At this year’s CFHA conference in San Antonio, we were thrilled to recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who exemplify the spirit and mission of integrated care. These awardees inspire us all with their dedication, innovation, and impact. Join us in celebrating their achievements!
Aimee Burke Valeras – Don Bloch Awardee
This award is the quintessential organizational award for members who have advanced the field of collaborative care, and who show intellectual, behavioral, and relational qualities that exemplify Don’s excellence and contributions.
Dr. Aimee Burke Valeras has been a transformative leader in the integrated healthcare community, seamlessly blending the science of medicine with the art of humanity. Since 2009, her contributions have spanned scholarly work, creative innovation, and advocacy for underrepresented communities. With a Ph.D. from Arizona State and clinical experience at Dartmouth’s Family Medicine Residency, she has shaped the vision of integrated care. Her academic rigor, combined with her creative approaches—like developing an integrated care Monopoly game—has inspired learners and colleagues to think outside the box and approach care in innovative ways.
Dr. Valeras is also a passionate advocate for marginalized communities, consistently championing individuals who are differently abled, racially diverse, or under-resourced. Through her stories, poetry, and group facilitation, she helps others reflect on shared experiences of loss, wonder, and compassion. Her work with organizations like Artcine and CFHA has created lasting impacts by bringing together providers, patients, and communities in the healing intersection of art and medicine. A true visionary, Dr. Valeras carries forward the legacy of Don Bloch, dedicating her career to advancing integrated care with creativity, intellect, and heart.
Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter – Collaborative Care Model Award
This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to health care through their commitment and use of the Collaborative Care (CoCM) model.
Dr. Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter, Psy.D., is a dedicated leader in advancing behavioral health integration as the standard of care. With over 15 years of experience as a clinical health psychologist and a senior leader at Access Community Health Centers, Dr. Zeidler Schreiter is known for her passionate advocacy, deep knowledge, and impactful work on integrated healthcare teams. Her commitment to improving patient care aligns with CFHA’s mission to unite traditionally separate healthcare services and promote integrated behavioral healthcare for whole-person health and health equity.
As a subject matter expert in the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), Dr. Zeidler Schreiter has made significant strides in advocating for Medicaid and payment reforms in Wisconsin, helping community health centers adopt integrated care models. Her leadership in these efforts has improved healthcare delivery systems locally and nationally, with community health centers now embracing integrated approaches that were once unfamiliar. Through her advocacy, education, and statewide partnerships, she has guided healthcare teams in using CoCM to enhance patient outcomes, especially for those with behavioral health conditions.
In addition to her policy work, Dr. Zeidler Schreiter actively shares her expertise with healthcare professionals and organizations across the country. She consults, publishes scholarly articles, and facilitates learning opportunities that demonstrate the transformative impact of integrated care on underserved populations. As a national leader in CoCM, she continues to expand access to integrated behavioral healthcare through her teaching, research, and commitment to improving healthcare for all.
Matthew Tolliver – Pediatric Integrated Care Award
This award recognizes individuals, teams, and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to pediatric behavioral health care through their commitment to improving youth health under a holistic, integrated, and equitable lens.
Dr. Matthew Tolliver is a prominent figure in integrated behavioral health within pediatric primary care. He specialized in this field during his graduate studies, focusing his thesis and dissertation on integrated behavioral health and completing his pre-doctoral internship at Denver Health in Pediatrics. Dr. Tolliver was the first postdoctoral fellow and full-time behavioral health professional hired by East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Department of Pediatrics in 2015 and 2016, respectively. He has since been promoted to Associate Professor and Director of Behavioral Health for Pediatrics.
Under Dr. Tolliver’s leadership, ETSU Pediatrics has flourished, developing a robust behavioral health team that includes three care managers, one social worker, and two pediatric psychologists. This team provides a progressive model of integrated behavioral health in their two general pediatric clinics. Dr. Tolliver is not only an effective clinical leader but has also trained over 30 graduate students in behavioral health professions and has contributed significantly to resident and medical student education, delivering over 60 lectures.
ETSU Pediatrics has distinguished itself as a leader in integrated behavioral health, being the first to earn a PCMH Distinction in Behavioral Health in the state. Dr. Tolliver has spearheaded numerous innovations in clinical work, including documentation, care pathways, screening, and coordination of care. He has received multiple Mater Scholar and Teaching awards from the College of Medicine in recognition of his excellence in education.
Dr. Tolliver is actively involved in the Collaborative Family Healthcare Organization, having served on the Pediatrics Special Interest Group since its inception in 2015 and as co-chair from January 2021 to December 2022. He has presented 15 papers at CFHA conferences and collaborates on several federal and state-funded grants focused on workforce development and pediatric integrated behavioral health. He has published seven research papers in this area, including a highly downloaded guest editorial on the pediatric mental health crisis post-COVID, co-authored with Dr. Hostutler.
Overall, Dr. Tolliver has made a significant impact on pediatric integrated behavioral health at both local and national levels. His strong commitment to healthcare values, hard work, critical thinking, and teamwork inspires those around him.
Bridget Beachy & David Bauman – Outstanding Contributions to the PCBH Model Award
This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to health care through their commitment and use of the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model.
Bridget Beachy, PsyD, and David Bauman, PsyD, have made significant contributions to the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model, demonstrating exceptional passion and dedication to its practice, teaching, and advancement. Both serve as Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs) at Community Health of Central Washington (CHCW), an FQHC where they are highly regarded by patients, providers, and colleagues. Their dedication to PCBH is evident in CHCW’s 2019 recognition with CFHA’s Outstanding Contributions to the PCBH Model Award. Dr. Bauman is noted for receiving the highest patient satisfaction scores and warm handoffs per clinic within CHCW, while Dr. Beachy, in addition to her clinical duties, serves as the Director of the PCBH program for the organization.
In their roles, Drs. Beachy and Bauman have co-created a predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at CHCW in 2017 to train future PCBH leaders, contributing to the development of the next generation of professionals. As Behavioral Health Education Director at CHCW and Central Washington Family Medicine (CWFM) Residency program, Dr. Bauman has been instrumental in shaping the program’s curriculum and training structure. The program has been successful, with 67% of CHCW’s BHCs being either current or past trainees.
Their influence extends beyond CHCW through their consulting work under Beachy Bauman Consulting, which they co-founded in 2017. They have provided consultation services to a wide range of FQHCs, private organizations, and individuals across the U.S. and internationally, including countries such as Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In 2024, Dr. Bauman co-founded the PCBH Implementation Lab, furthering their commitment to spreading PCBH best practices.
Drs. Beachy and Bauman are also accomplished educators and mentors, frequently presenting at national and international conferences, including CFHA events. Their contributions to scholarly work include over 250 articles, presentations, and book chapters, with notable contributions in the PCBH Implementer’s Guide (2nd Edition) and works on patient-centered communication and rural PCBH implementation. They are active contributors to the PCBH community through videos, webinars, and the CFHA listserv, and their work has been highly impactful in helping healthcare systems and clinicians adopt and refine PCBH practices.
Their dedication to the PCBH model and CFHA’s mission has cemented their reputations as leading experts and advocates in the field.
Stephanie Kohlbeck and Kelsie-Marie Offenwanger – Family Oriented Care Award
This Families & Health SIG-sponsored award recognizes clinicians and researchers who incorporate the principles of family-oriented care into their day-to-day work with families managing their health.
The Integrated Pediatric Behavioral Health (PCBH) care team at Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) is dedicated to innovation and community wellness, serving predominantly rural areas across 30 counties and one territory in Michigan. Approximately 33% of children in these areas live in poverty, with 86% classified as medically underserved. Notably, over 70% of pediatric patients at MCHS are insured by Medicaid. A Provider Satisfaction Survey indicated that 88.1% of providers found PCBH “moderately” to “extremely helpful,” with 91% expressing likelihood to accept integrated visits in the future.
The PCBH team consists of Dr. Stephanie Kohlbeck and Dr. Kelsie-Marie Offenwanger, both fellowship-trained at MCHS, who emphasize immediate, holistic interventions for children, adolescents, and their families. They also consult with the medical team, enhancing care delivery. Dr. Kohlbeck leads specialty clinics focusing on complex conditions, while Dr. Offenwanger’s background in community health and youth advocacy informs their outreach efforts.
MCHS provides same-day access to mental health services within primary care settings, yet many patients remain unaware of these offerings. The team is seeking grant funding to enhance awareness by developing bilingual resources and promotional materials for patients, families, and providers. Increasing familiarity with PCBH services aims to reduce stigma and promote early intervention, ultimately decreasing the need for specialized behavioral health services.
By equipping primary care providers with materials on common mental health issues, the PCBH team enhances patient understanding and facilitates timely access to care. This approach aligns with best practices, reinforcing MCHS’s commitment to patient-centered care and whole-person treatment.
Looking ahead, the PCBH Pediatrics team at MCHS aims to expand its services and continue developing innovative strategies that prioritize collaboration, communication, and cultural sensitivity in caring for families.
Afarin Rajaei – CFHA Founders’ Early Career Professional Award
The annual CFHA Founders’ ECP Award serves as the highest recognition for an early career professional’s contributions to the field of integrated care.
Dr. Afarin Rajaei has made significant contributions to the field of family therapy through her innovative research, impactful teaching, and dedicated clinical practice. Since earning her Ph.D. in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University in 2021, where she also received a Certificate in Health Communication, Dr. Rajaei has been recognized for her excellence, receiving awards like the Outstanding MedFT Graduate Award and the Mel Markowski MedFT Scholarship.
As an Assistant Professor at Alliant International University, Dr. Rajaei shapes the future of family therapy by teaching courses in Group Therapy, Medical Family Therapy, and more. She is also an Approved AAMFT Supervisor, guiding and mentoring aspiring therapists. Her research, which addresses chronic illness in couples, the biopsychosocial-spiritual model, and mindfulness in cancer-related distress, has been published in prestigious journals such as The Family Journal and the International Journal of Systemic Therapy, where she also serves as an Associate Editor.
In addition to her academic work, Dr. Rajaei runs a private practice, Afarin Rajaei Therapy, and has clinical experience in various settings, known for her client-centered, compassionate approach. Her influence extends to mental health advocacy, as demonstrated by her widely followed public Instagram page, where she promotes mental health awareness to over 100,000 followers.
Dr. Rajaei’s impactful contributions to research, teaching, and clinical practice exemplify the qualities of an outstanding early career professional. She is a deserving recipient of the CFHA Founders’ Early Career Professional Award, as her work continues to push forward the field of family therapy.
Miriam Crinion – REC Research Fellow
This competitive award supports the work of a trainee or early career professional whose research project significantly contributes to the field of integrated care. CFHA is proud to support Miriam Crinion’s project entitled, “Evaluating the Impact of Integrated and Co-Located Behavioral Health Care in a Pediatric Primary Care Setting.” The two aims of Miriam’s project are to assess differences in the reach of integrated compared to colocated services as measured by the percentage of primary care appointments that result in contact with an integrated or co-located behavioral health clinician within 180 days, and to assess differences in dose (number of in-person or telehealth therapy visits) between co-located and integrated services of families.
