclusion, access, belonging, and justice initiatives. A few of the causes she champions include HIV/AIDS awareness and education, food insecurity (children, elderly, and persons with accessibility difficulties), and mental health initiatives for BIPOC communities. Nefertiti has been with the Texas Tech System for a total of 9 years.

Link Blevins holds a Master in Science Degree in Counseling, a Master in Science Degree in Bible and Ministry, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Youth and Family Ministry from Lubbock Christian University. Link has extensive work with adolescents, having worked for ten years in a youth ministry context and the past ten years helping university students with mental health needs. For the past nine years Link has been an active member of the Lubbock Police Department’s Victim Services Crisis Team, assisting victims and their families and helping connect them to needed resources. Link has been a licensed professional counselor since 2015 and is also a fully-trained EMDR therapist, and he serves as a Mental Health Clinician on the CATR project.

Rachel Buckalew is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Wayland Baptist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University. Since 2017, I have worked with clients navigating family conflict including parent-teen interactions and couples’ relationship, domestic violence, depression, anxiety and poor coping skills. My therapeutic style a relational approach along with cognitive-behavioral perspectives as well as eclectic interventions based on what will best help achieve someone's goals. Fun fact: If I wasn’t a counselor, my occupation would become full-time craft maker and dessert baker.

Bonnie Cantu holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Lubbock Christian University and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wayland Baptist University. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with Children and Families in unfortunate circumstances since 2005. She is a former Texas Peace Officer and worked in Law Enforcement for 16 years where she was a member of the Crisis Intervention Team for Law Enforcement Officers. Bonnie has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2014 with a primary focus in children and adolescents with behavioral issues that are affecting their life at home, at school, and in the community. As a member of the School Board where she lives, she recognizes the need for better resources in schools to combat the growing mental health concerns in adolescents. Bonnie joined the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2018.

David Devereaux earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Masters of Science degree in counseling psychology from Angelo State University. He received his license in 2021. His diverse array of life experiences and career pursuits from custom home building to sustainable agriculture have equipped him with a wide scope with which to confront many of the challenges faced that have devitalized families. While working at an inpatient facility for high risk adolescents, he gleaned an orientation from which to work with young people and their families. His therapeutic focus lies on finding a balance between acceptance/ change, freedom/ responsibility, and work/ play. David joined the Texas Tech University Health Science Center team in 2022.

Dr. Eade is the Senior program Director for the TTUHSC (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center) TCHATT Program. She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and two Master Degrees, one in Education (Community Counseling) and one in Psychology. Dr. Eade is a Licensed Professional Supervisor and values helping others increase their mental health. Dr. Eade served as an Assistant Professor at Lubbock Christian University, as well as the Coordinator for Psychology for the undergraduate program and the Clinical Mental Health Supervisor for Practicum and Internship students in the graduate counseling program. Dr. Eade was also an Instructor at Texas Tech University for 17 years, in addition to having experience in the Criminal Justice System. Dr. Eade also has a private practice and enjoys working with children, adolescents and adults in that setting.

Margarita Gamboa is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Counselor Education for Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Texas Tech University. She has experience working with children, teens, individuals, and families experiencing difficulties with anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, relational, grief and loss, anger, and self-esteem. Margarita’s therapeutic approach is integrated with several modalities with an emphasis Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She has also been trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Her calling is to help those most in need by providing a safe and healing place to work through these issues. As a current team member for CATR: Supported by TCHATT, she is able to use her calling by collaborating with her peers to provide the best possible care for her clients.

Addie Goodson received her Bachelors in Psychology and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Sam Houston state University. From there, she worked with multiple different population groups ranging from families who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault, college students, and advocacy/resource shelters for those without homes. Post receiving licensure, she began to work at River Crest Hospital in San Angelo, Texas working with people from every walk of life experiencing a crisis situation requiring inpatient care and provided intensive outpatient therapy for members of Goodfellow Air Force Base as well as other community members both adult and adolescent under the supervision of Dr. Berkshire, LP. Now as an independent practitioner, Addie hopes to continue to advocate for people experiencing mental illness with early interventions via the CATR TCHATT Program to help make a positive impact in the lives of the children and communities we serve.

Corynn is a Mental Health Clinician Supervisor for the CATR: Supported by TCHATT program and offices on the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Abilene campus. She received both her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degrees from Abilene Christian University and is currently working toward full LPC licensure. Corynn is trained in a variety of therapeutic orientations and regularly utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a warm, non-judgmental approach. She was raised in Sweetwater, TX, which fuels her passion for serving the youth of the Big Country. In her free time, Corynn enjoys watching movies with her husband, snuggling her cats, and exploring downtown Abilene.

Dr. Jain serves as Professor and regional chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) at the Permian Basin. He is board certified by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Psychosomatic Medicine. He is also certified by the American Board of Disability Analysts. He completed medical school at the Medical College Calcutta, University of Calcutta (India), residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He has also completed a two-year T-32 National Institute of Mental Health Research Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Additionally, he holds a master’s in public health from the University of North Texas. He has specialty in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Raja Jawad Kiani is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at TTUHSC in the Department of Psychiatry at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre (TTUHSC). He graduated from the Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan. He then completed a combined triple board program at Tulane University. He has completed residencies in Pediatrics and Psychiatry and fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He will be providing psychiatric services for children, adolescents and families in West Texas through outpatient services at TTUHSC Amarillo, the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) and through the Campus Alliance for Telehealth Resources (CATR) and the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) programs. Dr. Kiani’s clinical interests include chronic disease and its associated mental health burden, LGBTQ+ mental health, minority mental health, cultural psychiatry and infant mental health. Dr. Kiani also has an interest in mentorship and academia. He continues to be involved with mentoring medical students and residents through his affiliation with various national organizations including AACAP and PsychSIGN. His academic interests include developing a progressive medical education curriculum for medical students, residents and fellows which includes formalized training in the essential components of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Amy McWhorter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Education in Community Counseling from Texas Tech University. She holds licensure through The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors since 2001. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Amy has been employed with local mental health authorities, Early Childhood Intervention and Head Start. Amy has a history of working within the community in order to strengthen families by helping them access local mental health and resources. Amy joined Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2019.

Dr. Tarrah Mitchell is an Assistant Professor and Licensed Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Kansas and her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training at the University of Florida. Dr. Mitchell joined the faculty at the TTUHSC in August 2020. Dr. Mitchell currently provides mental health services for children, adolescents, and families in West Texas through outpatient services at TTUHSC and through the Campus Alliance for Telehealth Resources (CATR: Supported by TCHATT) program. Dr. Mitchell has published 19 journal articles and two book chapters focused on youth’s physical, psychological, and social functioning.

Kathryn Nault is a Mental health clinician for the CATR: supported by TCHATT program and offices on the Abilene Campus. She received her bachelors of psychology from Hardin-Simmons University and her masters in counseling psychology from Abilene Christian University in 2022. She is currently working on her hours to become a fully licensed LPC. She is trained in a variety of therapeutic orientations including Cognitive Behavioral therapy, emotion focused therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Her passion to help children and families began at a young age as she established relationships and close bonds with her many foster siblings. Working with TTU HSC and the CATR TCHATT program has given her the opportunity to do just that.

Ashley Newman holds a Bachelor of Human Sciences, with concentrations in Community, Family, and Addiction Studies, Human Development and Family Sciences, and Health Professions; as well as a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Tech University. She has been practicing clinically with children and families since 2015 and completed full licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2020. She has extensive experience working within the juvenile justice population, having provided individual, group, and family therapy to juveniles in residential treatment, along with home therapy to children and their families placed on probation for several years. She additionally served in an administrative role for a child advocacy and community wellness program in partnership with Lubbock Independent School District, which she continues to volunteer for weekly. Ashley holds specializations in working with clients struggling with process addictions, trauma, and relational issues and has a passion for working with the LGBTQIA+ population.

Sommer is a member of the CATR: Supported by TCHATT team at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She graduated with her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lubbock Christian University in 2018. Sommer has always valued mental health and hopes to see a continued increase in accessibility to and use of mental health care. She enjoys providing access to mental health care to students across rural West Texas. Outside of the office, you will find her gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

JoAnn is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 17 years of experience working in the mental health field. She earned a Master of Arts in Counseling degree from Wayland Baptist University in 2007. She taught General Psychology and Lifespan Development as an adjunct instructor for South Plains College for 12 years and she is a member of the Board of Trustees for Plainview ISD. She has been married to Rigo Rey for 19 years and they live in Plainview where Rigo works as an Art teacher. Before joining the CPAN team at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, she worked full time at her private counseling practice, which she still does part time. She strives to never stop learning and enjoys new experiences which foster growth both personally and professionally. She enjoys traveling, gardening and spending time with family and friends.

Michelle is a member of the CATR: Supported by TCHATT team at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Amarillo Campus currently working toward full LPC licensure. She graduated with her Master’s degree in Counseling from West Texas A&M University in 2019. Her experience includes working with children and adolescents in a variety of settings at varying levels of care within the educational system for the last 3 years.

Christy holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science in Counseling from Lubbock Christian University. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. She has worked in the mental health field for four years in a variety of settings from correctional facilities to schools. Christy is passionate about serving the underserved and is excited for the ways CATR: Supported by TCHATT is doing just that.

Jessica Sosa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who holds a Bachelors from Knox College and a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin. She has provided mental health services in multiple settings: intensive outpatient, school based, juvenile justice, and private practice. Her professional interests include suicide prevention, LGBTQ+ youth, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) , and evidence-based trauma treatment. She is passionate about expanding quality mental health access for youth and their families.

Dr. Wakefield is a board-certified adult, child/adolescent, and forensic psychiatrist. She attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and a general psychiatry residency at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport. Dr. Wakefield completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry and an additional fellowship in forensic psychiatry also at LSU Health before joining the faculty at Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 2014. She has served as the Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services and since 2016 and the Medical Director of Medical Ethics until 2020. She is currently chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Texas Tech University School of Medicine and is active in providing psychiatric diagnostic and treatment evaluations for families, for adolescents in the juvenile justice system, and for pregnant or post-partum mothers.

Casey Winslow is a dual board-certified Family-Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 12 years of clinical nursing experience. She completed her graduate studies at West Texas A&M University and received a Master’s Degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2015 and a Post-Master’s Degree as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2018. She is actively pursuing her Doctor of Nurse Practitioner from Abilene Christian University. Casey practices in the Department of Psychiatry at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) providing outpatient mental health care services to children, adolescents, and families within the Child and Adolescent Department as well as through the Campus Alliance for Telehealth Resources (CATR: Supported by TCHATT) program. She has a passion for working with children, adolescents and their families.

Janie Black, PhD is a licensed child and adolescent psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in providing family-based therapeutic intervention for eating disorders and works with children and adolescents who are struggling with gender dysphoria by providing cognitive behavioral interventions and consulting with their physicians to support them through the diagnostic and transitioning process. Additionally, Dr. Black is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Black earned both her doctorate and master’s in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University, the first APA-accredited distributed learning program in the United States. She completed both an internship and fellowship in child psychology and pediatric behavioral medicine at the Texas Child Study Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center, where she was instrumental in creating the Inpatient Consultation and Liaison Service and Emergency Department training rotation for predoctoral psychology interns.

Ryan Brown, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. He specializes in developmental disorders, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and acute psychiatry needs. Additionally, Dr. Brown is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Brown earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and his bachelor’s in history from Southwestern University. He completed a residency in general psychiatry at the University of North Carolina Medical Center and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Dell Medical School. Dr. Brown’s research interests include developmental disorders and access to mental health care in the communities where he lives and works.

Mariel Cannady, PsyD, is a licensed child and adolescent psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in treating children with anxiety, neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorders), and challenging behaviors (e.g., mild aggression, tantrums, and non-compliance. Additionally, Dr. Cannady is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Cannady earned both her Doctor of Psychology degree with a focus on clinical and school psychology and her educational specialist degree with a focus on school psychology from James Madison University. She completed an internship in child clinical/pediatric psychology at the Texas Child Study Center. Dr. Cannady has interdisciplinary training in neurodevelopmental disorders through the LEND program at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She is a graduate of the International OCD Foundation’s Intensive Pediatric Behavior Therapy Training Institute and has specialized training in behavior therapy, applied behavior analysis, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and parent-child interaction therapy.

Dr. Curtis is a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with children and their families across primary care, outpatient, and school settings. Dr. Curtis is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Dell Medical School, and the director of the psychology training program at the Texas Child Study Center. He completed his undergraduate training in psychology at Baylor University, his masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary’s University, and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Houston. Dr. Curtis is a former J. William Fulbright Scholar to New Zealand and a former postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School/Children’s Hospital, Boston. Before arriving at the Texas Child Study Center, Dr. Curtis directed the pediatric primary care psychology and ADHD behavior therapy programs at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Levi DeFilipp, PsyD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. Additionally, Dr. DeFilipp is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. DeFilipp earned his Doctor of Psychology degree with a focus in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University, during which he pursued specialized pediatric mental health training at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as part of his doctoral program, and his bachelor’s in integrated neuroscience from Binghamton University. He completed a residency in health services psychology at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where he received intensive training in the provision of mental health services in both inpatient and outpatient pediatric settings, and a fellowship in pediatric psychology at Norton Children’s Hospital/University of Louisville School of Medicine. As a post-doctoral fellow, he pursued specialized training in the provision of inpatient consultation-liaison services within a tertiary care children’s hospital and academic medical center.

Ana F. El-Behadli, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School and a pediatric psychologist at Dell Children’s Medical Center serving patients and families through the nephrology and rheumatology specialty clinics. She also provides outpatient services through the Texas Child Study Center, as well as team-based telehealth consultation services through the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) and the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program. Prior to joining Dell Medical School, El-Behadli completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology at Stanford University School of Medicine. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she also completed her predoctoral internship. El-Behadli also holds a master’s in child study and human development from Tufts University. In addition to her clinical work, El-Behadli is interested in studying diversity issues in pediatric psychology, particularly cultural adaptations and dissemination of evidence-based treatments to Spanish-speaking children and families.

Lindsey Elliott, PhD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in treating children and adolescents with somatic symptom and related disorders, such as functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD). Additionally, Dr. Elliot is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Elliot earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from The University of Alabama at Birmingham and her bachelor’s in psychology from College of William & Mary. She completed an internship in pediatric psychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a fellowship in pediatric psychology with a specialty in consultation/liaison at the Texas Child Study Center and Dell Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Elliott’s research interests involve somatic symptom and related disorders, and she has published articles examining etiological factors related to these disorders. Additionally, she continues to be engaged in multi-site research projects aimed at providing effective treatment to individuals with FNSD. She is an active member of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Pediatric Psychology.

Gabriel Garza, MD, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. He specializes in outpatient psychiatric care for the pediatric population. Additionally, Dr. Garza is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and serves as the Associate Program Director for the Dell Medical School Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program. Dr. Garza earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where he was recognized for demonstrating excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion and dedication to service. He completed a residency in psychiatry as well as a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. During his time at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, he was an active participant in medical student teaching, served as Chief Fellow, and received numerous awards for service excellence and dedication to patient care.

Sara Gill, PhD, is a licensed child and adolescent psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in person-centered care for children, adolescents, and their families. Additionally, Dr. Gill is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Gill earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and her master’s in child development from Tufts University. She completed an internship in clinical psychology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and a fellowship in clinical psychology at the Clarity Child Guidance Center, where she worked with children, adolescents, and their families in an outpatient and inpatient setting, engaging in individual, family, and group therapy as well as providing psychological assessments. Dr. Gill is a past member of the San Antonio Society for Psychoanalytic Studies, where she was also a member-at-large for the executive committee.

David Heckler, Ph.D., ABPP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Heckler is a licensed psychologist and board certified in clinical child and adolescent psychology. He specializes in providing evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents with anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Heckler provides behavioral health services within the Collaborative Abdominal Pain Program within gastroenterology and the Headache Interdisciplinary Program within the neurology department at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Heckler actively participates in applied clinical research related to improving children’s and adolescents’ management of pain, somatic symptoms and internalizing disorders. Additionally, Heckler provides training and supervision to varying levels of psychology trainees.

Meredith Holley, PhD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with a wide range of developmental, behavioral, emotional, and academic concerns, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, anxiety, and mood disorders. Additionally, Dr. Holley is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Holley earned both her doctorate and master’s in education psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and her bachelor’s in psychological and brain sciences with a focus on early childhood cognitive development from The Johns Hopkins University. She completed an internship in clinical psychology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Mailman Center for Child Development and a fellowship in clinical psychology at the Austin Psychology & Assessment Center. She also has specialized training in neuropsychological/neurodevelopmental assessment, cognitive behavioral therapy, parent-mediated behavioral therapy, and interdisciplinary assessment approaches.

Dr. Kerrigan served as the medical director for an adolescent residential treatment center and an attending psychiatrist for The Outlook, an inpatient eating disorders program at Weill Cornell and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is also a published author, has led multiple community-focused educational initiatives around the early recognition and prevention of eating disorders, and is a frequent contributor to both local and international medical conferences.

Ankita Krishnan, PhD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in the treatment and assessment of children and adolescents with a range of concerns, including developmental, behavioral, emotional, and learning concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, autism spectrum disorder, disruptive behaviors); behavior management training with parents and families; group therapy with children and adolescents; neurodevelopmental assessments; and evidence-based and culturally informed approaches in treatment with families. Additionally, Dr. Krishnan is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Krishnan earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Purdue University and her bachelor’s in psychology and French from Southern Methodist University. She completed an internship in clinical psychology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical child psychology at Austin Child Guidance Center.

J. Michele LaGrone, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in treating psychiatric issues, such as anxiety, attention, behavioral, and major depressive disorders, in children and adolescents. Additionally, Dr. LaGrone is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. LaGrone earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, her master’s in business administration at Rice University, and her bachelor’s in Plan II Honors at The University of Texas at Austin. She completed both an internship and residency in general psychiatry as well as a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. LaGrone is a member of Texas Medical Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is a preceptor for the Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars program and is active in mentoring advanced nurse practitioner students.

Alexandra Lamari-Fisher, PhD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s and serves as the psychosocial team lead for the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between UT Health Austin and Dell Children’s Medical Center. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents, and families affected by pediatric and congenital heart disease. Additionally, Dr. Lamari-Fisher is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Lamari-Fisher earned her doctorate in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. She completed an internship in pediatric clinical psychology at the Texas Child Study Center, a fellowship in integrated behavioral healthcare at The University of Texas at Austin, and a second fellowship in clinical psychology and research at Dell Children’s Medical Center. She is also certified in parent-child interaction therapy.

Nithya Mani, MD, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in integrated care. Additionally, Dr. Mani is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Mani earned her medical degree from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and her bachelor’s in anthropology & human biology from Emory University. She completed a residency in psychiatry at Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program, where she served as the administrative chief resident. She also completed a fellowship in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute and a second fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry, with an emphasis on collaborative care, at Stanford University. Dr. Mani is the Associate Director of the Child Psychiatry Telemedicine Program at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Her clinical interests involve providing comprehensive compassionate care for children and their families through outpatient work and collaborative care models.

Lynn Monnat, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in providing evidence-based therapies for traumatized youth and young children and their caregivers who are struggling with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and disruptive behaviors; and in early identification and intervention for youth at risk for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, Dr. Monnat is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Monnat earned both her doctorate and master’s in school psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. She completed an internship in clinical child and adolescent psychology at UC Davis Children’s Hospital and a fellowship in cognitive behavioral therapy and parent-child interaction therapy at the Texas Child Study Center, both of which focused on trauma assessment and intervention and the provision of parent-child interaction therapy.

Delana Parker, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School. She is also a licensed pediatric pain psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. Parker’s clinical work focuses on empowering children, adolescents and their caregivers to manage pediatric headache, chronic pain and other forms of chronic illness. Her clinical approach to care is rooted in clinical science and evidence-based practice, and she is experienced in providing cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness based stress reduction and often integrates biofeedback and clinical hypnosis into treatment for pain. She is passionate about adapting treatment strategies to draw upon children’s strengths to enhance resilience and improve function. Parker earned her bachelor’s in psychology and her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Puja Patel, PhD is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in providing cognitive behavioral therapy for youth with internalizing disorders and has expertise in coping with chronic illness, targeting pain management, and improving adherence to ongoing medical regimes. Additionally, Dr. Patel is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Patel earned her doctorate in school psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and her master’s in rehabilitation counseling from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She completed an internship in pediatric and child psychology at Children’s Hospital Boston and a fellowship in pediatric and child psychology at the Texas Child Study Center. Dr. Patel served as the Director of Psychological Services for the Children’s Blood & Cancer Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center for six years.

Diana Prieto, MD, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in the treatment of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Additionally, Dr. Prieto is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Prieto earned her medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed a residency in general psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at UConn Health. Dr. Prieto is an active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association. She recently published a case report on the use of suvorexant to treat a sleep disorder in an adolescent with bipolar disorder.

Dr. R-S is an Austin native and has two grown children. She is an avid Longhorn fan, having inherited that trait from her parents. In fact, she likes most sports, especially futbol. She can be seen about town running or riding her bicycle.

Sarah Schoffstall, PhD, is a licensed child and adolescent psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. She specializes in working with patients who are deaf and head of hearing. Additionally, Dr. Schoffstall is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Schoffstall earned her doctorate in school psychology and her master’s in educational psychology, both focusing on child clinical psychology and serving deaf and hard of hearing communities, from The University of Texas at Austin as well as her bachelor ’s in psychology from Duke University. She completed an internship in psychology at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living/Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she received intensive training in acute psychiatric and pediatric mental health services through rotations in the child/adolescent inpatient unit, on-campus therapeutic school, and the pediatric consultation liaison service, and a fellowship in psychology at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, where she received specialized training in comprehensive evaluation and consultation services for deaf patients.

Claire R. Selinger, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School. Selinger is passionate about caring for underserved children and their families. She came back home after training in California to deliver comprehensive and compassionate mental health care to children and adolescents of her native Texas. She works at Integral Care, a nonprofit Local Mental Health Authority, on behalf of the medical school. There, she provides evidence-based treatment to children and adolescents in Travis County and works to expand care via school-based integrated services. She also participates in SB 11 initiatives CPAN and TCHATT to provide clinical care to children and adolescents regardless of their proximity to the medical school through telemedicine services. She also supports pediatric providers in managing mental health issues in their clinics across the greater Austin region.

Jeffrey Shahidullah, PhD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. He specializes in behavioral interventions for managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and disruptive behavior disorders. Additionally, Dr. Shahidullah is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, an adjunct assistant professor in The University of Texas at Austin Department of Educational Psychology, and a faculty affiliate in The University of Texas at Austin Center for Health Interprofessional Practice and Education. Dr. Shahidullah earned his doctorate in school psychology from Michigan State University and his bachelor’s in psychology from Baylor University, where he also completed an educational specialist degree. He completed an internship in pediatric psychology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a fellowship in pediatric psychology at Geisinger Health System. While at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Shahidullah was a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellow.

Eric Schute, MD, is a licensed child and adolescent psychiatrist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. He specializes in behavioral health disorders in children with medical complexities, specifically on the Dell Children’s Medical Center pediatric consult-liaison service and Children’s Blood and Cancer Center, and he provides specialized care for LGBT patients and their families through the Adolescent Clinic at Dell Children’s. Additionally, Dr. Schute is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and serves as the Course Director for Medical Student Elective Rotations in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Shute earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and his bachelor’s in biochemistry at the University of North Texas. He completed both an internship and residency in pediatrics at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Kari Whatley, MD, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. Additionally, Dr. Whatley is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Whatley earned her medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and her bachelor’s in biology, with a minor in chemistry, from Baylor University. She completed a residency in psychiatry at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Dell Medical School. Dr. Whatley is currently involved in a committee at Dell Children’s Medical Center, working on establishing a foundation of trauma-focused care hospital-wide. She is also involved in quality improvement projects, including improving evaluations within the Dell Medical School fellowship program and improving patient knowledge and access to resources in the community.

Oscar Widales-Benitez, PhD, is a licensed pediatric psychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Psychiatry at Dell Children’s. He specializes in culturally responsive, evidence-based, and bilingual (Spanish & English) services for traumatized and bereaved youth as well as in the identification and intervention for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and non-suicidal self-injury. Additionally, Dr. Widales-Benitez is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Widales-Benitez earned his doctorate in school psychology from Texas A&M University, his master’s in education with a focus on school psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his bachelor’s in mathematics and communication from Texas A&M International University. He completed an internship in trauma psychology (Project Heal) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles/University of Southern California and a fellowship in psychology at Children’s Medical Center/UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he received specialized training in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT).

Amanda Youngblood, M.A., LPC, is a pediatric licensed counselor with the TCHATT program and a health professional specialist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She specializes in working as a generalist providing person-centered care to at-risk individuals living with depression, anxiety and adjustment and self-esteem concerns. Youngblood received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Arts in counseling from St. Edward’s University. She completed a graduate internship with Communities in Schools, where she provided individual and group counseling services to at-risk high school students. Youngblood previously worked in community-based treatment programs with Integral Care, where she had the opportunity to assist diverse populations in improving their overall well-being. During her time at Integral Care, she specialized in completing psychological assessments, providing crisis interventions, helping clients in accessing community resources, collaborating with community partners and working with multidisciplinary colleagues to better address individual needs.

Torgeir has been a licensed professional counselor since 2019. He has experience working with abused and neglected youth as CPS case worker. Torgeir works with complex family dynamics and develops family plans to produce effective change.

Dr. Blader holds the Meadows Foundation and Semp Russ Professorship in Child Psychiatry at UT Health SA. He has held clinical and academic positions at the Northwell Health system in New York, the NYU Child Study Center, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He's had research and service grants from the National Institutes of Health and other private and government organizations and has published extensively in medical journals and textbooks. Area of specialty has been young people who experience emotional dysregulation leading to social and behavioral problems, including aggression.

Cassandra was born and raised in Ohio. She attended Ohio University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. She then worked in practice management before returning to school to earn her BSN. Cassandra soon direct commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps as an ICU nurse, serving active-duty Army for 10-years. She worked as an ICU nurse at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center during the height of the Iraq/Afghan wars, deployed to Iraq for OIF/OEF/OND, and worked at BAMC on the Rapid Response Team and Medical ICU. She finished her career in the Army at the U.S. Institute of Surgical Research in the Burn ICU and on the Burn Flight Team. All these experiences reinforced to her the importance of mental health for patients and their families. Cassandra thus pursued further education in Psychiatric Mental Health with UT School of Nursing, where she felt she could make more of an impact in healthcare. Cassandra and her family enjoy being outdoors at the State and National Parks, as well as biking around the city of San Antonio. Usually to great new restaurants and parks!

Martha Chichil-Zepeda, M.S., LPC-S completed her graduate work at Our Lady of the Lake University and has worked with children and adolescents for half of her professional career and most recently worked with college-aged students at UTSA in the Counseling and Mental Health Services department. Her areas of interest are trauma-work, multicultural issues, LGBTQ+ DACA/Dreamer concerns, anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, and PTSD, to list a few. Martha is trained in TF-CBT, CPT, EMDR, SFT, CBT, and EMDR. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has worked with families and children offering family counseling in both languages. In her free time, she enjoys reading, Zumba, lifting weights, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Shanon has been licensed professional counselor since 2013. Her experience is in working with youth and families in community counseling settings. She has 5 years of experience providing case management for children and adults throughout Texas.

Christina has been licensed in the State of Texas as a Professional Counselor for 10 years and has been a board approved Supervisor since 2015. She has experience providing mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings to include non-profit and state organizations. Her therapeutic techniques include Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy informed, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Expressive Therapies.

Dr. Ferruzzi has 25 years of experience as child and adolescent psychiatrist. He is board certified in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. He specializes in mood, anxiety and ADHD conditions in the inpatient and outpatient setting.

Valerie has been a licensed professional counselor since 2014. She has over 16 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in outpatient and residential settings. Valerie has success in helping clients who face challenges in the areas of trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavioral issues, substance use, grief/loss, and others. She specializes in solution-focused brief therapy and works to construct solutions for client’s difficulties based on client’s strengths and their unique life experiences. Valerie uses additional tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.

Merrik graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Master’s degree specializing in clinical mental health counselling and child development. She is an LPC-A and has experience working with children and adolescents along with their families by providing support and therapeutic intervention for ADHD, behavior disorders, trauma, tic/OCD-related disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Kristina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate with experience working with couples, children, families, individuals, and military personnel from diverse backgrounds, with concerns that include depression, anxiety, ADHD, relational conflict, trauma, and life transitions. Her clinical interest is in trauma/PTSD. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Kristina has eight years of experience working in adult and child psychiatry setting.

Dr. Matthews has been in practice since 2002. He is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and specializes in treatment of ADHD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Dr. Matthews works in outpatient, inpatient, and partial hospitalization settings. He works in college mental health at St. Mary’s University. Dr. Matthews currently serves as the Division Chief of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at UTHSCSA. He also serves as the Medical Director of Outpatient Psychiatric Services at Clarity Child Guidance Center. Previously he had served as the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Director or Associate Residency Training Director.

Reena has been a certified PA since 2013, and has practiced in Child, Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric Psychiatry since 2015. She is also a Professional Life Coach and a Registered Yoga Teacher. Her patient care is rooted in all-round wellness.

Steven R. Pliszka, M.D. is Dielmann Distinguish Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has been a faculty member at UT Health San Antonio since 1986, joining the Department of Psychiatry after completing his general and child adolescent psychiatry residencies at UTHSCSA. Throughout his career he has been involved in a wide range of administrative, research, clinical and educational activities. Prior to being Chair he served as Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from 1995-2015. His research has focused on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related disorders. He has been involved with clinical trials of the most medications used for ADHD. He currently uses functional magnetic imaging to try to understand the mechanisms of action of treatments for ADHD. He has been involved in several projects to integrate mental health services into pediatric primary care. Dr. Pliszka is the author of “Neuroscience for the Mental Health Clinician, 2nd ed.” and “Treating ADHD and Comorbid Disorders (Guilford Press). He has been very active in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, authoring the academy’s practice parameters for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in 2007. Dr. Pliszka has an active clinical practice, caring for many children and adolescents with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders; he also serves as the attending psychiatrist for two residential facilities for children with severe behavioral and emotional disorders.

Ámbar is a native of San Antonio and has many years of experience working in community-based organizations, school districts, and outpatient clinical settings. Ámbar received her Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy and a certification in Psychological Services for Spanish Speaking Populations. She has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for four years working primarily with youth and young adults ages 10-24. Ámbar has a wide variety of experience working with clients with anxiety, depression, self-harm/suicidal ideation, and clients who identify as LGBTQ+. She currently provides mental health therapy through UT Health San Antonio’s TCHATT Program. Ámbar is authentic, genuine, and likes to use humor in the therapy process, which clients have said they appreciate.

Dr. Robles-Ramamurthy has been in practice since 2012. She is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. Her areas of expertise include: anxiety, depression, trauma related disorders, and family mental health. Dr. Robles-Ramamurthy’s interest and expertise is in working with diverse populations including Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, immigrant and deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. She has expertise in collaborative care to optimize mental health care with the use of psychosocial interventions. Dr. Robles-Ramamurthy treats children and adolescents at Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center.

Dr. Sandoval has 10 years of experience in child and adolescent psychiatry. She is board certified in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. Dr. Sandoval has experience working in the community with underserved/underrepresented populations. Her clinical interests are in trauma/PTSD.

Dr. Schillerstrom has been in practice since 2006. She is board certified in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry and specializes in treatment of ADHD, anxiety, depression and mood disorders in the outpatient setting. Dr. Schillerstrom also serves as the supervising psychiatrist at UTSA and specializes in college mental health.

Kasa graduated from Vanderbilt School of Nursing in 2020. She has experience in treating individuals across the lifespan with a wide variety of psychiatric and substance use conditions. Kasa is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Dr. Allison is a board certified general psychiatrist and fellowship trained in child and adolescent psychiatry. She completed her medical degree at the University of North Texas Health Science Center an Fort Worth-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, psychiatry fellowship at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, TX and child fellowship at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. During her 2nd year of fellowship, Dr. Allison was able to receive additional instruction while on the public psychiatry fellowship track. She worked with MetroCare Behavioral Health in Dallas and was able to treat children in foster care, children at risk for losing school/daycare placements, adolescents in the juvenile offenders program and youth with developmental disabilities.

Amanda is a TCHATT Therapist with over 16 years of experience working with youth with behavioral health issues, ages 3 to 17. She graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology from University of North Texas, and after working in the field for a few years, she furthered her education and obtained a Bachelors and Masters in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years of experience in working in inpatient hospital, outpatient clinics and working with children in foster care with Family Protective Services. She has a certification in crisis incident stress management (CISM). Amanda has worked with youth, providing skills training, facilitating group therapy as well as completing biopsychosocial and suicide risk assessments. Amanda is passionate about working with youth that are dealing with mental illness and psychological effects of bullying. She is committed to helping children and adolescents on their journey to their recovery. Amanda continues to advocate for mental health resources for children and adolescents in the community.

Tisha Calhoun is the TCHATT Supervisor. She is a proud graduate of both the University of Texas at Arlington and the Worden School at Our Lady of the Lake University. She has over 15 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and shared previously for 10 years as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas at Arlington. Tisha has a lot to offer clients and professionals with whom she works. She has experience as an early childhood teacher for both public and private school settings and has been certified as a professional development specialist for the Child Development Association to assist childcare staff in working effectively with children. She has compassionately served a variety of populations in both outpatient and inpatient behavioral health settings. She utilizes CBT and Solution Focused approaches to working with clients who struggle with suicidal ideations, anxiety, depression, thought disorders or PTSD. Tisha is a person-centered, strengths-based practitioner who shares in collaboration with individuals, their families and other professionals to empower people for successful living.

Laura is a TCHATT Therapist. Laura is from Cali, Colombia and is Bilingual. Laura graduated from UT Arlington with her Bachelors and Masters in Social Work. Laura is a Licensed Master Social Worker, Working to complete her supervision hours for her LCSW. Laura Began working in Inpatient and outpatient behavioral health in 2017. Laura has a passion and experience working with Children and Adolescents in behavioral health setting and as a case manager working with pregnant teenagers. Laura’s specialty is CBT Therapy and Motivational therapy. Laura is passionate and empathetic in her role and loves to help those in need.

Kalli is a TCHATT Therapist from Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s in psychology and received her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Kalli is a Licensed Master Social Worker and is currently working on her LCSW license. While working through her Master's degree she specialized in childhood trauma and family dynamics. With several years of experience working with children and families in settings such as psychiatric hospitals, schools, and case management agencies, Kalli utilizes CBT to help children and adolescents build coping skills to navigate trauma and self-growth. A compassion for young people has driven Kalli into a career in behavioral health and nothing brings her more joy than seeing children and families thrive.

Annette is a bilingual TCHATT Therapist from Fort Worth, TX. Annette graduated from University of Texas at Arlington with her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her graduate study focus was in clinical social work with emphasis in working with children and families and a certification in administration. Annette is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and currently in supervision to obtain her Licensed Clinical Social Worker status (LCSW). Annette has been a practicing social worker for the past 6 years. Annette began working in international adoption at a local adoption center and continued her career as a school social worker for at-risk adolescents and families. For the past 3 years she worked with adolescents and adults at a behavioral health hospital providing inpatient group therapy, assessments and crisis calls. Annette empowers youth and families to achieve success and self-efficacy by utilizing CBT, TBRI and person-centered approaches. She is passionate about her role and enjoys helping people understand their strengths and potential.

Alex Demba is the Project Coordinator for TCHATT. Alex was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain. After graduating high school in Freeport IL, he enlisted into the US. Army where he served as a Health Care Specialist and a clinic manager in several medical centers. After retiring out of Fort Hood Texas in 2013, he was offered the opportunity to join the JPS team. While serving as an Emergency Medical Technician, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Sandra Hyams is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with expertise in child adolescent psychiatry. Sandra received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at University of Pennsylvania. Following nursing school, she worked at Cook Children’s for several years, attending and graduating from the pediatric nurse residency program and subsequently working on a short stay unit for all ages of children. She then graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2016 after obtaining her Masters of Science as a Family Psychiatric Nurse Practioner. Sandra’s first position as a provider was working with adolescents with subtance use and mental health in an intensive outpatient program at University of Minnesota, Fairview hospital in Minneapolis-St. Paul. She went on the work at the Mayo Clinic, working with a widespread population of adults, geriatrics, and pediatrics on the inpatient, emergency, and consult liaison service.

Makenzie is a TCHATT Therapist from Fort Worth, Texas. Makenzie graduated from University of Arkansas with a Bachelor’s in psychology then University of North Texas with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Makenzie is a Licensed Professional Counselor with experience in psychiatric and non-profit settings. Makenzie has additional training in trauma with a certification in basic Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. Makenzie has specialized in working with adolescents and has experience with child play therapy. Makenzie utilizes CBT skills and emphasizes a person-centered approach to help young people grow in coping and self.

Gunit Kahlon, MD is a board certified Child & Adolescent psychiatrist, at JPS Health Network since January 2020, committed to helping children and families navigate mental health challenges through medication management and therapeutic interventions. She specializes in depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, trauma, behavioral difficulties, and mood disorders. Dr. Kahlon completed her residency and fellowship child and adolescent training at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2010-2015, and then transitioned to an outpatient community child psychiatry practice in Delaware working in a rural setting. She closely worked and collaborated frequently with community providers regarding management of mental health in pediatric population.

Jill Pollard is a Child Psychiatric Resource Specialist for the CPAN program. She has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Texas, as well as a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. As a social worker she educated and trained potential foster care and adoption caretakers, and helped child and adolescent victims of domestic violence and human trafficking during her work as an Embedded Behavioral Health Specialist.

Janet is the CPAN Project Coordinator and holds a Master in Healthcare Administration. She has worked in Behavioral Health since 2019 but has been a healthcare professional for over 7 years. She supported clinicians in providing compassionate care for patients with behavioral health disorders and drug addiction. Prior to joining JPS Health Network, Janet was an Area Manager for a home health agency. She educated the community regarding the availability of home health services while working with local providers to obtain patient referrals. Janet implemented programs and protocols to help improve the delivery of home health services and patient outcomes.

Megan is a second-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at Texas A&M University. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2013 and her Education Specialist degree in School Psychology in 2016 from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She has previous experience working as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) in the Houston area. In this role, she focused on psychological assessment and counseling as a related service. She has experience working with children and adolescents presenting with a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns in schools.

Cynthia is a fifth-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at Texas A&M University. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin in 2016 and a Masters in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2017. Cynthia incorporates evidence-based cognitive behavioral interventions and a systemic approach in her work with clients. She has experience serving children, adolescents, and young adults in school, community and medical settings. Cynthia has seen clients with a wide variety of presenting behavioral and emotional concerns, including depression, anxiety, adjustment concerns, grief and loss, self-harm, suicidality, oppositional/defiant difficulties, and executive functioning difficulties. Cynthia’s research and clinical interests include anxiety in adolescents and the psychosocial effects of chronic medical diagnoses.

Daira is a second-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at Texas A&M University. She currently serves as a Counselor for the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program and a Practicum Counselor for the Texas A&M Counseling and Assessment Clinic (CAC). Daira received her MA in School Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2017, along with a certification in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Language Acquisition and Bilingual Psycho-educational Assessment. She is currently licensed as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and holds certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Furthermore, Daira is presently working towards becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Before moving to Texas, Daira spent her early childhood in Mexico. She is bilingual and has a passion for working with bilingual children and families. She was previously employed as an LSSP, providing psychological services to elementary-aged children. The scope of her practice and experience include autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, and more. She has also provided behavior therapy to children with developmental disabilities in home and clinical settings.

Liabette Rodriguez-Escamilla is a first-year counseling psychology doctoral student at Texas A&M University. She obtained her masters in 2020 from Texas A&M International University in counseling psychology. Liabette gained her clinical experience at Texas A&M International’s student counseling services office where she worked with primarily Latinx, college-aged students who were experiencing anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. Liabette takes a humanistic approach to counseling and uses techniques from solution-focused, positive psychology, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She strives to create a safe space for her clients to realize their potential and establish healthy coping skills. Liabette’s research is focused on multicultural counseling, religion and therapy, and cultural self-awareness. Liabette is currently working as a counselor in the TCHATT program.

Dr. Kelly Sopchak is a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and manager of the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program. Dr. Sopchak has worked with Dr. McCord to build the Texas A&M University TCHATT program and oversees the provision of mental health services to K-12 students throughout Brazos Valley. She engages and collaborates with schools to develop multidisciplinary care teams, focused on increasing mental wellness, academic engagement and achievement, and mental health awareness. Dr. Sopchak has extensive experience working with children and adolescents in schools and juvenile facilities. Prior to joining the TBC team, Dr. Sopchak led the crisis response team for one of the largest school districts in the United States. She has expertise in risk assessments and crisis intervention, as well as working with youth experiencing significant psychological distress. Dr. Sopchak is passionate about serving children and adolescents and improving their mental health care system. Dr. Sopchak received her bachelor of arts in psychology from University of Houston-Clear Lake, master of arts in clinical psychology from University of Houston-Clear Lake, and doctorate in counseling psychology from University of Houston.

Mariah is a fourth-year counseling psychology doctoral student at Texas A&M University. She obtained her bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University in 2017 and her master's degree from Texas A&M University in 2018. Mariah has experience working with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, and behavioral concerns as well as trauma-related disorders, self-harm, and suicidality. Mariah’s approach to therapy is trauma-informed and collaborative. She focuses on empowering her clients to identify and utilize existing strengths as well as build new coping skills to aid in managing distress. She works from a Cognitive Behavioral framework and utilizes techniques from a wide range of evidence-based treatments to provide her clients with the best possible care. Mariah’s research is focused on the medical resident education and recognition of trauma disorders in primary care settings.

Aileen Terrazas is a first year PhD student in the Counseling Psychology program at Texas A&M University. Aileen works as a graduate assistant as part of the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine program where she provides Telehealth counseling services in English and Spanish to children and adolescents in schools. Growing up in a border town and having worked with immigration shelters, Aileen's interests include working with underserved communities, researching issues affecting immigrant children, adolescents and their families, as well as issues concerning the LGBT+ population within the latino/hispanic community. Aileen enjoys working with individuals from various cultural backgrounds and strives to provide a multicultural and bilingual approach to counseling.

Ms. Melissa Carrasco is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been a lifelong resident of El Paso, Texas. She has experience in working with the Geriatric Community, Adults, Children and Adolescents in many areas, including Autistic/Sensory Integration. She has worked in Private Practice, and both inpatient and outpatient environments at the El Paso Psychiatric Center and Atlantis Health Services, respectively. Ms. Carrasco is currently on her sixth year as a volunteer with Ysleta School District and most recently joined the Texas Tech Health Science Center at El Paso to work with Children and Adolescents as part of the TCHATT program.

Dr. Cecilia De Vargas is an associate professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Currently, Dr. De Vargas is the program director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship and dedicates most of her professional hours to supervision of fellows, residents, and medical students at the inpatient, outpatient, and community rotations. She also participates in the Child Psychiatric Access Network (CPAN), providing consultation to pediatricians and other primary care professionals on assessing, diagnosing, and treating children and adolescents with mental health comorbidities. Dr. De Vargas received her medical education at the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, followed by training in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry when she moved to the USA. Dr. De Vargas has Board Certification in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has been with the department for over twenty years. Dr. de Vargas’ main professional interests include medical and mental health effects of childhood trauma experiences and resilience in pediatric psychiatric groups, mental health problems in unaccompanied minors who migrate to the US, innovative ways to treat children and adolescents with resistant depression and risk for suicide, and evidence- based interventions in children who have been traumatized, among other things. She is passionate about disseminating a trauma-informed care and practice to all trainees to promote a safe, stigma-free, compassionate and collaborative method of caring for the children, adolescents and their families.

Hanna Garza is the Senior Mental Health Clinician at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso). She earned a Master's of Science in Mental Health Counseling, and a Master's of Science in Psychology from Walden University. Mrs. Garza is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Trauma Therapist, and a Certified Anger Management Facilitator. Prior to coming to work for TTUHSC El Paso, Mrs. Garza worked for the El Paso Psychiatric Center as a Mental Health Clinician.

Ms. Gonzalez is a Senior Mental Health Clinician at Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso. She is a mental health employee with ten years relevant experience in a variety of environments and capacities (i.e. outpatient/inpatient/jail/courts). Ms. Gonzalez earned her Master’s degree from Webster University in Community Counseling, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Texas at El Paso.

Dr. Sarah Lynette Martin has been diligent in building a varied and fulfilling professional career. She began her journey at the University of California at Santa Cruz, where she completed her bachelor’s degree. Soon after graduating, she served as a Community Services Specialist in the Peace Corps for two years. Upon her return from the Peace Corps, Dr. Martin was awarded a Health Professions Scholarship by the United States Army to attend Tulane School of Medicine and subsequently completed her residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. Martin went on to complete a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry prior to transferring to Ft. Knox, where she served as the Chief of Behavioral Health for four years and successfully deployed to Camp Bucca, a detainee facility in Iraq. Dr. Martin completed her military service at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas but went on to serve for two years in a civilian role as the Chief of the Child and Family Behavioral Health Service. Dr. Martin currently serves the community of El Paso through her involvement with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, both as an assistant professor and as the Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. More recently, Dr. Martin is developing the El Paso Hub of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium through her role as medical director. In her role, Dr. Martin is actively working to improve behavioral health access for children and adolescents, and is reshaping the availability of resources for our current and future primary care providers and child and adolescent psychiatrists through several initiatives spanning 16 counties in Southwest Texas.

Dr. Eden Hernandez Robles serves as the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) Program Director at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. Dr. Robles has extensive experience in social work, with training on qualitative research methods, health services and service user evaluations, and qualitative data analysis. As a research associate on several university and NIH-funded grants, she has laid the groundwork for the proposed research grant by investigating the social, cultural, and other psychosocial factors relevant to Latinos on the US/Mexico Border. Dr. Robles currently serves as the co-convener for the Paso del Norte Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) in El Paso. As co-convener, she has helped lead the strategic vision of the ROSC through professional guidance and mentorship. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Recovery Alliance, Inc. in El Paso.

Bethany Shrewsbury is a Nationally Board Certified Counselor and a Senior Mental Health Clinician at Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso. Bethany received a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University in 2015 and went on to work as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. She has worked as a Licensed Professional Counselor with many different populations and many of the Community Partners throughout El Paso. Her work experience in Mental Health includes working with children, adolescents, and also adults. Bethany specializes in crisis stabilization, trauma recovery and grief counseling.

Dr. Baughn joined UTMB psychiatry faculty as an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2022. She earned her medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and she completed both general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UTMB. Dr. Baughn previously practiced inpatient adult psychiatry and telepsychiatry serving both children and adults. Dr. Baughn educates both medical students, psychiatry residents and child psychiatry fellows.

Dr. Danielle Busby is a clinical psychologist who joined UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in 2022. She completed her predoctoral with a specialization in child trauma at Duke’s Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Michigan Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. She is passionate about decreasing barriers to mental health services use for underserved patient populations and is committed to continuously bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.

Dr. Melissa DeFilippis was born and raised in Abilene, Texas and completed her undergraduate training at Hardin-Simmons University, with a B.S. in Biology and Biochemistry. She completed all her medical training in the UT System, first in Houston for medical school, then at UTMB in Galveston for her general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry training. She developed her love of teaching during her years in residency and fellowship training and enthusiastically accepted a faculty position in UTMB's Department of Psychiatry, in the Child and Adolescent division. During her time as Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, she has been very involved in providing care to underserved children and adolescents both in North Texas and in Corpus Christi via telepsychiatry community mental health clinics. She provided supervision of telepsychiatry services to youth in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department system. She provides supervision of child and adolescent psychiatry fellows in their outpatient psychiatry clinics along with providing outpatient care to her own private patients. She directs and supervises the Developmental Disorders clinic, assessing and treating patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders. She is currently serving as the Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division.

Dr. Dodd is a child clinical psychologist who joined the UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in 2020. He completed a predoctoral internship at the Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health and a postdoctoral fellowship in childhood traumatic stress and grief at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. He is excited to participate in the TCHATT program and looks forward to serving youth and families across the state.

Dr. Lisa Falls is a native of Houston, Texas. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin. She is a graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where she received her medical degree. After deciding on a career path in psychiatry, she completed her general psychiatry residency at Alton Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, LA. The final step in her formal training included a Child Psychiatry Fellowship at UTMB Galveston, where she also served as Chief Resident during the last year of her training. Dr. Falls has long had a passion to serve the underserved. So after residency, she worked for Burke Center MHMR of East Texas for the next 8 years. She saw both children and adults with a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Her time in East Texas was followed by another clinical position at Waco Family Health Center. Again, there was a great need in the Waco area. She has been active in both the East Texas and Waco communities by giving lectures to the community to educate about and decrease the stigma of mental health.

Dr. E’leyna Garcia is a Licensed Psychologist and Assistant Professor who joined the UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in 2022. Dr. Garcia received her doctorate in clinical child psychology from Howard University in Washington, DC. She completed her pre-doctoral internship, with a child trauma specialization, at the University of California. She is dedicated to improving access to mental health care for underserved youth and families.

Dr. Gushanas is a clinical health psychologist who joined the UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in 2020. She completed her predoctoral internship in Pediatric Integrated Behavioral Health at Dell Children’s Medical Center and a Postdoctoral fellowship in childhood traumatic stress and grief at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. She is excited to participate in the TCHATT program and looks forward to supporting youth, families, and providers across the state.

Dr. Kirk is a child clinical psychologist who joined the UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in 2021. She completed a predoctoral internship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, and a postdoctoral fellowship in childhood traumatic stress and grief at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. She is dedicated to increasing access to high quality mental health care for children and families across the state of Texas and is looking forward to providing services through the TCHATT program.

Dr. Lobel specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry, with a particular focus on development. She completed her medical degree at New York University School of Medicine and her general psychiatry residency at North Shore LIJ Zucker Hillside Hospital. She also completed a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Lobel takes a collaborative approach and strives to help patients and families make decisions on treatment.

Mr. Sheffield joined the UTMB psychiatry department as a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2021. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Texas State University in 2010 and went on to achieve a Master of Science in Counseling for the University of Houston- Clear Lake in 2013. He has experience delivering an electric application of Cognitive Behavior and Solution- Focused Therapies.

Dr. Shotwell joined the UTMB psychiatry faculty in 2018 as an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He received his medical degree from UTMB and completed both his general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at UTMB. Dr. Shotwell provides care to children in a variety of clinical settings including UTMB outpatient clinics, schoolbased clinics, and hospital consultations. His primary role at UTMB is leading the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program delivering telemedicine services to Texas youth in the school setting. He is excited to provide mental health services to Texas youth.

Ms. Teschendorf obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Wichita State University in 2012 and went on to achieve a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2022. Through UHCL, she gained experience in career and crisis counseling through graduate internships. She is a member of the Texas Counselors Association and American Counseling Association. She acquired certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in 2022 and is a certified Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) facilitator, a school-based program where students learn and explore the topic of Mental Health. Ms. Teschendorf is supervised by Mr. Steven Sheffield M.S., LPC-S.

Dr. Trinh competed her general psychiatry residency training at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UTMB. She joined the UTMB psychiatry department as an assistant professor in 2019. She is dedicated to children’s mental health and is excited for the opportunity to help students through TCHATT!