2018 Speaking Faculty

Dr. Allespach is an Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine, Medicine and Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. In addition, she is the Director of Behavioral Medicine in the Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and General Surgery Residency and Fellowship Programs at UM/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr Allespach has lectured extensively at national conferences on the use of cognitive-behavioral techniques for stress reduction, addictive behaviors and for decreasing depression, anxiety, and pain. She has also published several scientific papers on addiction and nonpharmacologic management of chronic pain, and has lectured both nationally and internationally on utilizing cognitive-behavioral, motivational interviewing and stages of change strategies to assist in healthy behavior change. Dr Allespach is the Associate Director of UM/Jackson’s “Multispecialty Learning Communities” through the Office of Graduate Medical Education and is specifically in charge of developing and coordinating the physician wellness curriculum for approximately 200 interns each academic year.

Emily Brandenfels, MD, has extensive experience providing care to the safety net population and leading efforts to improve the way that care is delivered.

Prior to joining HMA, Dr. Brandenfels served as an associate medical director at the Community Health Plan of Washington. Her primary responsibilities were in the New Programs Integration Department, where she led efforts to work with community health centers on innovative models of care. These efforts included a CMMI grant focused on creating a team-based model of care, targeting high utilizers who are cared for in a systematic fashion using care managers who collaborate with physician consultants. She played a key role in the systematic case review sessions and helping the team with ongoing process improvement.

Dr. Brandenfels was also the physician lead on a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant, which involved collaboration with managed care organizations and community health centers to adopt innovative models using community health workers to provide care to asthma patients. She participated in various state-wide workgroups on transitional care topics, as well as high utilizers, providing her with diverse perspectives on Medicaid services and delivery.

She started her career as an internist at Pike Market Medical Clinic (now part of Neighborcare Health) in 1995. She cared for a panel of patients there for three years, and then continued to provide locums coverage until 2004. Dr. Brandenfels has continued intermittently to volunteer at Neighborcare Youth Clinic providing services to homeless teens. She also worked for two years at the local public locked psychiatric facility providing medical consultation for indigent psychiatric patients. These clinical roles have provided her with the opportunity to gain a deep understanding for the needs of the safety net population.

Dr. Brandenfels also has an interest in the geriatric population. She worked as a skilled nursing facility rounder at Group Health Cooperative from 2003-2008, with ongoing locums work in both the skilled nursing facility and hospice settings.

Her volunteer work has included providing care in rural Guatemala, post-earthquake Haiti, and domestic safety net settings.

Dr. Brandenfels received her MD from the University of California, San Francisco, an MS in Health and Medical Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University. She completed her internal medicine training in primary care at Highland Hospital in Alameda County.

She currently resides in Seattle with her husband and her youngest, nearly-launched child. She enjoys rowing, as well as traveling to visit her two older children.

I am an adult psychiatrist who trained in New York city at NYU and Mt Sinai hospitals. My family relocated to North Carolina in 2008 when I took a position with Doctors Making Housecalls. In 2010, I opened a private psychiatric practice which has grown rapidly to include multiple psychiatrists and staff. I enjoy new challenges and thinking about psychiatry and mental health in different ways - so I have participated in a number of different settings as Medical Director. I first started working with Community Care of North Carolina as a network psychiatrist in the Northwest Network, then started working with the Central Office in 2015 as a Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Our work at CCNC currently focuses on integrating behavioral health and psychiatric services in the primary care setting. I have also been involved with the North Carolina Psychiatric Association and am currently the Vice President of that organization.

Andrew Clendenin is a social worker and program director with several years of experience in the health care and social services industry. His background and passion centers on improving health outcomes in underserved populations. Andrew has teaching, clinical and leadership experience in hospitals, schools, social services and community agencies. He is accomplished in program design and innovation from concept to launch, and in leading teams to achieve success in serving people with chronic medical and behavioral health conditions in their communities.

Andrew is currently the Director of Behavioral Health at Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC), a not-for-profit that operates as the primary care case management entity for North Carolina Medicaid. Through a public-private partnership, CCNC has brought together regional networks of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, health departments, social service agencies and other community organizations. These professionals work together to provide cooperative, coordinated care through the Medical Home model.

Andrew holds a B.A. in sociology and a MSW from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

James Corbett is senior vice president of community health and values integration at Centura Health, a multi-state integrated health system and the region’s largest health care provider serving Colorado and western Kansas with 17 Hospitals and 22,000 employees.

Corbett was a 3 year fellow at Harvard Medical School Division of Medical Ethics and was appointed a four year term to the National Institutes of Health’s National Advisory Council for Nursing Research (NINR) by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Over the course of his career, he has worked in four different health systems providing strategic and operational leadership for clinical trials, research operations, ethics, behavioral health, community health, spiritual care, diversity, mission and global health. In these roles, he has established innovative programs to improve health care outcomes and reduce health care costs.

He has lectured at Harvard in Clinical Bioethics Courses and at the University of New England and Maine Schools of Law and has been published in numerous books and journals. Corbett received his B.S. in International Relations from Syracuse University, a Juris Doctor from St. Johns University and a Master of Divinity from Duke University.

Dr. Saint Eloi is a post-graduate year 2 resident in the Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Hospital. His current interests include adolescent health/nutrition in addition to adult wellness and behavioral medicine. Currently he serves as the co-founder of a volunteer group called Driven and serves as medical officer for a non-profit group called Love our Nation.

As Vice President of Behavioral Health, Dr. Judith A. Feld currently leads MVP Health Care’s efforts to holistically integrate behavioral health into the managed care model. MVP is a nationally recognized, community-focused, not-for-profit health insurer serving more than 700,000 members throughout New York State and Vermont. As a psychiatrist with more than 30 years of experience in both clinical and physician executive roles, Dr. Feld has a deep understanding of how outcomes are improved across the health spectrum when behavioral health and primary care services are delivered synergistically.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Feld served as Medical Director, Behavioral Health and Healthcare Delivery Innovation with Independent Health from 2009 to 2017. During her tenure she oversaw a number of grant-funded health integration programs, including a multi-site pilot study within the transformative Primary Connection, a physician-led collaborative approach to improved care coordination through virtual integration.

Dr. Feld earned her Master in Medical Management from the University of Southern California and her Master in Public Health from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine and completed her residency in psychiatry at George Washington University in Washington DC. Dr. Feld is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and was a past president of the Association’s Western New York District Branch.

Nicole Harmon leads HANYS Solutions’ Practice Advancement Strategies. She has tremendous experience in the areas of primary and specialty care practice transformation, cross-functional teams, establishing a culture of change and quality improvement, redesigning workflow and responsibilities, and electronic medical record implementation and reporting. In addition, Ms. Harmon works on physician engagement and physician payment reform strategies to round out the overall Practice Advancement Strategies portfolio.

Ms. Harmon is a nationally recognized speaker on topics such as positioning physicians for success in the transition from fee for service to value based payment models, change management, the role of culture in transformation efforts, and practice transformation in both primary and specialty care.

Before joining HANYS Solutions, Ms. Harmon was a Practice Manager, Patient-Centered Medical Home, at The Exigence Group, and served as Assistant Director for Advanced Primary and Specialty Care at Independent Health. Ms. Harmon’s experience also includes the Windsong Radiology Group, where she spent two years as Marketing Specialist before moving into the Organizational Development Supervisor role.

Ms. Harmon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration degree from Canisius College. In November 2014, Ms. Harmon completed the Cornell-HANYS Academy for Healthcare Leadership Advancement. She is PROSCI® certified in change management and by National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a PCMH Certified Content Expert.

Susan Hawk currently serves as Behavioral Health Chief of Clinical Integration for Mercy Health including Behavioral Health Clinical Operations at St. Rita’s Medical Center. She has worked at St. Rita’s since 2009 focusing on the development of a continuum of behavioral health care including Emergency Department Crisis Services, Inpatient psychiatric care, Partial Hospitalization, Primary Care Integration, and Patient Treatment Intervention Services for those with complex behavioral health disorders who over utilize emergency department and psychiatric inpatient services. Prior to Joining Mercy Health, Susan worked in Community Mental Health for 24 years with youth and families with behavioral health disorders in a variety of roles including, Residential Treatment, Home based, Outpatient, and School Based treatment, and Wrap around service coordination for the most complex behavioral health disorders of youth and their families. Susan received her bachelor’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio; and obtained a Master’s Degree in Counseling from University of Dayton, Dayton Ohio. Susan is a Supervising Counselor in the State of Ohio with scope of practice in Mental Health and Addictions treatment.

Lisa Kay is a member of Cigna’s Clinical Program Development team focusing on integrating behavioral health into medical settings. She is passionate about a holistic approach to care that considers both the mind and body in achieving optimal health outcomes. Lisa holds Masters Degrees in social work and business as well as being a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer. She is an active member of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Maternal Mental Health Expert Work Group. In her time away from work Lisa devotes time to her two daughters and travels to run half-marathons.

In her role as BHPI’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Knysz works closely with behavioral and physical health providers to ensure a comprehensive continuum of care for all consumers being served. She provides the structure, oversight and on-going management and evaluation to ensure the clinical aspects of integrated care are being woven throughout our providers’ care and treatment. She works closely with all providers working toward a delivery model of care, which relies on data and building an infrastructure which is flexible and allows for the system to achieve the best outcomes for consumers and the most efficient use of heath care resources. She is trained as a Clinical Health Psychologist and has spent the last 15 years working in community-based care, hospital settings and consulting for organizations in regard to integration and coordination of care.

Garrett E. Moran, Ph.D., serves as the project director of the AHRQ Academy for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care. He is a Westat vice president and associate director with nearly 45 years of experience in public policy, program evaluation, research, and management. He led an Academy team that recently drafted the AHRQ report Implementing MAT for OUD in Rural Primary Care: An Environmental Scan. In addition to working on the Academy, he is directing a study of the “Optimal Utilization of Psychosocial Support in Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder” for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Moran is also collaborating with Project ECHO at the University of New Mexico to provide technical assistance to federally qualified health centers attempting to implement MAT for OUD. He has consulted with a number of States that are working to restructure their health and behavioral health delivery systems and improve their ability to respond to the OUD epidemic. His major areas of substantive expertise include public policy and financing issues related to people with substance use or mental disorders; integrated health care delivery; health care reform; and health information technology.

Dr. Musgrave is the Director of Behavioral Science at Fort Wayne Medical Education Program. She has been teaching Family Medicine residents and Medical School students for 12 years. She is also board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology and has a private practice. She conducts evaluations that services both inpatient and outpatient populations.

Lauren is currently completing her clinical psychology doctoral training in southeast Michigan while also working as a behavioral care specialist in an integrated family medicine residency setting. Her doctoral research primarily focuses on the role of behavioral care specialists in assessment and treatment of mental/behavioral health issues in integrated primary care settings.

Jessie J. Peters, MSN, FNP-BC is a Family Nurse Practitioner who has dedicated her career to the integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care disciplines since 2009. Jessie brings over a decade of medical and nursing leadership that well-positions her for the roles she fulfills. During her tenure at Spectrum Healthcare Group, Jessie has pioneered integrative clinics, developed integrative practice models, managed system infrastructures, and championed Care Management among clinical teams – all while helping create a workforce culture that is high-quality, efficient, accessible, and compassionate.

As a Primary Care provider, Jessie has a unique vantage point on integration. Jessie has always been impassioned by serving the underserved, but says she was deeply awakened by the healthcare disparity demonstrated among those living with Serious Mental Illness. This disparity still continues to motivate her, and drives not only the care she gives, but the systems she designs. Jessie is a dynamic public speaker, story-teller, and poignantly passionate about her work.

Jessie lives with her husband, three young sons, and two rescue pups. She loves a good adventure (which her kids frequently facilitate), listens to audiobooks, and would spend every waking moment outside if permitted.

Andrew C. Philip, PhD is a clinical health psychologist and the Deputy Director for SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions at the National Council for Behavioral Health. He has a clinical background as a psychologist in primary care, and has assisted with large-scale training and integration efforts in federal healthcare. Dr. Philip has experience integrating behavioral health within numerous medical settings including acute trauma and intensive care, burn, neurology, palliative care, psychiatry, infectious disease, and primary care. Dr. Philip has emphasized improving care for diverse groups such as LGBTQ and veteran populations. In his work at the National Council, Dr. Philip assists in driving local and national initiatives aimed at improving patient care and promoting innovation in the field of integrated health.

Dr. Philip earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology and criminal justice at the State University of New York at Albany and a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in clinical psychology at Auburn University. He completed his clinical training at the Tampa VA hospital and clinics and is a Senior Fellow at the Partnership for Public Service in Washington, D.C.

April Rhodes is the Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Healthcare Group. Spectrum is one of the first providers in the state of Arizona to bring fully integrated care to its community members.

April has served at the forefront of healthcare and human services management for nearly two decades. Her unique brand of leadership has successfully launched Spectrum Healthcare Group into new heights of innovation, integration, and cohesion. While in the office of CEO, she draws on skillsets of therapy, open communication, and business-mindedness, while balancing vision and risk in this ever-changing healthcare landscape.

April attended Arizona State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development in 2009 and a Master of Advanced Study in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2012 with a strong focus on systemic theories and practices. April is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She is impassioned by seeing people gain access to the healthcare they need, and her contagious vision has altered the trajectory of Spectrum Healthcare Group.

April Rhodes serves on the Yavapai County Board of Health and the Board of Directors for The Arizona Council of Human Service Providers. April is considered a subject matter expert on topics relating to integrated healthcare, value-based purchasing, access to care, and community-based services.

Dr. Jeffrey Ring is a clinical health psychologist and author who knows culturally responsive integrated healthcare from the inside out. He is an executive leadership coach, and assists leaders and teams in productive functioning toward effectiveness and competitive advantage. Jeffrey is a champion for healthcare practitioner vitality, and is skilled in supporting teams in mindful reflection on creative approaches to self-care and wellness enhancement.

For 19 years he served as the director of behavioral sciences and cultural medicine at the family medicine residency program at White Memorial Medical Center in East Los Angeles. There he worked in a multi-disciplinary team providing woven behavioral and primary care health services to a predominately Spanish-speaking underserved population. He is a clinical professor of family medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, and has clinical experience with patients along the lifespan including geriatrics.

At HMA, Jeffrey is poised to help clients with an array of initiatives, including integrated behavioral care in hospital and primary care, healthcare practitioner leadership and wellbeing, the delivery of quality culturally responsive care within Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Federally Qualified Health Centers, and the enhancement of medical education to prepare health practitioners for successful practice in a changing healthcare environment. He has a keen interest in how physician education in advanced care planning can help achieve the Triple Aim. In his previous role at White Memorial Medical Center, Jeffrey was responsible for providing bilingual (Spanish) mental health services in an integrated setting, and taught family medicine residents the skills of evaluation of and intervention with psychosocial issues in the context of primary care delivery. This included compassionate doctor-patient communication, substance use screening and intervention, mind-body medicine and stress management.

During his career, Jeffrey has focused on the elimination of health disparities, with an emphasis on the role of medical education and the provision of outstanding care in underserved communities. He is the first author of Curriculum for Culturally Responsive Health Care: The Step-by-Step Guide for Cultural Competence Training, a book published by Radcliffe Oxford in 2008.

Jeffrey has served in leadership positions in the Group on Minority Health and Multicultural Education within the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race within the American Psychological Association. He has lectured and published widely on culturally responsive healthcare, medical education and physician wellbeing.

Jeffrey lives with his family physician wife, Beth, and his twin high-school aged sons who play in jazz band and run cross country (but not at the same time).

Staci Swenson is the Integrated Care Manager for PrimaryOne Health, a 10-site federally qualified health center system located in Central Ohio. Her passion for reducing barriers to underserved populations receiving high quality behavioral health care has lead her to practice as an administrator, social worker, therapist, educator, and trainer spanning over 15 years. She specializes in behavioral health integration in the primary care setting, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care. Further, she is a community lecturer in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University and is the education coordinator for PrimaryOne Health which collaborates with the Integrated and Culturally Relevant Care model of field education with the College providing intensive training for over 25 graduate students a year.

Originally from Moscow Russia, Dr. Tolchinsky grew up and received all of his training in the southern Michigan area. He is a fellowship trained clinical health psychologist with a specialization in medical education and Integrated Primary Care. He contributes to medical and mental health training along with developing innovative new behavioral health models within Ascension Providence medical system in the greater Detroit area.

Deborah Weidner, M.D., M.B.A. started her career caring for adolescents on the inpatient unit at the Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA. She was later appointed as Director of the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Programs where she remained for seven years. In 2009, Dr. Weidner moved to Connecticut to join Hartford HealthCare’s (HHC) Natchaug Hospital as its Chief Medical Officer. In 2015, Dr. Weidner’s role expanded to include oversight of the east region behavioral health services of HHC as its Regional Medical Director.

Dr. Weidner has a special interest in quality improvement and has participated in QI committees and efforts at each organization where she has worked driving excellence including renovating the patient environment, restraint reduction, improved communication with primary care providers, improving access, patient experience, and peer review processes. Her passion for quality improvement led to her appointment in 2013 as Vice President of Patient Safety and Quality for the Behavioral Health Network at HHC.

Dr. Weidner also plays a significant role in HHC’s efforts around primary care behavioral health integration as the medical director. She led similar efforts between child behavioral health services and pediatrics at the Cambridge health Alliance resulting in several publications including in the journal Pediatrics.

Dr Weidner is double board certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. She completed her general psychiatry residency at the University of Pennsylvania and her child and adolescent fellowship at Harvard Medical School at the Children’s Hospital of Boston. Dr. Weidner earned her medical doctorate at Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, WI. In 2006, Dr. Weidner received an M.B.A from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.