It is time to vote! Please review the candidate statements and then vote below for your new Special Interest Group Leaders. Voting is open to all CFHA members and will close EOD Monday, November 24th. Email Leiana Edwards (ledwards@cfha.net) and Hannah Morse (hmorse@cfha.net) with questions!
CoCM SIG Candidates
Co-Chair Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am interested in the opportunity to serve as Co-Chair for the Collaborative Care (CoCM) Special Interest Group (SIG) because I am committed to advancing integrated models of care that improve patient outcomes, enhance provider experience, and reduce disparities in access to quality behavioral health care. I am drawn to this role because I believe the success of CoCM depends not only on model adherence, but also on cultivating a strong community of professionals for shared learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing the field of integrated care.
The CoCM SIG plays an essential role in advocacy within our organizations and at the policy level. It is exciting to watch the national landscape for CoCM evolve over the years, with changes in reimbursement models, workforce development, and expansion across diverse populations and healthcare settings. I believe a strong and professional community can shape and inform future developments to ensure that CoCM continues to evolve to meet the needs of our patient populations.
I am interested in working collaboratively with fellow leaders to plan for innovative programming and learning opportunities based on the interests of SIG members. Though I have experience in leadership and group facilitation, I have not served as Co-Chair for a professional special interest group. I value ongoing learning and the experience of co-chairing the CoCM SIG would be an exciting and welcomed opportunity for growth.
Over the years, the CoCM community has been an invaluable source of support, guidance, and inspiration for me. The SIG has provided me with resources, best practices, and a sounding board for many questions. I am committed to the CoCM SIG mission of bringing professionals together to share best practices and innovative ways to approach the various challenges of implementing and sustaining integrated care. It has been impressive to watch the CoCM SIG quickly establish a strong foundation with record participation. It is the passion and commitment of the members that sparked a fire and collective impact.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring a unique combination of training, clinical experience, leadership, and a strong commitment to integrated care. I earned an M.S. in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Providence. I have maintained my Mental Health Clinician License (LMHC) in WA State since 2015. Early in my career, I witnessed first-hand the impacts of behavioral health and primary care operating in silos, including fragmented communication, poor outcomes, and provider burnout. This experience put me on a path to integrated care, and I haven’t looked back. I spent 10 years working as a Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) in diverse primary care settings, including an FQHC, a large healthcare organization, and a family medicine residency. I gained leadership experience working as the Clinical Director for Behavioral Health Integration at Providence Medical Group of SW Washington. In this role I implemented CoCM and managed a team of BHCMs across 10 primary care sites. In my current role as a Clinical Trainer and Practice Coach at the University of Washington, AIMS Center, I have had the opportunity to support the implementation of CoCM in various healthcare settings across the country.
In addition to the leadership and facilitation skills described above, I bring the organizational skills and attention to detail to track priorities, objectives and action items. I have experience organizing educational events including webinars, workshops, and learning communities. I have the communication skills to foster a safe and approachable space where group members feel empowered to ask questions and contribute. As a Co-Chair, I would also seek to strengthen connections between the SIG and the broader professional community.
I am excited for the opportunity to bring my experience, skills and spirit for collaboration to the CoCM SIG in support of its continued impact and growth.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am very interested in the co-chair position with the CoCM SIG because I believe this role offers a unique opportunity to advance a care model that has positively impacted my patients, my professional journey, and redefined the way I practice integrated behavioral health care! Collaborative Care aligns with the way that I feel that integrated care should be delivered; in a team consisting of the patient, PCP, BHCM and psychiatrist and administered in the frequency and duration that works best for the patient.
Serving as co-chair would allow me to contribute to the ongoing evolution of this model, to share my passion with others wanting to improve services to their patients. Having attended the CoCM SIG meetings myself, I have benefited in my own practice and would want to give back and support others in the same way. I feel that the CoCM SIG group is a vital platform for conversations about Collaborative Care, and would be honored to help facilitate its growth.
Additionally, I’m eager to become more involve in the Collaborative Care Model movement. I have watched the model gain momentum in Utah, especially with the Utah Pediatric Partnership to Improve Healthcare Quality (UPIQ) identifying Collaborative Care as their preferred integrated model for pediatrics in 2025. I had the pleasure of presenting at one of their monthly trainings, which furthered my desire to contribute. I want to be a part of the effort to promote Collaborative Care on a national scale, contributing to the knowledge base, advocating for broader adoption, and being a person that others around the country can come to for support and guidance as they build their programs.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring a blend of clinical expertise, leadership experience, and familiarity with the Collaborative Care Model that makes me a great fit for the role of co-chair. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of experience in behavioral health, I’ve worked across a variety of settings. For the past 11 years, I’ve focused on integrated behavioral health, 8 years in the Primary Care Behavioral Health model and the last three years in Collaborative Care, serving as both a Behavioral Health Care Manger, lead and manager of a team of eight Behavioral Health Care Managers and three Care Management Assistants.
One of my most significant accomplishments has been launching and scaling the Collaborative Care Model across Intermountain Health, expanding the program to 46 clinics, including specialty clinics such as nurse midwifes and endocrinology. I’ve helped develop workflows, trained Behavioral Health Care Managers, collaborated with primary care teams, and worked closely with leadership to ensure the model’s success. These experiences, along with education through the AIMS center, SIG meetings, and attending two CFHA conferences have given me a great understanding of what it takes to implement Collaborative Care effectively.
In addition to my operational experience, I bring strong communication and facilitation skills. I’ve led trainings, presented at conferences, and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to promote integrated care. I have a knowledge of Collaborative Care related data sets and measuring outcomes.
Finally, I’m passionate about mentorship and professional development. I meet with our Collaborative Care team weekly to discuss patients and provide a core Collaborative Care concept to discuss. I follow the CFHA listserv and share information with the team. As co-chair, I would work to ensure that the CoCM SIG remains an impactful community for all members. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills, experience and energy to this work! Thank you for the consideration!
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I would like to serve as co-chair of the Collaborative Care Special Interest Group because this field has been both a professional passion and a personal commitment throughout my career. As a long-standing member and leader in Collaborative Care, I’m deeply invested in advancing its future.
My motivation stems from a desire to build on the strong foundation laid by previous leaders. Their work has shaped the group into a vibrant community and I see this role as an opportunity to honor that while helping steer the next chapter. I want to foster connections, promote innovation, and ensure that our group remains a driving force in shaping policy, practice, and research.
Ultimately, I see this role not as a title, but as a responsibility to amplify the voices within our community, support emerging leaders, and champion the values that make Collaborative Care so transformative.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I believe I can bring a unique blend of expertise, broad connections, and leadership to the role of co-chair for the Collaborative Care Special Interest Group.
Previously, I have worked in leadership roles at other large organizations, such as my role as a graduate student board member at the American Psychological Association, or my role as Advocacy Chair for the Wisconsin Psychological Association. In addition, I have served in leadership roles in my community, partnering with local government and non-profits as well as here at CFHA, including my role in the Office of Collaborative Care Policy Member. These experiences have honed my ability to lead with vision, listen actively, and build consensus.
After working for nearly 10 years in the Collaborative Care model, and partnering with the AIMS Center in many ways, I am deeply versed in the Collaborative Care model, not only in theory but in practice. My long-standing involvement has given me a nuanced understanding of its complexities and helped me bridge relationships with other professionals and organizations in the field. I have always seen my role in the field as a leader, whether it be figuring out payment models sharing best practices, or amplifying voices that haven’t always been heard.
Together, these skills position me to help guide the Special Interest Group with integrity, energy, and a clear commitment to advancing Collaborative Care. I’m excited to support our members, continue the legacy of past leaders, and help shape the future of this vital work.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
The prevalence of mental health needs is at an all-time high, with over 30% of adults experiencing a mental illness or substance use disorder. However, only a fraction of these individuals receives the treatment they need due to a significant shortage in the mental health workforce. This reality underscores the urgent necessity to teach and promote the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) and other integrated models that can effectively fill these gaps in our healthcare system.
I am drawn to the CoCM Special Interest Group Co-Chair role because of my unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare by promoting equitable access to care and reducing health disparities. The CoCM and integrated care models boast strong evidence base and hold immense potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery.
Building CoCM communities where we can collectively learn and leverage our expertise across various states and systems is a top priority for me. By fostering these collaborative environments, we can significantly boost the implementation and utilization of CoCM. I envision creating a network of professionals who not only understand CoCM deeply but also advocate for it within their own organizations and regions.
The CFHA CoCM SIG is instrumental in supporting my goal to elevate CoCM recognition and adoption. Their thoughtfully curated, topic-driven monthly meetings have been invaluable, offering an excellent platform for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and information exchange. These gatherings are crucial for overcoming barriers to CoCM adoption and establishing a supportive framework for its expansion.
My aim is to make CoCM a common term across healthcare providers, ensuring it becomes a fundamental part of daily healthcare practices. By promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration, we can address obstacles to CoCM adoption and create a robust framework for its expansion. Through this role, I am eager to contribute to this transformative journey, driving widespread understanding and adoption of CoCM principles. With collective effort and shared expertise, we can envision a future where CoCM is universally recognized and implemented, enhancing outcomes for patients and communities alike.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
With over five years of experience in delivering integrated care services and implementing Collaborative Care programs nationwide, I am eager to bring my unique skills and passion to the CoCM Special Interest Group through the CFHA. My career has been dedicated to serving as a Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM), managing teams, and leading Collaborative Care initiatives across multiple states. I am particularly passionate about designing effective clinical processes and training materials that facilitate CoCM services, having developed numerous resources that support BHCMs and health systems in enhancing care delivery.
My experience extends to implementing CoCM with specialty populations such as the aging community, pediatric, and women’s health populations, reflecting my commitment to addressing diverse healthcare needs. At the Meadows Institute, I focus on implementing the Collaborative Care Model to improve access to evidence-based mental health care and ensure partner satisfaction, all while striving to transform healthcare to promote community access and reduce health disparities.
Additionally, I have extensive experience presenting in various settings, including conferences, group settings with BHCMs, medical providers, other clinicians, administrative stakeholders, and national virtual webinars. This experience has honed my ability to communicate complex concepts effectively and engage diverse audiences.
Armed with an academic background in Clinical Psychology from the Universidad Del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile, and hands-on experience, I bring a unique perspective and skill set that I believe will greatly benefit the Co-Chair role. I am enthusiastic about collaborating with others who are committed to advancing Collaborative Care and am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the CFHA CoCM Special Interest Group as a Co-Chair.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
The Collaborative Care Special Interest Group is an incredible opportunity to gather members interested in the adoption and expansion of the Collaborative Care model. I believe strongly that the group provides an opportunity for shared learning and for participation in national advocacy, research and best practices. The ability to be a part of this group in a leadership role would allow for the opportunity to share resources, bring in some national leaders in Collaboratative Care and share updates. I am incredibly passionate about Collaborative Care and providing support and resources to those working in the model.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I have been working in the Collaborative Care model for almost 25 years, doing my first implementation in 2002. Since that time I have worked nationally teaching, training and implementing Collaborative Care and have done work in all 50 states. I , along with Meadows, maintain the national state by state resource on the billing codes, I participate in state and national advocacy for Collaborative Care and am familiar with the model in detail. I co lead the national special interest groups for Collaborative Care in research , pediatrics, womens health and geriatrics. In 2017 I co-founded Concert Health which provides Collaborative Care to primary care practices and has served over 140,000 patients .
Secretary (Co-Chair-Elect) Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
It is with genuine enthusiasm and commitment to advancing integrated care that I express my interest in serving as the Secretary for the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association’s Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Special Interest Group. My professional experience overseeing both a Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) program and a Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) program has given me a deep appreciation for the challenges and rewards inherent in implementing evidence-based models of integrated behavioral health. Beyond my operational experience, I am driven by a passion for learning, growth, and fostering meaningful connections with colleagues across disciplines and systems.
I view the Secretary role as not merely an administrative position, but as an opportunity to strengthen communication, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing within the CoCM community. The CFHA has long been a central hub for professionals seeking to improve behavioral health integration, and I hope to contribute to that mission by facilitating dialogue, supporting the dissemination of best practices, and helping to shape the strategic direction of the SIG in ways that foster both innovation and inclusivity.
Over the past 3 years, I have had the privilege of overseeing two distinct but complementary models of integrated care: the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) and the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. In my current role, I manage the clinical and strategic components of both programs, ensuring alignment with evidence-based standards while adapting to the unique needs of our patient population and organizational structure.
Through this work, I have come to appreciate how critical shared learning and collaborative leadership are to sustaining and evolving integrated care systems. Each new challenge—whether it involves reimbursement complexities, workforce shortages, data infrastructure, or patient engagement—has reinforced my belief that innovation in integrated care thrives when practitioners have strong networks of support and communication. I believe the CFHA CoCM SIG provides an ideal forum for such collaboration.
My decision to pursue the Secretary role is grounded in my core professional values: growth, connection, and bidirectional leadership.
Growth has always been a driving force in my career. I believe that professionals in integrated care must remain adaptable, open-minded, and continuously engaged in learning. The landscape of behavioral health integration evolves rapidly, influenced by emerging research, shifting reimbursement structures, technological innovations, and policy developments. Serving in this role would allow me to grow both personally and professionally—expanding my understanding of how CoCM programs are designed and implemented across diverse settings, and translating those lessons into tangible improvements within my own organization.
Connection is equally essential. The Collaborative Care Model is inherently relational—its success depends on communication and trust among primary care providers, behavioral health care managers, psychiatric consultants, and patients. I value opportunities to connect with others who share a commitment to this model, to exchange ideas, and to build relationships that transcend institutional or geographic boundaries. Through the Secretary position, I hope to foster a sense of community and belonging among SIG members by ensuring that communication is clear, consistent, and inclusive.
Finally, bidirectional leadership—a philosophy that emphasizes mutual learning between leaders and their teams—is central to my approach. I believe that leadership in integrated care should be collaborative, reflective, and iterative. In my current role, I strive to cultivate environments where feedback flows freely in both directions, where team members feel empowered to share their insights, and where we learn from one another’s experiences. This same philosophy guides my interest in the CoCM SIG: I aim not only to contribute knowledge but also to listen deeply and learn from others’ expertise.
One of my primary motivations for seeking this role is the opportunity to deepen my understanding of how other CoCM programs operate across the nation. While I have a strong grasp of CoCM implementation within my own organization, I recognize that the model’s application varies widely depending on factors such as patient demographics, regional policy environments, payer structures, and institutional resources.
I am eager to learn more about how other programs have navigated challenges such as:
• Integrating CoCM into existing primary care workflows.
• Securing sustainable reimbursement and financial models.
• Leveraging data for population health management and quality improvement.
• Addressing workforce training and supervision needs.
• Tailoring interventions for diverse and underserved populations.
By engaging with the CoCM SIG community, I hope to gather insights into these variations and explore how best practices from other systems can be adapted to strengthen my own programs. In turn, I aim to share lessons learned from my dual oversight of CoCM and PCBH, highlighting the ways in which the two models can complement each other to provide flexible, comprehensive, and patient-centered behavioral health integration.
This reciprocal exchange of ideas—grounded in curiosity, humility, and shared purpose—is at the heart of why I wish to serve as Secretary. The position offers a platform to amplify the voices of practitioners, facilitate meaningful dialogue, and ensure that valuable knowledge is documented, disseminated, and acted upon.
In addition to advancing my operational and clinical knowledge, I am increasingly interested in learning more about the policy landscape that shapes the implementation of integrated care. Policies at the state and federal levels have profound implications for CoCM sustainability, from reimbursement codes and funding mechanisms to workforce regulations and quality measurement standards.
As someone actively engaged in program leadership, I have witnessed how policy decisions can either facilitate or hinder progress. For instance, differences in payer recognition of CoCM billing codes can affect an organization’s ability to scale the model sustainably. Likewise, evolving telehealth regulations and behavioral health parity laws influence the ways in which integrated care can be delivered.
By serving as Secretary, I hope to develop a deeper understanding of these policy factors through dialogue with colleagues, participation in SIG initiatives, and engagement with CFHA’s broader advocacy efforts. I also see an opportunity to help translate policy developments into actionable insights for CoCM practitioners—bridging the gap between legislation and implementation. Ultimately, I aspire to use this knowledge to advocate for policies that promote equitable access, financial sustainability, and high-quality integrated care for all patients.
I view the Secretary position as both a stewardship and a facilitation role. At its core, it involves ensuring that the group’s communications, documentation, and coordination are handled efficiently and thoughtfully. However, I also see it as an opportunity to strengthen the infrastructure of the SIG—helping to ensure that our collective efforts are organized, accessible, and impactful.
If selected for this role, I would prioritize:
- Effective Communication and Organization:
-Maintaining accurate meeting records, ensuring key decisions and insights are captured and shared promptly.
-Supporting transparency and accessibility by creating concise summaries, resource lists, and follow-up communications.
-Helping coordinate SIG initiatives, including webinars, workgroups, and collaborative projects. - Community Building:
-Encouraging participation from diverse members, including early-career professionals and those from underrepresented regions or disciplines.
-Fostering a welcoming environment where all members feel valued and heard.
-Supporting mentorship and networking opportunities that connect members based on shared interests or implementation stages. - Knowledge Exchange:
-Assisting in the development of mechanisms for sharing best practices, implementation tools, and outcome data among members.
-Promoting cross-pollination between CoCM and other integrated care models such as PCBH, recognizing the value of a continuum approach.
-Helping to identify themes and trends that could inform CFHA’s broader advocacy and educational efforts. - Policy Awareness and Education:
-Supporting initiatives that increase members’ understanding of current policy issues affecting CoCM.
-Exploring opportunities to highlight successful policy strategies from various states or systems.
-Facilitating communication between practitioners and policymakers when appropriate, amplifying the voices of those directly implementing the model.
Through these efforts, I hope to contribute to a SIG that is both highly functional and deeply collaborative—a group that not only shares information but also builds relationships and collective vision
.
The CFHA has long inspired me as an organization that bridges the worlds of research, clinical practice, education, and policy to promote whole-person, team-based care. Its collaborative spirit aligns closely with my own professional identity and values. I view this opportunity as a chance to give back to a community that has profoundly influenced my own growth as an integrated care leader.
My participation in CFHA events and communities has consistently reinforced the importance of shared learning and connection. Whether attending conferences, engaging in webinars, or reading publications, I am reminded that the field of integrated care thrives when professionals come together to share their experiences, challenges, and innovations. As Secretary, I would be honored to help sustain and strengthen that culture of collaboration.
In summary, my desire to serve as Secretary for the CFHA Collaborative Care Model Special Interest Group stems from a combination of professional experience, personal values, and a deep commitment to the advancement of integrated behavioral health care.
My oversight of both CoCM and PCBH programs has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the operational and clinical dimensions of integrated care, as well as a deep respect for the diverse ways in which these models can be implemented. I value growth, connection, and bidirectional leadership, and I believe that the Secretary role offers an ideal avenue to live out those values in service to a broader professional community.
I am eager to learn from my peers across the nation, to contribute to the ongoing development of best practices, and to enhance the exchange of knowledge within the SIG. Furthermore, I am excited by the prospect of expanding my understanding of the policy landscape that shapes CoCM implementation and exploring ways to translate that understanding into improved service delivery within my own organization.
Above all, I am motivated by a desire to contribute meaningfully to the collective mission of CFHA: advancing the integration of behavioral health and primary care to improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Serving as Secretary would be an honor and a privilege—one that aligns perfectly with my professional journey and my aspirations for continued learning, leadership, and collaboration.
Thank you for your consideration!
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
Again, it is with genuine enthusiasm and a deep sense of purpose that I submit my statement of interest for the Secretary position for the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association’s Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Special Interest Group (SIG). This opportunity represents a natural extension of my professional journey and personal values—integrating clinical practice, program leadership, community advocacy, and a lifelong commitment to equity and connection.
As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I have built my career on bridging behavioral and physical health. In my current role as Behavioral Health Program Manager for Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Integrated Care, I oversee both a Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) program and a Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) program across multiple primary care sites. This dual oversight has given me a unique, systems-level understanding of how integrated care can improve health outcomes, strengthen provider collaboration, and advance equity for diverse patient populations.
I am drawn to the Secretary role because it aligns with my professional mission—to grow through connection, contribute through learning, and lead collaboratively. I see this position not only as an opportunity to support the operational excellence of the SIG, but also as a way to help advance CFHA’s commitment to inclusive, equitable, and person-centered care.
Over the past several years, I have led the operational, clinical, and strategic aspects of behavioral health integration within a large medical group. My leadership in both CoCM and PCBH has required me to navigate the balance between fidelity to evidence-based models and adaptation to local needs.
In the CoCM program, I oversee a registry of approximately 150 patients, coordinating care with primary care providers (PCPs), psychiatric consultants, and care management teams. I utilize measurement-based care, ensuring progress is tracked and outcomes are improved systematically. I consult with our psychiatrist and lead efforts to educate providers on the CoCM model, helping build understanding, engagement, and sustainability across the organization. My work also includes financial oversight of CoCM billing and revenue and active consultation with the AIMS Center at the University of Washington, ensuring alignment with national standards and policy developments.
In parallel, I lead our PCBH program, supporting embedded clinicians who provide same-day access, brief interventions, and real-time collaboration with medical providers. This program emphasizes the population-based, prevention-oriented approach of PCBH, and my work ensures it functions in complement with our CoCM efforts. By leading both models, I have developed an integrated framework that maximizes access, addresses a wide range of behavioral health needs, and supports the overall well-being of patients and staff alike.
Through this leadership, I have developed strong competencies in data-driven performance management, workflow optimization, and interprofessional collaboration. These skills directly align with the organizational and communication responsibilities of the Secretary role, where clarity, coordination, and inclusivity are essential.
My professional journey—from hospital-based social work to home care, crisis services, and integrated primary care—has consistently been grounded in collaboration and a deep belief in health equity. Working in diverse clinical settings, I have witnessed how systemic barriers, stigma, and inequitable access to behavioral health services can profoundly impact patients and families. These experiences have shaped my enduring commitment to equitable, culturally responsive care.
At Boston Medical Center, I provided trauma-informed care and crisis intervention to patients in cardiac and medical step-down units, collaborating closely with physicians and nurses to address both medical and psychosocial needs. Earlier, at the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, I served patients across Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket—communities with significant access disparities—providing home-based care and facilitating community partnerships to strengthen local health networks.
These roles honed my ability to translate social work values into systemic action—ensuring that every program, policy, and partnership I contribute to reflects a lens of equity, inclusion, and cultural humility. I bring this same lens to my current work in integrated care, where I strive to ensure that our behavioral health services meet the needs of diverse populations, including those affected by socioeconomic disadvantage, chronic illness, or systemic inequities.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I bring both lived and professional experience to the ongoing pursuit of inclusive healthcare. My identity informs my leadership and advocacy, driving me to ensure that behavioral health systems are safe, affirming, and responsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ patients and providers alike. I am honored to serve as the incoming co-chair of Hartford HealthCare’s LGBTQ+ Colleague Resource Group, where I collaborate with colleagues to promote awareness, visibility, and belonging across the organization.
Through these experiences, I have learned that health equity is not an adjunct to integrated care—it is the heart of it. Serving as Secretary for the CoCM SIG would provide an opportunity to help elevate equity-driven dialogue and ensure that the national conversation around collaborative care includes the voices and experiences of all communities.
My decision to seek this role is guided by three core values: growth, connection, and bidirectional leadership.
Growth is both a professional and personal value that defines my approach to integrated care. The behavioral health landscape is dynamic, shaped by research, technology, policy, and the lived experiences of patients and providers. I believe growth requires openness—to innovation, to feedback, and to the diverse experiences of peers across systems. The CFHA CoCM SIG represents an invaluable opportunity for that kind of growth, offering a forum for shared learning and the exchange of best practices across the nation.
Connection is equally central. My work as a manager, clinician, and educator depends on building relationships—between primary care and psychiatry, between leadership and frontline staff, and between organizations and the communities they serve. I view the Secretary role as an opportunity to foster connection within the SIG community by ensuring communication is clear, meetings are productive, and members feel heard and valued.
Bidirectional leadership underpins my philosophy of team management and collaboration. I believe leadership is most effective when learning flows in both directions—where every voice contributes to collective progress. In my current position, I actively mentor clinicians while also seeking their insights to strengthen our programs. This same ethos would guide my service within the SIG: listening deeply, facilitating dialogue, and ensuring that the group’s activities reflect the shared wisdom of its members.
My interest in serving as Secretary is also rooted in a desire to deepen my understanding of how CoCM programs operate nationwide and to use that knowledge to strengthen the programs I lead. Although the Collaborative Care Model has a standardized evidence base, its real-world implementation varies across organizations and policy environments.
I am eager to engage with peers across states and systems to explore:
-Strategies for sustainable CoCM financing and coding.
-Integration of health equity metrics into outcome reporting.
-Workforce development approaches for behavioral health care managers.
-Methods for balancing fidelity and flexibility in diverse populations.
My current engagement with the AIMS Center already allows me to participate in national discussions on CoCM policy and practice. However, I see participation in the CFHA CoCM SIG as a chance to extend that engagement—to learn directly from practitioners, researchers, and policymakers who are shaping the model’s future.
This bidirectional learning would not only enhance my professional development but also enable me to bring valuable insights back to my organization, driving innovation and improving care delivery for our patients.
My growing involvement in policy and advocacy has reinforced my belief that sustainable integrated care requires systemic change. Policies governing reimbursement, telehealth, and workforce regulation have enormous impact on the viability of CoCM programs. By understanding these dynamics more deeply, I aim to become a stronger advocate for evidence-based, equitable integration practices.
My experiences on the Elms College Social Work Advisory Board, the Dukes County Health Council, and the Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network’s Postvention Team for the Zero Suicide Initiative have deepened my understanding of how policy intersects with practice. These roles require systems-level thinking, communication across sectors, and the ability to translate high-level decisions into actionable strategies.
Through the Secretary role, I would help ensure that our SIG continues to engage with the policy environment—highlighting how CoCM can advance behavioral health equity and improve access across diverse communities.
My professional and personal experiences have cultivated a set of competencies well aligned with the Secretary position:
- Organizational and Communication Excellence:
-Skilled in maintaining detailed records, producing clear meeting minutes, and facilitating structured communication.
-Experienced in developing and managing workflows for large teams and programs. - Analytical and Data-Informed Leadership:
-Expertise in using performance metrics (APIs/KPIs) and outcome data to evaluate and enhance program success.
-Comfortable with data systems, analytics, and reporting tools essential for quality improvement. - Health Equity and Cultural Humility:
-Deep commitment to equitable service delivery informed by years of working with marginalized communities.
-Experience integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into organizational culture and care delivery. - Collaborative and Educational Leadership:
-Regularly lead trainings and serve as a Certified QPR Instructor for suicide prevention.
-Provide education on CoCM and PCBH models to internal and external stakeholders.
-Mentor social work interns and new behavioral health staff, fostering professional growth and interdisciplinary teamwork. - Policy Awareness and Advocacy:
-Engage in organizational and community-level initiatives focused on mental health policy, access, and sustainability.
-Advocate for LGBTQ+ health equity and inclusive policies within healthcare systems.
Together, these competencies reflect a balance of operational acumen, relational leadership, and a strong equity-driven vision—all essential qualities for the Secretary of the CoCM SIG.
If given the honor of serving as Secretary, my vision is to strengthen the SIG’s internal coordination and external impact through clear communication, inclusive engagement, and knowledge-sharing.
Specifically, I would:
-Maintain accurate and timely records of meetings, decisions, and initiatives.
-Support communication systems that promote accessibility, transparency, and participation.
-Help organize SIG events, webinars, and educational offerings.
-Foster inclusivity by ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are reflected in group activities.
-Promote dialogue around equity, diversity, and policy within the CoCM landscape.
By combining structure with empathy, and strategy with inclusion, I would work to ensure that the SIG continues to thrive as a collaborative learning community and an engine for innovation in integrated care.
Throughout my career, I have sought to embody the principles of collaboration, compassion, and equity that lie at the heart of CFHA’s mission. My professional leadership in CoCM and PCBH programs, my personal identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and my dedication to health equity have shaped me into a leader who values both excellence and empathy.
Serving as Secretary for the CFHA CoCM SIG would allow me to bring these experiences and values to a broader platform—supporting the exchange of ideas, the advancement of policy, and the promotion of inclusive, evidence-based care.
I am inspired by CFHA’s vision of a fully integrated healthcare system that recognizes the whole person and the whole family. I am eager to contribute to that vision through service, learning, and leadership that reflects both the rigor and the heart of collaborative care.
Thank you for the opportunity!
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My interest in serving as Secretary for the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Special Interest Group stems from a deep personal and professional commitment to advancing behavioral health integration and CoCM as a national standard of care. Over the past several years, I have worked at the intersection of research, implementation, and policy with Concert Health—a national organization dedicated to scaling evidence-based CoCM services. In this role, I have contributed to multiple cross-sector initiatives, including PCORI- and HRSA-funded projects, multi-state payer collaborations, and advocacy efforts related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for CoCM. Through this work, I have come to appreciate both the complexity and transformative potential of this model, particularly when guided by shared learning communities like CFHA’s SIGs.
I view the Secretary role not only as an administrative position but as a crucial connector between people, ideas, and systems. Having participated in national CoCM and behavioral integration workgroups, I’ve seen firsthand how consistent communication, well-organized notes, and timely dissemination of key updates sustain momentum and deepen engagement across a diverse membership base. I’m eager to contribute to that infrastructure of collaboration—ensuring our collective learning is documented, accessible, and actionable. Ultimately, I hope to help strengthen the CoCM SIG’s role as a knowledge-sharing and advocacy hub for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers working to expand integrated care across every setting and population.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring a blend of operational discipline, research acumen, and communication skills that I believe make me a strong fit for the CoCM SIG Secretary position. My current work at Concert Health has honed my ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects while maintaining clarity, consistency, and structure. I routinely coordinate national workgroups, synthesize discussions into concise deliverables, and ensure timely follow-up on shared goals—skills that align directly with the Secretary’s core responsibilities of note-taking, documentation, and communication.
Beyond logistics, my expertise in behavioral health integration enables me to translate nuanced clinical, operational, and policy discussions into actionable insights. I have contributed to manuscripts, grant applications, and national presentations focused on CoCM implementation, financing, and outcomes—experiences that strengthen my ability to bridge research, practice, and advocacy. I am also deeply familiar with CFHA’s mission and culture, having participated in recent conferences and national CoCM discussions alongside many CFHA members.
Organizationally, I thrive on consistency and collaboration. I maintain full attendance in my current national workgroups, prepare structured notes for cross-team alignment, and use shared platforms such as Google Workspace, Asana, and Zoom to promote transparent communication. I take pride in ensuring that information flows seamlessly—between leadership, members, and partners—so that every participant feels connected to the broader mission of transforming behavioral health integration nationwide.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I have spent my entire career in integrated behavioral healthcare with a passion for healthcare justice and access to care. Collaborative care combines the best of these passions by bringing behavioral health care to more people in more locations that are convenient and often less stigmatized for them. During my training and career, I have always found it is important to ‘find my people’ who help me stay resilient and motivated to continue making the changes needed in our healthcare system. This is one reason why, as a dually boarded Family Medicine and Psychiatry physician, I had usually veered towards jobs that were heavily focused in Family Medicine. During my time in academic medicine, the Society of Teachers in Family Medicine were ‘my people’: they understood the importance of behavioral health, presented conferences that were able to fill my cup, and understood the complexities of health care and how we could change the system for the better.
In moving out of academics I was excited to engage with CFHA, as many of my STFM family were also involved in this organization. I had struggled though to find my base in CFHA virtually, and was very excited to come to the annual conference to engage with my colleagues. My time at the 2025 CFHA conference solidified my desire to become more involved in this organization, particularly in the space of collaborative care.
I am particularly interested in helping our members share best practices in CoCM and learn in areas that will be important over the next two years: financing of CoCM, expansion of CoCM to populations outside of adult mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety, and continued integration of CoCM with other integrated BH models like PCBH.
Financing of CoCM includes political advocacy in the state and national levels, as well as leaning in on best practices for administering CoCM. It will be important as the CoCM SIG secretary to help plan speakers who can educate our members on policies that are helpful and harmful to implementing and sustaining CoCM. I was particularly invigorated by the CoCM Summit at CFHA, as it was fascinating to see two state medicaid officials from NY and NC talk about drastically different approaches to statewide implementation of CoCM – one that had a lot of unnecessary rules and regulations, and one that allowed CoCM to flourish with common sense checkpoints during implementation. We need our members to see examples like this and to show our policy makers that CoCM is the least risky mental health model that they will fund and costs peanuts to implement (as one of the summit speakers so plainly and eloquently put it).
I also see value based care financing and the interplay between CoCM and VBC as an increasingly important topic, especially as more patients move into capitated contracts. I can bring my role as a leader in a VBC organization to fruition here, as I have only recently been in this space and have had to learn how to make the business case for CoCM using the levers of VBC.
Expanding CoCM to populations such as pediatrics, patients with severe mental illness, patients with substance use disorders, and the geriatric population (particularly those dealing with dementia) has the potential to expand the reach of CoCM (and behavioral health) to millions more patients who deserve excellent care. Our SIG will have the obligation to continue to advocate for finding the best models and evidence for these levels of care, as well as share the experience of pioneers who are pushing the boundaries of CoCM to new spaces.
Lastly, I was delighted to attend my first CFHA meeting and hear the words ‘PCBH’ and ‘CoCM’ in many of the same presentations. I have worked in models where I have done ‘just’ a PCBH model as the consulting psychiatrist, as well as models where I did ‘just’ CoCM. I have also worked in a space at the University of Michigan where both coexisted. I was always a bit apprehensive about the sometimes confrontational tone some would take when describing the ‘other’ side of integrated care. I am excited to help our SIG members understand how CoCM and PCBH play together in the sandbox, and how we can use goals of each program to set the foundation for others. For instance, CoCM is not often set up well to do emergency warm hand offs, and in fact if our CoCM BHCMs are spread too thin amidst different task, we know that this lack of role clarity can lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction. I would love to work with our PCBH SIG on co-SIG initiatives on best practices in working in an “integrated-integrated” PCBH-CoCM world.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
Although I am new to the CFHA, I have had experiences that have honed my leadership skills, providing a track record of collaboration, engagement, and trust with the organizations and communities that I have served. These experiences have set me up to work with the broad coalition of members participating in the CoCM SIG, as well as bridging the gap with our colleagues in PCBH frameworks.
I understand the strengths and struggles of working full-time in the community. My first job included working as a full-time Family Medicine physician in an FQHC in Detroit. This eventually included moving the organization from a co-located integrated mental health model to PCBH with integrated psychiatric care. FQHCs have been at the forefront of integrated care, and yet have special struggles in billing, recruitment, and retention that our SIG must continue to understand and help to advocate for with payers and legislators.
I have been able to work in organized academic medicine as well. Although I am new to CFHA, in my past careers I was extensively involved in a ‘sister’ organization, the Society for Teachers in Family Medicine. During my work in STFM, I participated in the Emerging Leaders Fellowship as a young clinician, which helped me take advantage of my leadership style, and also showed me how important organizations are to young clinicians in developing their professional identity. I hope to continue this in the CoCM SIG. I also helped to mentor new Behavioral Health faculty, working as a faculty mentor with two cohorts in the Behavioral Science Family Systems Educators Fellowship. During this time, I met monthly with my leadership team to plan our fellowship meetings, met with our cohort monthly, and provided grounding and guidance to our fellows so that they could accomplish their academic and professional goals. This experience demonstrates a track record in working across the country with an interprofessional team through a well run national organization, which are skills I would need to be Secretary of the CoCM SIG.
During my academic time, I had to be a champion for integrated care in all of my clinical settings. I helped to nurture integrated PCBH in multiple FQHCs during my time at Wayne State University, worked to further CoCM both internally and also externally (through the SPIRIT trial with the University of Washington and University of Arkansas) during my time at the University of Michigan, collaborated and ran a CoCM Integrated Case Conference between the University of Michigan and Trinity Health BHCMs, and championed a PCBH and integrated Psych care clinic at Beaumont Health, while also strongly advocating (and unfortunately failing) to implement CoCM there through the state’s BCBS CoCM program. I can bring my academic clinical, teaching, and professional experience and understand the needs of our CoCM SIG members working in complex academic or large health systems.
Lastly, in my current role I serve as the National Director of Integrated Behavioral Health in a value-based care startup, Accompany Health. In this role we are stretching the boundaries of collaborative care to SMI and geriatrics, as well as working to have a lower intensity PCBH model that serves all of our patients. VBC and start-ups present more opportunities and challenges for those working in CoCM, and this is another population in our SIG that I can help work to program for and provide resources that will be applicable for their day-to-day work.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am deeply passionate about the Collaborative Care Model because of the profound impact it has on every stakeholder involved. Patients gain increased access to behavioral health care in a setting that feels familiar and safe, while behavioral health care managers benefit from collaborative resources and support. Primary care providers and consulting psychiatrists are able to extend their reach and deliver more comprehensive care. I love the structured nature of CoCM and how seamlessly it integrates into primary care, creating a scalable solution that reaches more patients and improves outcomes.
My interest in this leadership role stems from a desire to help shape the future of CoCM implementation and education. One of my favorite aspects of my current work is educating others about what CoCM is and how transformative it can be. This position offers an opportunity to amplify that impact on a national level, fostering best practices and supporting professionals who are committed to integrated care.
From the start of my career, bridging mental and physical health has been a core value for me—a passion inspired by observing my father’s primary care practice and recognizing the critical need for integrated approaches. I want to be an agent of change, challenging outdated models of mental health care and promoting evidence-based solutions that truly work. Serving as Secretary/Co-Chair-Elect would allow me to contribute to a community that shares these values and to help advance the mission of CFHA by strengthening collaboration, connectivity, and innovation within the CoCM SIG.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring over five years of hands-on experience implementing and expanding the Collaborative Care Model across a large primary care network. Since August 2020, I have served as the first Behavioral Health Care Manager in my clinic and played a key role in scaling CoCM to more than 10 sites. In this capacity, I have taken on leadership responsibilities as an informal Clinical Program Lead, advocating for the program, shaping recruitment strategies, and contributing to policy and workflow development. These experiences have honed my ability to lead, collaborate, and drive meaningful change.
My strengths include data management, strategic communication, and mentoring. I have worked extensively on quality improvement initiatives, including developing outcome measurement strategies for pediatric CoCM patients and configuring EPIC to capture essential data for program evaluation. I also train and support 11 BHCMs across multiple sites, ensuring fidelity to the model and addressing challenges such as program drift and resistance to implementation.
Beyond my organization, I actively contribute to the broader professional community by participating in consult groups, reviewing the AIMS Center Pediatric Implementation Guide, and presenting at CFHA conferences and the University of Washington Integrated Care Training Program conference.
If selected for this role, I would bring a collaborative spirit and a vision for strengthening connectivity among CoCM providers. I believe that fostering engagement through resource sharing, recognition, and open dialogue is essential for sustaining momentum and innovation. My background in program leadership, training, and clinical implementation of CoCM positions me to make a meaningful contribution to the SIG and its mission.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am interested in serving as the Secretary for the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Special Interest Group because it aligns closely with my lifelong mission to expand access to integrated, evidence-based behavioral health care. As both a psychiatrist and a health systems innovator, I am deeply committed to ensuring that mental health care is not an isolated service but an essential, measurable component of whole-person health.
The CFHA community represents a collective of thought leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of integrated care. I want to contribute to that dialogue and help amplify the collective impact of professionals dedicated to improving behavioral health outcomes. Serving as Secretary would allow me to take an active role in documenting and sharing key insights, supporting communication among members, and helping to ensure that our discussions lead to tangible progress. I’m particularly inspired by the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with others who share the same commitment to building scalable and sustainable models of care.
At Wellness Connection, I lead efforts to integrate behavioral health within medical settings using tools such as Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM), Chronic Care Management (CCM), and CoCM. Seeing firsthand how measurement-based care and proactive outreach can improve engagement and outcomes has solidified my belief that CoCM is one of the most practical and impactful frameworks available. I view this position not only as a way to serve the CFHA community but also as a chance to contribute to the national movement toward integrated, value-based mental health care.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring a blend of clinical, leadership, and systems-level experience that uniquely positions me to contribute effectively as Secretary of the CoCM Special Interest Group. As a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, I have spent my career collaborating across disciplines to deliver coordinated care for diverse patient populations. As Chief Clinical Officer at Wellness Connection, I oversee the integration of behavioral health into primary care clinics through digital tools and evidence-based models like RPM, RTM, CCM, and CoCM. This work has given me hands-on experience in implementing collaborative workflows, navigating billing and policy requirements, and training multidisciplinary teams.
I have extensive experience leading cross-functional teams that include physicians, therapists, care managers, and software developers. My leadership philosophy emphasizes clear communication, operational efficiency, and mutual respect among disciplines. I also have a strong track record in developing structured processes, writing protocols, and synthesizing complex discussions into actionable next steps.
I am passionate about helping organizations adopt CoCM. By combining clinical insight, implementation experience, and organizational leadership, I aim to help the group document best practices, promote innovation, and foster collaboration among members who are driving this model forward across diverse care settings.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
The role of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) SIG Secretary aligns with my professional experience, knowledge base, and interest in being involved in the national conversation about the CoCM model. I learned about CoCM in 2015 when I joined NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (NYP DSRIP) team as its behavioral health integration program manager. In that position, I expanded the existing CoCM pilot program and developed greater system and IT infrastructure to facilitate referrals, documentation, and reimbursement.
I have since led Collaborative Care and Behavioral Health Integration programming in NYP’s Ambulatory Care Network (Columbia), liaising with the NYS Collaborative Care Medicaid Program (CCMP), AIMS Center, Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), and other organizations. While NYP also has CoCM in sites with a commercially insured population, it is moving toward a system-wide standardized model for use across sites and payors. I am part of the small group leading that effort, which has included meeting with Epic (Wisconsin) and doing a deep dive into best practices from other urban health centers.
At this juncture in my career and with the current direction of our country, I see the provision of mental health services in rural and urban primary care settings – specifically the CoCM model – as key to treating individuals most effectively and efficiently. I would be honored to be a part of CFHA’s CoCM SIG and contribute to the work of improving and expanding upon the model to sustainably meet the growing needs across our country.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
My work leading Collaborative Care programming, coupled with my administrative experience / function at work and on a volunteer board of directors, make me a great fit for the role of Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) SIG Secretary.
As Program Director of Behavioral Health Integration at a large urban teaching hospital, I am engaged full-time in CoCM programming, process improvement, and sustainability efforts. The work includes leading the care manager team, engaging primary care champions to partner on referral workflows and educational materials, and partnering with IT and our EHR partners on a build to support CoCM documentation, registry, and billing. I am passionate about continuously improving the model and learning best practices for implementation and sustainability in different settings and with varied populations.
I am the owner of calendar invites, agendas and minutes for our team’s regular CoCM and BHI meetings. With multiple meetings on any given day and the need for frequent reminders and updates, this requires a high level of organization and efficiency.
I am concise in my communication and a good listener. During the COVID lockdown period when meetings quickly shifted to a virtual platform, I was appointed ad hoc Secretary in my Hospital Division, taking and sharing meeting notes, and managing invites and a listserv. I also served as Secretary on a volunteer board of directors from 2012-2016.
In short, I hope to have the opportunity to leverage my keen interest in the SIG content and my organizational skill set to support the CFHA’s CoCM SIG.
PCBH SIG Candidates
Co-Chair Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am eager to serve as a Co-Chair of the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) Special Interest Group because I am deeply committed to advancing integrated care models. As a clinical psychologist working in integrated behavioral health setting, I have witnessed how behavioral health integration transforms patient outcomes, improves provider satisfaction, and strengthens continuity of care.
My professional focus has been on developing and implementing behavioral health services that support whole-person care, with a particular interest in geriatric population and complex medical comorbidities. I value opportunities to connect research, clinical practice, and system-level innovation, and I believe this leadership role offers n ideal platform to do so.
As Co-Chair, I would prioritize creating meaningful engagement among members through knowledge exchange, peer support, and resource development. I am especially interested in amplifying the voice of clinicians working in diverse communities, fostering inclusion, and promoting sustainability of the PCBH workplace.
This position, in my opinion, represents the opportunity to give back to professional community that has shaped my work and to help shape the next generation of IBH leaders dedicated to accessible, equitable, and integrated care.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
My background as a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in integrated primary care uniquely positions me to contribute meaningfully as a Co-Chair of the Primary Care Behavioral Health Special Interest Group. Throughout my career, I have worked within interdisciplinary teams where collaboration between behavioral health and medical providers was essential to improving patient outcomes, communication, and continuity of care. This work has strengthened my ability to translate clinical insight into effective, system-level initiatives.
At my current integrated behavioral health practice, I played an instrumental role in organizing five unique clinical groups – Stress management, Better Sleep, Grief and Loss, Cultivating relationships, and Caregiver Support. These groups have expanded access to behavioral health services, enhanced team collaboration, and addressed key psychosocial needs within the served population.
I bring a blend of clinical experience, program development experience, and a deep commitment to advance equitable, whole-person care. I am known for fostering collaboration, mentorship, and creating inclusive spaces for innovation and shared learning. My leadership experience, organizational skills, and dedication to the PCBH mission will help guide our community’s efforts to strengthen behavioral health integration, support workplace sustainability, and promote compassionate care to our patients.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am a big PCBH enthusiast and I have been wanting to get involved with the group. Finally I have time that I can dedicate to this group. I have experience and will definitely be valuable to the group.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I am flexible, professional, organized, and have great leadership skills. I planed, integrated, and started a PCBH model into primary care Residency clinic and I have been very successful.
Member At Large Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I have been working as a PCBH Clinician for Hartford Healthcare for the past four years. While being a clinician for over 35 years, I had never worked in a medical setting before. Once starting in the position, I at once embraced the program and enjoyed collaborating with the other clinicians and providers. I recognized PCBH as a crucial program to those needing mental health services who would otherwise have difficulty finding such help. PCBH offers efficient access to a mental health professional in a setting where patients are comfortable given their existing work with their PCP. Due to the efficiency and effectiveness of PCBH, I want to promote the program and do more to advance it. I want to be able to work on a more macro level and develop ongoing innovations in the training and standards inherent to PCBH. Having a voice at the table with other stakeholders who have the same investment that I have with the program would be an honor and a natural progression in my career. Furthermore, I enjoy committee work during which we plan meetings and webinars. I would appreciate having a role in working with other SIG members to promote skill development, application of theory, and practice wisdom to the work we do in PCBH. As part of this work, I understand the need to support new evidence-based practices to PCBH through a review of research on the growing PCBH field. I also would like to have a hand in developing best practices in engaging and educating primary care providers through collaborative webinars with PCBH clinicians and managers. Finally, by meeting with other PCBH professionals, I hope to gain valuable insights from their practices while sharing our own successes within the Hartford Health Behavioral Health network.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
During my over 35 years as a social worker, I have had the privilege of working in many social work modalities including administration, clinical practice, and education. As an administrator I have been a Vice President of Operations and a Clinical Director. In those roles I have facilitated meetings, developed policy, and been a supervisor. Over the years, I have held clinical positions including working in traditional family service agencies, private practice work, and now as a PCBH clinician.
In addition to my work with PCBH, I am an Associate Professor of Social Work at Elms College in Chicopee, MA. The school’s Bachelor of Social Work program has been operating for over 80 years. I am in my eighth year of teaching at the school and teach courses including Social Work Practice for Individuals and Families, Social Work Research Methods, as well as courses in psychopathology, and substance use disorders. I have also taught as an adjunct professor for UCONN, Eastern Connecticut State University, and Saint Louis University. Since earning a PhD in social work from UCONN, I have also provided seminars and webinars for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, UCONN and Adelphi University. I am currently a member of the Social Work Practice Fellows teaching a course for social work supervisors.
Due to needs in the community and the need for increased mental health services, the Elms College social work department decided to pursue approval to begin a Master of Social Work (MSW). The Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation approved the program, and we welcomed our first cohort of students this fall (September 2025). During the planning process, we knew that we wanted to have two tracks (macro social work and micro (clinical) social work). Given my career in clinical social work and my role with PCBH, I suggested that primary care behavioral health be the focus of the clinical program. Once approved by the social work department, I developed a curriculum to train students in PCBH modality. I will be teaching the first class of Clinical Social Work Practice in Healthcare on October 28. This offering is innovative, and Elms College is the only social work program in the area to offer this specialty. I am excited to bring my clinical and teaching skills and most importantly my experience in Primary Care Behavioral Health to a classroom of MSW students. I will also be bringing my passion for PCBH and sharing the skills necessary for effective treatment.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my application.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am passionate about health psychology and primary care integration and currently work as a Primary Care – Mental Health Integration Program Lead for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I have led my team towards enhancing fidelity to the Primary Care Behavioral Health model and increasing our facility metric performance. I have experience providing brief evidence informed psychological interventions (B-CBT-D, CBT-TS, CBTi, B-CBT-CP) designed for the Primary Care setting, and have honed consultation skills in regularly collaborating with multidisciplinary professionals within a medical setting. I find the dynamic nature of work as a Primary Care Psychologist, as well as the opportunity to work in a preventative role, treating patients who otherwise might not seek out specialty mental health services, very appealing. I enjoy the challenge inherent in balancing a full caseload with on-the-spot warm handoffs and consultations with primary care providers. I am accustomed to working with professionals from a variety of disciplines to ensure holistic and patient-centered care. As a healthcare professional, I am passionate about helping others achieve optimum health and well-being. I also have strong organizational and time management skills. I hope to work more closely with others who share my passion for integrated care to help increase the hype for PCBH and share my knowledge with others in the field. I hope to work more closely with others who share my passion for integrated care to help increase the hype for PCBH and share my knowledge with others in the field. I have been a member of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association for several years and would love to serve in a leadership role at this stage of my career.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I am a board-certified clinical health psychologist and currently lead the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania. PCMHI, at the VA, is a is comprised of PCBH and CoCM. I love my current role and have developed the competencies necessary to work in a fast-paced integrated care setting. I enjoy helping others stretch their comfort level when it comes to modifying practice habits learned in specialty mental health settings in order to flourish in this setting. I have many years of experience in primary care including 8 years at the Lebanon VA PCMHI program, and, previously, completed a formal post-doctoral residency specializing in integrated primary care at Geisinger Medical Center. I completed an APA-accredited internship at Lancaster General Health/Penn Medicine and received my Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, also APA-accredited. I am creative, passionate, dependable, and knowledgeable. I am attune to the biopsychosociocultural influences of health and wellbeing and value diversity and equity. I am currently serving on the Healthy Equity Committee at my VA facility and am very interested in reducing mental health disparities. I believe PCBH is crucial to this mission. I am most excited to step out of my comfort zone and expand my leadership skills by reaching a broader population of healthcare professionals within CFHA. Thank-you for the opportunity to serve int this exciting role!
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My name is Dr. Cory Knight, PsyD, MS, HSP, and I’m interested in applying for the member at large position for the PCBH Sig Group. I previously served as the initial community conversations facilitator with CFHA (for 2-3 years) and have also been involved with the organization through several presentations. Currently, I work as an assistant clinical professor at UT Tyler, helping to build the integrated behavioral health portion of the psychology internship and I’m in the process of developing a PCBH-specific fellowship track. I believe the member at large position would be a great starting point with the PCBH sig group. I’m still early in my career within the integrated behavioral health field. In addition, I’m engaged in a fair bit of program development, supervision, clinical work, and administrative responsibilities. Therefore, I would like a position within the PCBH Sig that allows me to contribute and have some flexibility with how I do so. The member at large position seems to have several key responsibilities, such as meeting attendance, helping with generating relevant ideas for the sig group, and contributing to the listserv corner. I believe that I’m in a great position to fulfill this role and that my schedule will allow for monthly meetings. I also keep a pulse on the listserv and primary care/integrated behavioral health relevant literature and have some prior experience with contributing to the listserv. Overall, I believe that I would be a great fit for the position and look forward to making additional contributions to CFHA and the integrated behavioral health field.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I believe this section will overlap in many ways with my statement of interest. I have been involved with the integrated behavioral health field since 2019, as clinical mental health counseling student (with an emphasis in integrated behavioral health) and the completion of my first peer reviewed publication within the integrated behavioral health field. Following the completion of my master’s degree, I enrolled in a health service psychology doctoral program and completed clinical trainings within various medical settings. In addition, my colleagues and I continued publishing within the integrated behavioral health field, with an emphasis on supervision practices in integrated behavioral health. For my internship and fellowship as a psychologist, I completed training at Community Health of Central Washington. During this time, I emphasized my continued advancement in evidence-based screening/assessment and treatment, while adhering to the principles of functional contextualism. I also continued to publish with several counseling journals and the flagship journal of CFHA, Family, Systems, and Health. I have consistently worked to maintain an active presence with CFHA through my prior work as a community conversations facilitator, active interest in the listserv, and review of publications within Family, Systems, and Health. In sum, these unique experiences serve as a source of strength for my continued engagement in the integrated behavioral health field and can be utilized within the PCBH Sig.
Early Career Representative Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
The Early Career Professional (ECP) position aligns with my passion for professional development and mentorship. The responsibilities outlined—such as attending SIG meetings, managing mentorship requests, and facilitating mentor-mentee connections—represent meaningful opportunities to contribute to a community that values growth and knowledge sharing. As an early career primary care psychologist, this position will give me an opportunity to facilitate meaningful relationships, further refine collaborative and critical thinking skills, and meet others within the PCBH SIG leadership.
Mentorship is a cornerstone of my professional journey. I have grown immensely under the support and advisement of mentors when making critical decisions, and I believe it is paramount to pay that forward by helping to connect others. By managing mentorship requests and ensuring effective connections, I can help create an environment where early career professionals feel supported and empowered. This role allows me to actively foster those relationships, which I believe are essential for long-term success in our field. Additionally, collaborating with SIG leaders to grown and maintain the mentorship arm of this group excites me because it combines creativity with strategic communication. Promoting the program not only strengthens the SIG community but also ensures that members are aware of valuable resources that can enhance their careers.
Ultimately, I see this position as an opportunity to grow as a leader while making a tangible difference in the professional lives of others. It reflects my commitment to service, collaboration, and continuous learning, and I am enthusiastic about the chance to contribute to a program that strengthens our professional community and advances shared goals.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I am a strong fit for the Early Career Professional (ECP) role because of my unique combination of organizational skills, work ethic, and experience with similar mentorship initiatives—particularly through my current involvement in the APA Division 12 mentorship program. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the importance of structured mentorship and the strategies needed to make these programs successful.
As an active participant in the Division 12 mentorship program, I have worked closely with team members and leaders to review and create meaningful mentoring connections. My familiarity with the program’s processes positions me well to manage mentorship requests and facilitate effective pairings for the SIG community.
In addition to mentorship experience, I bring set of diverse task management skills. As a leader, you must be able to not only create and execute a task, but to work as a team member with your team and other leaders. New positions require a level of commitment and humility to allow for new skill acquisition and efficient development toward a shared goal. I believe my experiences have developed skills sets evident in both servant leaders and collaborative team members – although I would argue these titles are not mutually exclusive. These skills will be invaluable in collaborating with SIG leaders to market the mentorship program and ensure visibility at conferences and through digital channels.
My organizational, and time management abilities are another asset. Balancing multiple responsibilities is something I excel at, and address daily in my work as a primary care psychologist. I am comfortable dedicating focused time each month to meetings and mentorship-related tasks. I am detail-oriented and proactive and independently aim to ensure commitments are met consistently.
Finally, I am passionate about professional development and community building. Serving in this role would allow me to extend my current contributions within APA Division 12 to a broader audience, strengthening networks and supporting early career professionals. My enthusiasm for mentorship, combined with practical experience and collaborative mindset, makes me confident that I can add significant value to the ECP team and help advance the SIG’s mission.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My interest to serve as the Early Career Representative for the CFHA PCBH SIG stems from a desire to play a role in advancing integrated care and supporting Behavioral Health professionals. My training and clinical experience in PCBH have shown me the transformative impact of integrated care models on patient outcomes and clinician/provider well-being. I appreciate the fostering of connections among early career clinicians, researchers, and learners to share knowledge, mentorship, and resources that strengthen integrated care practice. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to CFHA’s mission by amplifying early career voices, promoting diversity in perspectives, and supporting innovation in integrated behavioral healthcare. I hope to continue a vibrant mentorship program that encourages professional growth and collaboration to enable early career professionals to thrive in integrated care settings.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring a blend of clinical experience and excitement that align with the goals of PCBH SIG to grow interest and enthusiasm, provide learning experiences, and promote actionable dissemination activities. My work in integrated primary care settings has equipped me with a strong understanding of interprofessional collaboration, population-based behavioral health, and the challenges faced by early career professionals navigating integrated care models. I have experience leading initiatives in Family Medicine focused on interdisciplinary team approaches to expand behavioral health access, improve chronic disease management and outcomes, and strengthen continuity of care. I have been both a mentee and a mentor and understand the importance of being supported and guided while working to achieve career aspirations. My organizational and communication skills, coupled with a commitment to professional development, position me to effectively represent early career voices, facilitate meaningful engagement within the SIG, and contribute to advancing the mission of CFHA.
Pediatrics SIG Candidates
Co-Chair Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My interest in this role stems from my desire to continue to expand my expertise in this area and learn from the knowledgeable providers that make up the Peds SIG. I have interest in several areas including direct care, research, quality improvement, and interprofessional collaboration. I am excited to challenge myself in this leadership role that will allow me to grow and learn from a group of pediatric behavioral health providers and leaders. I have experience with leading and supporting teams, and I believe that these experiences would support my work as a co-chair. I am especially looking forward to collaborating on relevant topics, quality improvement initiatives, and research.
Currently, I am a team lead for an integrated behavioral health program, and this work is what brought me to CFHA. Over the past four years, I have attended the annual conference and found myself rejuvenated by the pediatric contingent and the engagement, warmth, and knowledge that was shared with me as a new and now repeat attendee. I am motivated to broaden my engagement in this special interest group, and I was encouraged to apply for the co-chair position.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
Most of my career spanning 30 years has been spent working with youth in a therapeutic setting, from residential to inpatient mental health or medical settings. I have supported children and teens who were experiencing medical or behavioral health crises ranging from a small, treatable injury to managing a suicide attempt. I have previously led the development and implementation of an intensive outpatient program for adolescents that primarily served youth with depression and anxiety which allowed me to be a key player in several areas including curriculum development, staffing and hiring, billing, and program management that I had previously not been directly exposed to. These experiences have led me to the work that I am doing currently at Children’s Minnesota, providing integrated primary care services in a lead role within our Integrated Behavioral Health department. I have led and been engaged in quality improvement projects within my clinic and a substantial grant project that has provided mental health education to primary care providers. I have also led interns and provided supervision to both interns and pre-licensed providers and spearheaded committees within our department to support learning and engagement. I am excited to have the opportunity to further expand my skills.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My name is Bridget Murphy, Ph.D., and I am a clinical faculty member at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center on the Integrated Behavior Health team. I am a pediatric psychologist and researcher in the integrated primary care space focusing on prevention and early intervention. I am interested in this position because similar to how integrated primary care creates better access to services for our patients, CFHA and the Pediatric Special Interest Group (SIG) specifically can increase access to resources, research, and mentorship that are needed to progress and succeed in integrated primary care. So often, I have heard our colleagues discuss how CFHA is so uplifting because they are able to interface with others navigating the same challenges they are in their clinics and institutions. As a psychologist, I know at times being in integrated primary care can mean that you are and n of one or two, and this isolation from others in your field can make it difficult to feel confident and supported in all facets of your work. My goal would be for the Pediatrics SIG to provide a home for people to feel they can find the support they need to succeed and actualize all the benefits that integration can offer. I am currently the Early Career Chair for the Integrated Primary Care interest group for APA Division 38, and I believe this positions me to build bridges between and among our professional organizations, increase integration within our field, and ultimately create better access for clinicians and researchers to grow together. The theme of this year’s CFHA conference was Breaking Boundaries, and I feel that is something I could help do at the CFHA Pediatric SIG co-chair.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I am a good fit for the co-chair position because of various leadership positions I have maintained, the skills I have learned both in these positions and as a clinician and researcher in multiple contexts, and because of my passion for building a robust professional network for all integrated care practitioners. First, I was the co-chair of my fellowship program, a position that included revamping our support for fellows seeking licensure, planning events such as retreat and graduation, creating and executing a year-long monthly didactic program, and organizing the fellowship subcommittees as well as maintaining an organizational structure to support all of these endeavors. This position taught me how to balance the needs and wants of people in various positions (e.g., research fellows and clinical fellows) and how to create organizational goals that would be amenable to and helpful for as many people as possible. This also gave me insight into professional concerns of those in different career tracks and what people find effective and helpful in pursuing professional growth, thus giving me skills in how to engage groups of professionals with different goals. My leadership position in the APA Division 38 integrated primary care interest group has bolstered this understanding, and my work on that committee includes leading the development of a research toolkit to help clinical faculty effectively maintain a research program that complements their clinical work. My position on this committee has been eye-opening in that we have professional groups that are open to collaboration and building relationships to share resources, knowledge, and aid but are at a loss as to the most effective way to do so. I believe this drive to create connection is a strength I have and one I hope to use to benefit the CFHA Pediatrics SIG as a co-chair.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I attended my first CFHA conference in 2024, and my first session was an ELO focused on pediatrics. I was hooked. These were people thinking about the same issues constantly running through my mind at work; these were people brainstorming and innovating in the pediatric space; these were people collaborating and sharing ideas. Then, throughout the conference, I noticed the same SIG listed for each talk I attended: Peds. Since then, I have joined the Peds SIG and attended the monthly meetings. Having just returned from CFHA 2025 with a renewed sense of excitement for the work I’m doing, I am reenergized to tackle ongoing issues and to look for ways to contribute in a more meaningful way.
Joining the leadership provides an opportunity to do just that, and I am excited about the chance to participate in the continued growth and impact of the Peds SIG. No longer being a brand-new member of CFHA, I am now ready to contribute and help support the great work of the Peds SIG.
My journey from an engaged attendee to an active SIG member has given me insight into how to foster this welcoming and collaborative environment, and I am eager to leverage this experience as a co-chair. How do we actively energize and engage the next “newbie” at the conference? How do we continue facilitating robust discussions about timely topics? How do we build on the excitement with which people leave the CFHA conference? How do we continue offering meaningful presentations to help practitioners support their practices to serve our patients and families more effectively? I am committed to exploring and brainstorming as well as implementing any solutions to these, and other, important questions. I look forward to being a part of the leadership team so we can continue fostering connections with like-minded peers, facilitating collaboration on our field’s next challenges, and ultimately contributing to better service for the children and families in our offices.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
Providing evidence-based treatment for pediatric patients with mental health concerns has been the focus of my career. I firmly believe that early intervention maximizes change and improves outcomes, and although my career roles have varied, that belief has always been at the core of my work. In my 15 years of professional practice, I have worked in a group private practice, multiple public schools, a pediatricians’ office, and since the fall of 2023, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as a pediatric integrated behavior health psychologist. The breadth of these roles, encompassing settings where our patients live—schools, clinics, and pediatrician offices—makes me an excellent fit for this position. I have collaborated with parents, siblings, teachers, pediatricians, family medicine providers, psychiatrists, nurses, coaches, and others with whom our patients interact on a daily basis. My patients range in age from toddlers to young adults, and almost all my work deliberately includes parents/caregivers. To summarize, pediatrics has always captured my mind and heart, and the Peds SIG aligns perfectly with my professional focus.
Beyond the breadth and depth of my experience in the field, I believe my propensity to be an active, collaborative team member is another asset I will bring to this role. For example, I partnered closely with a BCBA to lead our team of special educators and paraprofessionals to identify the best supports to help students with significant emotional and behavioral disorders thrive in a neighborhood school setting. In another school, I led the problem-solving team, comprised of the principal, classroom teachers, and other specialists, to optimize targeted academic and behavioral interventions, and we tracked data over time to ensure appropriate next steps. In my current role, I lead a team of social workers as we embark on several quality improvement initiatives to ensure we are serving providers and patients as effectively as possible. In summary, I thrive as an integral part of teams dedicated to enhancing the daily experiences of children and adolescents, and I look forward to bringing this collaborative drive and dedication to the Peds SIG co-chair position.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I have loved working on the PEDs SIG for the past 3 years, and I feel like being the co-chair is the next step for me. I strive to support and be actively involved in meetings, and I get a lot out of being part of this SIG. I would like to continue to serve as a member of the committee and help shape innovation and growth moving forward. I love all our team members and look forward to supporting the team in a new way
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I feel like my skill set and experiences would help me be successful in this position as I have good institutional knowledge of the PEDs SIG having been part of it since 2023. I am organized and attend most meetings already and I enjoy networking and working collaboratively which are key skills for this role. I have experience leading meetings and helping to set agendas and keep meetings on track
Membership & Engagement Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I’m interested in the Membership and Engagement position for the PEDs SIG because I would like to re-engage with the SIG and continue specializing in the pediatric population, I’m going into my fourth year of working in pediatric primary care and would love the opportunity to share and grown my knowledge.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
As an artist and former film major, I love making things! I think my creative side will benefit the SIG and attract content and fun to the community.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am interested in this position as I am a new member to CFHA and just returned from the conference in Raleigh. I am deeply motivated, inspired, and committed to advancing the integration of behavioral health within pediatric settings and believe my background aligns closely with the mission of CFHA and the Pediatrics Special Interest Group. For nearly the last decade, I have provided systemic, family-based therapy across pediatric contexts, from the hospital’s pediatric units to pediatric hospice and palliative care, where I have witnessed firsthand the critical role of collaboration and family-centered communication in patient outcomes. My clinical and supervisory work has centered on supporting families navigating complex medical journeys, grief, and developmental transitions through an integrated care lens.
Additionally, I am the assistant clinical director of a children’s behavioral health clinic, located as an outpatient clinic within the children’s hospital. We provide family therapy support to families in and around our community and I oversee and supervise the administrative and delivery of clinical services provided by our students.
Lastly, as the author of I’m on Hospice: A Children’s Book for Processing and Coping with a Terminal Illness, I aim to amplify family voices and normalize conversations around serious illness in childhood. My research, “Marriage and Family Therapists in Pediatric Specialty Care,” also extends this advocacy by examining the identity development, competencies, supervision, and training needs of MedFTs in pediatric specialty care settings. I am passionate about fostering meaningful engagement among clinicians, researchers, and trainees who share this commitment. As Membership and Engagement Chair, I hope to build community within the SIG, increase cross-disciplinary collaboration, and highlight innovative, compassionate models of pediatric family-centered care that strengthen the field and support future behavioral health leaders.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
My clinical, academic, and leadership experiences have prepared me to contribute meaningfully as Membership and Engagement Chair. For nearly a decade, I have specialized in pediatric behavioral health and family therapy within integrated medical settings, providing care to children and families facing chronic, life-limiting, and complex medical conditions. In my current role as an assistant clinical director, I supervise graduate student interns, and support them in their systemic training and MedFT interests through their clinical service delivery and shadowing opportunities in the hospital.
Additionally, my experiences in pediatric hospital units and hospice care have strengthened my ability to foster collaboration across disciplines, navigate sensitive systems of care, and build community among professionals with diverse expertise. As a researcher and presenter, I have advanced knowledge of Medical Family Therapists’ (MedFTs) roles in pediatric specialty care and actively mentor emerging clinicians pursuing integrated behavioral health careers. I am passionate about advancing behavioral health integration as a whole within medical contexts, particularly pediatric settings.
Lastly, I bring strong organizational, communication, and relational leadership skills, and a commitment to advancing inclusive, family-centered care. I would be honored to help grow the Pediatric SIG’s membership, promote engagement across professional levels, and highlight the innovative work shaping the future of collaborative pediatric health care.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of being actively involved with the Pediatric SIG, including serving as co-chair for the past two years. This group has been a cornerstone of my professional journey—providing not only a space for collaboration and learning but also a deeply valued sense of community among those dedicated to pediatric integrated care.
I’m passionate about fostering connection among providers working with children and families. I believe that building relationships within our professional community not only enhances the quality of our work but also supports our own wellbeing. Through our group leadership, I’ve been proud of our efforts to strengthen member engagement—whether by deepening connections among current members or reaching out to integrated care providers across the lifespan who may benefit from expanding their pediatric expertise.
What makes the Pediatric SIG truly special is the shared passion and advocacy of its members. Each person brings a unique commitment to improving care for children and families, and I’m eager to continue supporting and amplifying that energy. In the Membership and Engagement role, I hope to expand our efforts through initiatives like member spotlights, networking introductions, resource sharing, and facilitated discussions. I also aim to collaborate with other SIGs to build cross-cutting relationships and partnerships that enrich our collective work.
This group has continually challenged and supported me in growing my skills and advocacy for pediatric integrated care. Stepping into this leadership role is a way for me to give back to a community that has given me so much—and to help ensure it continues to thrive and evolve.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
As a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience in Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) and integrated care across the lifespan, I bring a deep commitment to advancing pediatric behavioral health. My passion lies in working with children and promoting preventative care—ensuring that families receive support early and holistically. One of the most meaningful projects I’ve led was the development of a telehealth school-based clinic in a rural community, which operated successfully for over five years. This initiative not only expanded access to care but also strengthened my belief in the power of innovation and collaboration in pediatric settings.
My current role as physician faculty and behavioral scientist in a family medicine residency program allows me to shape the next generation of healthcare providers. I work closely with residents and faculty to integrate behavioral health into primary care, with a strong emphasis on pediatric populations. I am passionate about empowering clinicians and physicians to feel confident and competent in addressing behavioral health needs in children and adolescents.
These experiences have equipped me with a unique blend of clinical expertise, leadership, and teaching skills that align well with the Membership and Engagement role. I understand the importance of building community, fostering collaboration, and creating spaces where members feel connected and supported. I’m excited to continue contributing to the Pediatric SIG by helping members engage meaningfully, share resources, and grow together in our shared mission to improve care for children and families.
Families & Health SIG Candidates
Co-Chair Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My professional trajectory has been guided by the belief that healthcare achieves its fullest potential when it embraces a family-centered, relationally grounded approach. Through my clinical, research, and teaching experiences, I have seen how systemic perspectives can transform outcomes for patients, families, and care teams alike. The opportunity to serve as Chair-Elect of the Families and Health Special Interest Group (SIG) aligns directly with my commitment to advancing integrated behavioral health models that honor the interconnectedness of individuals and their relational contexts.
Beyond clinical and academic work, I am motivated by the collaborative spirit that defines CFHA. I have been an active member of the organization and am drawn to the Families and Health SIG’s focus on strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships and mentorship across levels of professional development. In the past I have served as the SIG’s Early Career professional and Secretary, and have seen firsthand how the group is dedicated to gathering and distributing family-centered health content. As Chair-Elect, I would bring enthusiasm for fostering connection, supporting early-career members, and facilitating scholarly collaboration that bridges research, education, and clinical innovation. I also value the opportunity to serve as a liaison between SIG members and CFHA leadership, ensuring that the voices and needs of family-centered clinicians and scholars are represented in broader organizational initiatives.
Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to CFHA’s mission by helping the Families and Health SIG continue to thrive as a space where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and systemic thinking is advanced. I view this position not only as a leadership opportunity but also as a meaningful way to give back to the community that has shaped my own professional identity as a medical family therapist and educator.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I believe I bring a combination of clinical, academic, and leadership experiences that uniquely position me to serve effectively as Chair-Elect of the Families and Health Special Interest Group. Across my training and professional work, I have consistently sought opportunities to connect systemic thinking with practical implementation in integrated care, medical education, and family-centered research.
Clinically, I have developed a broad skill set in delivering and teaching integrated behavioral health care across medical contexts. As the first Behavioral Health Faculty at Summit Pacific Family Medicine Residency, I provide real-time behavioral health consultation, facilitate interdisciplinary team discussions, and deliver lectures on topics such as trauma-informed care, managing family dynamics, and communication in medicine. I am actively working to inform residents of ways that they can involve families in the treatment of the patients they see. These experiences have strengthened my ability to organize and lead educational programming. Such skills are directly applicable to planning SIG webinars, coordinating meetings, and mentoring emerging clinicians.
My doctoral work in Medical Family Therapy at East Carolina University provided rigorous training in relationally centered care, research design, and systems consultation. My dissertation, focused on holistic patient outcomes within integrated behavioral health, demonstrates my capacity to bridge clinical experience with scholarly inquiry. I have co-authored peer-reviewed publications (in Families, Systems, and Health) and presented nationally on integrated care outcomes, drop-out prevention, and family systems approaches to chronic illness. I believe that all of these areas align with the Families and Health SIG’s scholarly mission.
Finally, I value mentorship and professional community. I have served both as the Early Career Professional and Secretary in the Families and Health SIG and appreciated how the group provided space for me to surround myself with other professionals passionate about relationally centered healthcare. In my capacities on the SIG I took notes, organized webinars, and provided content for newsletters. Even after my time on the SIG, I have been an active participant in the “Family-Centered Care workgroup” created to develop concrete clinical, operational, financial, and policy guidelines to enable family-oriented care change in medicine. Together, these experiences reflect my readiness to contribute both leadership and partnership within CFHA, helping to sustain and grow a community dedicated to strengthening families and improving health outcomes through systemic, integrated care.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My interest in the Chair-Elect role for the Families and Health SIG comes from a deep and longstanding commitment to collaborative family healthcare, integrated care leadership, and the intentional development of spaces where interdisciplinary professionals can meaningfully connect, learn, and lead. I have had the privilege of serving in two leadership roles within this SIG—first as the Early Career Professional representative and now as the current Secretary. These roles have given me a unique, inside perspective on the goals, needs, strengths, and challenges of the group, and they have only further solidified my investment in this community. Serving in these capacities has shown me firsthand how vital the SIG is in bringing together clinicians, researchers, faculty, trainees, administrators, and advocates who are united in the belief that family systems thinking is foundational to integrated care.
Over the past several years, I have been deeply engaged in advancing integrated care through both clinical and academic pathways. My work in medical family therapy, neurodivergence, family systems, and cross-collaborative care models all intersect in ways that align with the mission and goals of the Families and Health SIG. I see the Chair-Elect role not just as a leadership position, but as an opportunity to help guide the direction of our collective efforts—to elevate the visibility of family-centered models across settings, strengthen partnerships with other SIGs, and continue advocating for collaborative care frameworks at organizational, community, and national levels.
In my time on the leadership team, I have seen the importance of continuity, collaboration, and clear vision. Because I have worked closely with current leaders, CFHA staff, and members, I understand the rhythms of running meetings, developing webinars, coordinating engagement, and supporting SIG initiatives. I also value the relational culture and mentorship spirit that defines this group. Transitioning into the Chair-Elect role would allow me to help ensure that the work we have already started continues in a sustainable and strategic way.
Most importantly, I care deeply about the families and communities that benefit from our shared focus. I believe that the Families and Health SIG plays a critical role in shaping how integrated care is conceptualized, implemented, taught, and researched. I want to help cultivate leadership pathways for new and seasoned members alike, foster cross-SIG collaboration, amplify underrepresented voices, and highlight the innovative approaches our members are already using in their practices, institutions, and research. Stepping into the Chair-Elect position would allow me to build upon the foundation I’ve already contributed to and help the SIG move into its next phase with energy, clarity, and continued collaboration.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I believe I’m a strong fit for the Chair-Elect role because I bring both leadership experience and a deep, sustained investment in the Families and Health SIG. Having served first as the Early Career Professional representative and now as Secretary, I understand how the SIG operates and what it takes to keep things moving. I’ve helped coordinate meetings, communicate with CFHA staff, support webinars, contribute to social media efforts, and follow through on action items. That experience gives me a sense of continuity and readiness to step into the Chair-Elect position with confidence and care.
My work as a Medical Family Therapist has given me a strong foundation in integrated care through direct clinical practice, collaboration with healthcare teams, and a systems-based lens. That background naturally aligns with the mission of this SIG and helps me connect with members across disciplines and settings. I’m also passionate about neurodivergent families, training and mentorship, and bringing attention to the ways family systems shape health, relationships, and care experiences.
I bring a relational and organized leadership style—I value collaboration, communication, and helping people feel included and empowered. I enjoy mentoring early career professionals and creating space for members to participate in meaningful ways. I also understand the importance of follow-through, planning, and steady leadership to keep SIG efforts growing.
I’m pursuing this role because I care deeply about this SIG and the work we’re doing together. The Families and Health community has shaped my own professional growth, and I want to help support its continued impact. Stepping into the Chair-Elect position feels like a natural extension of the leadership I’ve already been doing and an opportunity to help the SIG grow in connection, visibility, and collaboration.
Secretary Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Behavioral Medicine Division in the Department of Family Medicine in the Brody School of Medicine (BSOM) at East Carolina University (ECU). As part of my roles as the Integrated Care Coordinator and Curriculum Director, I supervise and train behavioral health learners, including clinical health psychology, pediatric school psychology, marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, and counseling education learners, to provide evidence-based and relationally-focused behavioral health services in an interdisciplinary, integrated primary care setting to patients from rural and underserved communities. Stemming from my experiences, I strongly identify as a marriage and family therapist, behavioral medicine faculty member in an integrated primary care setting, community and family member, and patient advocate. At present, a lot of my time is spent serving others on a micro level, providing psychotherapy and integrated care services and supervising behavioral health learners’ provision of psychotherapy and integrated care services. As a personal and professional goal consistent with my identities and values, I am also interested in serving others on a larger, more macro level, and I believe that serving within a systemically-minded interest group with similar interests and objectives will allow me to extend my impact, share my unique skills, experiences, and passions, and support others as we collaboratively work towards prioritizing and implementing a more family-centered approach in healthcare settings.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
As previously mentioned, I am a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Behavioral Medicine Division in the Department of Family Medicine at East Carolina University (ECU) and closely supervise and train behavioral health learners. With support and funding from the HRSA Graduate Psychology Education grant, our comprehensive, multi-faceted primary care behavioral health training includes behavioral health learners’ participation in experiential rotations, didactic trainings on various, clinically-relevant topics, individual and group supervision and consultation, evaluation of learners’ skill development and professional growth, and employment of a learner-to-learner model to increase interprofessional learning and collaboration. Clinically, I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) in NC for 8 years, and I have experience providing services to patients with diverse presenting problems in a variety of clinical settings. I have also worked with patients in several levels of care, including outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential treatment center, and within an integrated care team in outpatient and hospital levels of care. To further inform my clinical, supervision, and teaching practices, I also have pursued multiple sources of training and specialized education. I have completed the required courses to become an Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) therapist, the Sexual Health Certificate Program (SHCP) at the University of Michigan – Sex Therapist and Sexuality Educator certification tracks, the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the DBT Foundational and DBT Skills for Adolescents and Families trainings, and trainings on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT), and other evidence-based interventions. As an instructor, I have experience as a guest lecturer, instructor of record, and presenter on assorted topics, such as the biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) model, DBT skills for medical professionals, brief interventions for integrated care settings, coping skills to support emotion regulation and distress tolerance, working with adolescents and their families, human sexuality, acclimating to graduate school, and clinical supervision. I believe that my deep passion for integrated care approaches that honor and incorporate patients’ personal and healthcare systems and my diverse leadership, clinical, supervision, and teaching experiences will be an asset to the Families and Health Special Interest Group.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I want to serve as Secretary for the Families & Health SIG because the mission aligns with my work and values. As a Medical Family Therapist and Assistant Professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine, I teach and study family-centered care within integrated primary care settings. The SIG offers a space to connect professionals who share this focus and to strengthen how families are seen as vital to health outcomes.
In my role directing behavioral health resident education, I manage meetings, track actions, and communicate across teams. I send concise minutes, keep projects on schedule, and coordinate across disciplines. These experiences fit the Secretary’s tasks of documenting meetings, sending reminders, and keeping members informed. I also co-manage social media and outreach for other professional groups, experience that will help maintain an active and engaging SIG Instagram presence.
This position combines two things I value: organization and service. I aim to build simple, consistent systems that help the SIG run smoothly and keep members connected. CFHA has shaped much of my teaching and leadership in integrated care, and serving as Secretary is a way to give back—by helping our community stay aligned, visible, and effective.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring leadership, organization, and communication skills built through years of work in academic medicine and integrated behavioral health. As Assistant Professor and Director of Behavioral Health Resident Education at Wake Forest School of Medicine, I lead teams, manage projects, and communicate across clinical, research, and educational settings. I plan and facilitate meetings, document key decisions, and ensure action steps move forward—a direct fit with the Secretary’s core tasks.
My background in Medical Family Therapy and integrated primary care shapes how I organize and guide collaborative work. I apply systems thinking to align teams around shared goals. As a research leader, I manage multiple studies, coordinate manuscript development, and edit submissions across teams, ensuring consistency in writing, deadlines, and message. I also mentor trainees in scientific writing and dissemination—skills that strengthen my ability to capture complex discussions in clear, concise notes and updates.
I value communication that connects people and ideas. I maintain social media and digital outreach for academic projects, translating research into accessible posts and infographics. I bring that same clarity to meeting minutes and SIG updates. As Secretary, I will document precisely, communicate promptly, and help the Families & Health SIG share its work widely within CFHA. My goal is to strengthen the group’s visibility, connection, and impact.
Early Career Professional Candidates
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
I am both interested and passionate in guiding early career professionals. As a licensed marriage and family therapist supervisor, licensed professional counselor supervisor, and a PhD student in Marriage and Family Therapy at Alliant International University, I know firsthand that the first three years of a health professional’s life are both turbulent and formative. Aspiring professionals in healthcare are in need of all of the guidance that they can receive when it comes to such pertinent issues as they navigate ethical issues, client and patient safety, integration of theory with practice, and maintaining a validating and normalizing presence for clients in the face of systemic stressors (among many other early professional factors). Early career professionals need to be provided a growth-oriented, potential-fostering, and humanistic space where they can feel that their mentor is collaborative, solution-oriented, and systemic so that their realities are not dismissed or minimized.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I am an LMFT-Supervisor and LPC-Supervisor in the state of Texas where I foster safety for my supervisee associates who are currently pursuing full licensure in Texas. I am also currently pursuing board-approved supervision with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. I have co-taught eight classes at Alliant International University in Practicum, MFT Theories I and II, Couples Therapy, and Chemical Dependency and the Family. I remain attuned to the needs of licensed associates as well as master’s students in marriage and family therapy, aligning with their systemic needs as they pursue both full and provisional licensure. I am currently under the tutelage of Dr. Scott Woolley as we are both currently co-teaching MFT Practicum at Alliant International University where we are offering group supervision to master’s students learning how to integrate emotionally focused therapy. From a human experience, I have also been on the receiving end of harmful and unethical supervision in my early career years where I was coerced into situations that made me feel unsafe, and I have made it my mission since receiving supervisory designation to remain radically person-centered in my mentorship and supervision approach.
Please explain why you are interested in this position.
My interest in serving in a leadership role within the Families & Health SIG stems from my deep commitment to advancing systemic, relational, and culturally responsive approaches to health care. As a Marriage and Family Therapist and doctoral candidate at Texas Woman’s University, my clinical, research, and teaching endeavors are all rooted in the belief that families are central to health and healing. My current research explores the intersection of neurodivergence and chronic illness in specific, how differentiation of self moderates the relationship between ADHD and Type 2 Diabetes self-management within a Bowen Family Systems Theory framework. This work promotes models of integrated care that honor both individual and family processes in managing health outcomes.
As a clinical supervisor-in-training and faculty member-in-training, I have had the privilege of mentoring emerging therapists in medical family therapy and interprofessional settings, including the Texas Woman’s University Stroke Center, where counseling, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy students collaborate to support stroke survivors and their families. These experiences have reinforced my belief that family-centered and team-based care are essential to sustainable change.
I am eager to contribute to the Families & Health SIG’s mission by fostering collaboration between scholars, clinicians, and educators who are committed to bridging mental and physical health systems. I see this role as an opportunity to amplify interdisciplinary dialogue, promote inclusive practices that account for neurodiversity and cultural context, and support the development of new clinical and research initiatives that strengthen families’ roles in health care. My passion for integrated family systems work, paired with my dedication to mentorship and innovation, aligns closely with CFHA’s vision of collaborative care that truly centers families in the healing process.
Please describe the unique skills and experiences you have that make you a great fit for this role.
I bring a blend of clinical, academic, and leadership experiences that align closely with the Families & Health SIG’s mission to integrate systemic and collaborative approaches across healthcare settings. As a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in chronic illness, neurodivergence, and relational health, I have developed a practice and teaching style grounded in Bowen Family Systems Theory and medical family therapy principles. My work consistently bridges behavioral and physical health, with a focus on how family systems influence disease management, stress regulation, and overall well-being.
My background as a doctoral student and clinical supervisor-in-training at Texas Woman’s University has strengthened my capacity to lead interdisciplinary teams. At the TWU Stroke Center, I supervised master’s-level counseling students collaborating with speech-language pathology and occupational therapy trainees. This interprofessional context has honed my ability to facilitate communication across disciplines, navigate differing professional languages, and promote a unified family-centered treatment plan. I also integrate culturally responsive and neuroaffirming frameworks in supervision and training, ensuring inclusivity for clients and clinicians from diverse backgrounds.
Beyond academia, I operate a private practice that provides therapy and diagnostic evaluations for neurodivergent individuals and couples managing chronic health conditions. Through this work, I have cultivated expertise in translating research into accessible clinical tools and psychoeducational resources, which I aim to bring to CFHA’s SIG initiatives.
I am particularly skilled at building collaborative learning communities by mentoring students, developing CEU trainings, or creating digital resources for clinicians. My strengths include systemic thinking, strategic program development, and an ability to synthesize complex concepts into practical applications. I believe these skills, coupled with a passion for family-centered care and integrated behavioral health, uniquely position me to contribute to the ongoing growth and impact of the Families & Health SIG.
