Three Ways to Help Kids As They Start (Another) Uncertain School Year
Whether or not they say it out loud, many kids are apprehensive about starting school. On top of the normal
Whether or not they say it out loud, many kids are apprehensive about starting school. On top of the normal
Dr. Karan Lamb, PsyD
Executive Director
Dr. Karan Lamb, PsyD is a Florida-licensed psychologist and the part-time Executive Director of Resilience Across Borders, Inc., a nonprofit committed to expanding access to mental health interventions for children and adolescents. Her leadership reflects a deep dedication to community care, evidence-based practices, and compassionate service.
She is also the founder of Lamb Psychological Services, a Tampa-based private practice specializing in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, and related mental health concerns. With over two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Lamb is widely recognized for her strengths-based approach and her collaborative, values-driven work with clients.
Her professional background includes research with the Johns Hopkins OCD Family Study and advanced clinical training through the University of Pennsylvania, and other professional agencies. Dr. Lamb actively contributes to the field as a member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), and the Florida Psychological Association. She also serves as a consultant for Pasco County government and as an Adjunct Clinical Supervisor at the University of South Florida.
Mary Fallon, MA
Deputy Executive Director
Mary Fallon, MA, is the Deputy Executive Director of Resilience Across Borders, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to mental health interventions for children and adolescents in under-resourced communities. She is also a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at The Catholic University of America.
In her role at Resilience Across Borders, Mary supports organizational growth, develops partnerships with schools and community organizations, and helps lead initiatives that deliver resilience-based programming to youth and families. She is committed to increasing access to evidence-based care for children in economically marginalized communities and is interested in interventions that support youth with anxiety and strengthen emotional regulation skills.
Mary Alvord, PhD, President and Founder
Mary Alvord, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of Board of Directors of Resilience Across Borders and Director of Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC. She is a licensed psychologist and received her doctorate in 1977. She has been providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions to children, adolescents, and adults over the past four decades. Since 2009, she has been collaborating with Dr. Rich at Catholic University of America on outcome research of the Resilience Builder Program® and has co-authored multiple journal articles and book chapters on resilience and translating research to practice. She has contributed to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) public education guides on resilience in children and teens and stress. Dr. Alvord’s Pursuit of Resilience has been featured on APA’s website.
Maria Zimmitti, PhD, Vice President
Maria Zimmitti, Ph.D. is the Founder and Clinical Director of Georgetown Psychology with offices in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Dr. Zimmitti is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience evaluating and treating children, adolescents, and young adults with a focus on anxiety, ADHD, autism, and learning disorders. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Zimmitti mentors and supervises early career psychologists and has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Ph.D. Program at George Washington University. She has served on numerous boards and committees to support education and mental health care, including the State Advisory Panel on Special Education for the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Psychological Association, the DC Rape Crisis Center, and Resilience Across Borders.
Jami Axelrod, MBA, Treasurer
Jami Axelrod is a Partner at Hobson & Company, a consulting firm that creates custom ROI Calculators to expedite sales cycles for enterprise software and SaaS companies by analyzing client needs, value propositions, and sales process. Prior to working at Hobson, Jami originated the product marketing role at Akamai, a company that grew from $4M to $90M in revenue in one year and evolved from a start-up to a public company. Jami holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA from Tufts University. She is a former CPA at Coopers & Lybrand, where she planned, supervised, and conducted all phases of financial audit services for Fortune 100 companies. Jami serves on the Board of Compass Pro Bono, an organization that forges lasting ties between local nonprofits and local business professionals to empower thriving, equitable, resilient communities. She has led four volunteer-based consulting teams for Compass-selected nonprofits in the DMV area.
Beth Salcedo, MD, Founding Member
Beth Salcedo, M.D. is the medical director at the Ross Center in Washington. DC. She is a psychiatrist with expertise in diagnostic assessment and psychopharmacologic management of anxiety and mood disorders in adults. She completed her Psychiatry Residency at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she was Chief Resident in her fourth year. She has been the Medical Director of The Ross Center since 2002, and has been with the center since 1997. She has consistently been named in Washingtonian Magazine’s “Top Doctors” since 2010. She has been an active member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America since 2004, chairing their membership committee and being elected to serve on their board of directors for 2014. A 20 year member of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Salcedo was awarded the title of Distinguished Fellow in 2015.
Susan Gurley, JD
Please return soon to read about Susan Gurley’s rich and impactful career.
Jelena Kecmanovic, PhD
Jelena Kecmanovic, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and adjunct professor at Georgetown University. After earning her doctorate from Temple University, she worked as a professor, psychotherapy practice founder and director, and therapist. An expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), she brings over 30 years of experience addressing anxiety, resilience, existential concerns, and technology and mental health. Dr. Kecmanovic is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and other national publications, as well as a sought-after speaker at professional conferences, associations, nonprofits, universities, and corporations.
Harita Raja, MD
Harita Raja, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in women’s mental health across the lifespan. She is the founder and medical director of Bethesda Women’s Mental Health Center, where she provides expert care at the intersection of mental health and physical health. Dr. Raja is passionate about increasing access to evidence-based mental health education and reducing stigma in underserved communities. She is the founder of Raat Rani Collective and co-founder of South Asian HER, initiatives dedicated to fostering resilience, connection, and culturally responsive health education. As a member of the Board of Directors for Resilience Across Borders, Dr. Raja is committed to advancing innovative, preventive approaches that help children, families, and communities thrive.
Joanna Sexter, MD
Joanna Sexter, MD is a board-certified pediatrician and partner at Spring Valley Pediatrics in Washington, DC and has been recognized as one of The Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doctors in Pediatrics for over 20 years. She earned her B.A. in Child Study from Tufts University and her medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine, followed by a pediatric residency at Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Sexter is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and holds academic appointments at both Georgetown and GW.
Deeply committed to community health and education, Dr. Sexter has served on multiple school and community advisory boards. She was also a member of the Sanofi Autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes National Advisory Board and is a member of the Washington Clinical Pathological Society.
Outside of practice, she enjoys her family, 2 dogs, ballet, skiing, hiking, and travel.
Emily Beckman
Emily Beckman is a lawyer who has worked as a public defender for over 10 years representing indigent clients accused of criminal offenses. As a public defender, Ms. Beckman represents clients with complex trauma histories and interacts with families experiencing instability and stress as a result of her clients’ legal troubles. Ms. Beckman represents many clients who are not citizens of the United States, and has worked with many families facing separation and reintegration challenges related to immigration. Ms. Beckman is also a parent volunteer with the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations (MCCPTA). Ms. Beckman currently serves as a Walter Johnson Cluster Coordinator for the MCCPTA. As a PTA volunteer, Ms. Beckman has presented testimony to the Montgomery County Board of Education and Montgomery County Council. She also spearheaded the creation of a “sister school” relationship between Kensington Parkwood Elementary School and Arcola Elementary School. Ms. Beckman is the mother of two secondary school students.
Dr. Lisa Berghorst
Lisa Berghorst, Ph.D., founded Cognitive Behavioral Growth, LLC, a psychotherapy practice in Chicago that specializes in evidence-based treatment for anxiety, OCD, and mood disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. She is also on faculty at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, where she lectures and mentors graduate students in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Prior to returning to Chicago, she gained clinical and research experience at Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC; the Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research at McLean Hospital; the Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at Harvard University; and the Pediatric and Developmental Neuropsychiatry Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Berghorst has a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience from Duke University, and a Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Harvard University.
Dr. Matthew Biel
Matthew Biel, MD, MSc is Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He co-directs the Early Childhood Innovation Network, a citywide effort to improve developmental outcomes for children and families in Washington, DC. Dr. Biel was selected as an Aspen Ascend Fellow in 2018. His work addresses the impact of adversity and stress upon children and families, with research centering on reducing health disparities, improving access to mental health care for underserved children and families through projects based in primary care and school settings, and developing clinical interventions focusing on trauma and resilience, anxiety, and autism. His clinical efforts focus on children and adolescents with anxiety and stress disorders, trauma-related conditions, autism spectrum disorders, and complex medical illnesses. He has published numerous articles and book chapters and is involved nationally in psychiatric education and advocacy for children’s mental health. Dr. Biel received his medical degree and a master’s degree in Community Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He trained in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine.
Mike Durso
Mike Durso had a 44-year career in public education that included being a high school principal in Washington, D.C., Arlington, VA, and Montgomery County, MD. Following retirement in 2009, he was elected to the Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education serving two four-year terms. From 2016 – 2018, he was the BOE President.
Phyllis Fagell
Phyllis is the school counselor at Sheridan School in Washington, DC, a therapist who works with kids and families in private practice, and an author and journalist. She’s the author of “Middle School Matters” and a frequent contributor to the Washington Post. She also writes for Psychology Today, Working Mother, U.S. News & World Report and Your Teen, and her ideas have been shared in outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Yorker and NPR. Phyllis lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband and three children.
Steve Feldman
As Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Private Prep, Steve initiates and manages strategic partnerships. Steve also leads growth into new geographic markets and additional services. Since founding Private Prep in 2006, the company has become recognized as one of the leading personalized education services in the NY Tri-State Region, the DC-Metro Area, South Florida, Los Angeles and Internationally. Private Prep has made the Inc 5000 list for fastest growing privately-held companies, for five consecutive years, ranking as one of the top growing companies in the education industry. Additionally, Private Prep has been recognized as one of the 100 best places to work in New York by Crain’s Magazine. In addition to a MA in education from the Steinhardt School at New York University, Steve brings over 20 years of tutoring experience and a deep love of learning and connecting with students. He is focused on maintaining the high level of personalized care students and families have been experiencing since he began tutoring students himself. After over a decade in NYC, Steve now lives In Bethesda, MD with his wife, Lauren, who was integral in the launch of Private Prep, and their children Spencer, Poppy & Dylan.
Dr. Nitin Gogtay
Dr. Nitin Gogtay received his MD from BJ Medical College in India, where he also received formal training in pathology and neuropathology. Subsequently, Dr. Gogtay spent several years in basic neuroscience research at Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Sydney University in Australia, and later at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, before joining Psychiatry Residency at Cornell. He then joined the Child Psychiatry Branch in 2000 and lead the childhood onset schizophrenia and pediatric brain development projects for the next 15 years. During this period he did seminal studies on normal brain development as well as on brain development in psychosis in children. He has written treatment guidelines for treating children with psychosis and was also asked by the FDA to serve on committee to approve medications for treating children as an ad hoc member. Dr. Gogtay was recruited to develop and lead the NIMH Office of Clinical Research to provides oversight of the clinical trials funded by the NIMH which he lead for about 6 years. Dr. Gogtay joined the APA as Chief, Division of Research and Deputy Medical Director in March 2020. In this role he oversees the development and maintenance of the DSM and also the APA’s PsychPRO registry along with several research functions conducted by the Research Division.
Marcia Harrington
Marcia Harrington, MBA, is Treasurer of Board of Directors. She is a Senior Research Consultant at the Altarum Institute. With over 25 years in survey research, she has conducted domestic and international studies to assess program efficacy in areas of health services, education, child labor programs and food/nutrition programs. Recent related projects include a national survey of WIC participants and state and local agencies; surveys evaluating the SNAP-Ed program in Michigan and Maine; a national study of WIC administrative costs; the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) of high school students in selected states; a national study of WIC nutrition education; and an assessment of the progress in key health indicators in Mali, West Africa. She speaks Spanish and French.
Dr. Anne Hayes
Dr. Anne Hayes is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in private practice in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Hayes completed medical school, residency, and fellowship training at Georgetown University. She worked in the Community Mental Health setting for many years before transitioning to a full-time private practice. Her hope is to bring the Resilience Builder Program into the juvenile justice system in some capacity in the future.
Laura Howell
Laura Howell is the founder of Laura Howell Social Coaching, LLC, which she launched after nearly three decades as an early childhood educator at Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC. While teaching third grade, she also served as a social-emotional liaison between students, staff, and faculty. In her current role as a social coach, she practices the Social Thinking methodology, working with students in both small groups and 1:1 settings to support their social learning. When teaching social competencies, Laura focuses on the whole child, incorporating their interests and strengths into her lessons to foster strong personal connections and an atmosphere of success. She believes that all children would benefit from learning more about the complicated social world. Laura earned her B.A. in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Tufts University.
Lisa Kehayias-Farhi
Lisa Kehayias-Farhi earned her B.S. in Human Development from University of California, Davis studying cognitive development and cross-cultural child resilience under Dr. Emmy Werner. She received her California teaching certification from UCLA, under Dr. Madeline Hunter. At Hood College she received her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. Lisa was an elementary classroom teacher for 25 years. At MCPS she modeled and supported novice and underperforming teachers as a consulting teacher. She trained faculty on equity, inclusion and curriculum updates as a staff development teacher. As an instructional specialist in the central office, Lisa provided county-wide trainings. As an assistant principal at a Title 1 school, Lisa was responsible for school operations and built strong relationships with families in an underserved community. Recently retired, Lisa is a member of the City of Rockville’s Education Commission as well as a thrilled grandmother of three.
Dr. Giorgio Kulp
Dr. Giorgio Kulp, medical director and founder of Metropolitan Pediatrics, LLC (founded May, 2004), and current President of Mid Atlantic Pediatric Partners, LLC, a 13 provider, 2 division pediatric conglomerate, was raised just outside San Francisco, California. He received his B.A. in behavioral sciences from the University of Chicago and graduated from the George Washington University School of Medicine, after which he received his residency training in Pediatrics at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He is board certified in Pediatrics and has a special interest in developmental/behavioral health.
Dr. Stephanie Mayrant
Stephanie Mayrant, MD is a board certified adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist. She joined Inova Kellar Center in 2011 and provides pediatric psychiatric evaluations, medication management, consultations, and developmental guidance. Her areas of interest includes Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorder and expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She enjoys working with culturally and neuro diverse children and families. Dr. Mayrant received her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. She completed her residency at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and her fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC. She served as chief resident for the 2010-11 academic year.
Anne McGrath McManus
Anne McGrath McManus is a journalist who recently retired as Executive Editor at U.S. News & World Report in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw events programming and several annual special issues in higher education and medicine, including Best Graduate Schools, Best Colleges, and Best Hospitals. She served for a number of years as health editor for both the weekly news magazine and usnews.com, and, as a reporter, wrote extensively on education, personal finance, and investing. Previously, she worked at Forbes magazine in New York. She earned her degrees at St. Lawrence University and Syracuse University and lives in Silver Spring, MD.
Dr. Charles B. Nemeroff
Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin. He also directs the Institute for Early Life Adversity Research within the Department of Psychiatry as part of the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences. Prior to joining Dell Med, Dr. Nemeroff was chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and clinical director of the Center on Aging at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. He received his medical degree and doctorate degrees in neurology from the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine. He is President-elect of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).
Dr. John O’Flahavan
Dr. John O’Flahavan is Associate Chair in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership, in the College of Education, University of Maryland, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in literacy education and learning and schooling. His research interests include PK-12 literacy teaching and learning, peer discussion about text, comprehensive school-wide literacy programs, continuous school improvement and teacher preparation.
Dr. Anna Ordóñez
Anna E. Ordóñez, M.D., M.A.S., is the Director of the Office of Clinical Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). She received her M.D. from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, in Bogotá, Colombia and her Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is board certified both in adult and child & adolescent psychiatry. She has also completed postdoctoral research fellowships both at the NIMH and UCSF, and a master’s degree in Advanced Sciences in Clinical Research (M.A.S.) at UCSF. Prior to returning to NIMH, she held a faculty position at UCSF, where among other duties, she was the Medical Director of the Division of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has engaged in research studies of typical and atypical brain development and of evidence based psychosocial interventions to enhance psychological resilience in the United States, Costa Rica and Colombia.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ordóñez has been actively involved in activities to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility both in the delivery of clinical care, as well as in biomedical research. She has provided clinical care services to Spanish speaking and underprivileged populations, as well as mentored numerous individuals interested in pursuing careers in mental health research from Latin America, the U.S. and globally. At the NIH, she is also involved with UNITE initiative to identify and address structural racism. She is co-chair of the UNITE E committee that is charged with evaluating and changing NIH policies, cultures, and structures to promote diversity in research
Dr. Rachel Ritvo
Rachel Z. Ritvo, MD, retired in 2020 after more than 30 years in the private practice of child and adolescent psychiatry and psychoanalysis in Kensington, MD. A Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at George Washington University, she continues to teach “The Use of Play in Child Psychiatry” at Children’s National Medical Center. A longtime advocate for psychodynamic psychiatry at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Dr. Ritvo currently is a co-chair of the Leadership Team of the Psychodynamic Faculty Initiative at AACAP. Dr. Ritvo was first exposed to psychoanalysts’ deep respect for the inner lives of children as a two-year-old at the Yale Child Study Center Nursery School. She attended Radcliffe College at Harvard University majoring in Folklore and Mythology. After graduating from Yale Medical School, Dr. Ritvo completed a residency in Family Practice at Fairfax Family Practice/MCV, did a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Children’s National Medical Center and completed her psychiatric training at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She is a graduate of the Baltimore-Washington Psychoanalytic Institute in both adult and child and adolescent psychoanalysis. Married for 47 years, Dr. Ritvo is the mother of two and grandmother of four.
Dr. Pavan Segal
Pavan Segal, M.D. received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 2007. He completed his general adult psychiatry residency at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He then went on to complete his fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago in conjunction with the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Segal has served in the role of medical director at a number of large child and adolescent mental health centers over the past decade where he has overseen the clinical care, curriculum development, and leadership of numerous child and adolescent psychiatric services. Dr. Segal has also served as teaching faculty at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is currently in private practice in Bethesda where he strives to provide outstanding psychiatric care to children and adolescents.
Marnie Weinstein
Marnie Weinstein is the Founder and CEO of Weinstein Educational Consulting where she applies decades of experience as an educator, advisor, and mother to support and guide families through various educational needs. She is a strong advocate and works with both schools and families to ensure the correct supports are in place for student success. Marnie attended Brandeis University and received her master’s degree in early elementary education from Wheelock College in Boston before moving back to Bethesda where she lives with her husband and three children.
Dr. Alycia Bartley-Heinsen
Alycia Bartley-Heinsen, M.D., an Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, holds the position of Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she teaches a Practice of Medicine Course and mentors medical students. After graduating from Yale University with a B.A. in Psychology, Dr. Bartley-Heinsen worked at the Clinical Brain Disorders Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health, where she published several papers on anatomical abnormalities of the brain in schizophrenia. She then earned her medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed both her residency in Adult Psychiatry and her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospital. Alycia remained on the faculty of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons as an Instructor in Clinical Psychiatry from 2003 to 2006, when she moved back to Washington, DC with her husband and two children. Since returning to DC, she has taught in the medical schools at both Georgetown University and George Washington University.
Mary Ann McCabe, PhD
Dr. McCabe is a board-certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), and a national leader in bridging science, practice and policy to advance child, adolescent and family wellbeing. She has held leadership positions at Children’s National Health System (Director of Training in Psychology, Director of Health Psychology) and the Society for Research in Child Development (Director of Policy and Communications) and was an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She has also held leadership roles in professional service, including with the committees, boards and Board of Directors of APA, and as a Past President of the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice. She served on the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Forum on Children’s Wellbeing, the National Advisory Committee for HealthySteps, and the Advisory Board of the Consortium for Science-Based Information on Children, Youth and Families producing www.infoaboutkids.org. Dr. McCabe has published and presented extensively in the areas of mental health promotion and prevention and led two national summits focused on enhancing public understanding of the interdisciplinary science supporting healthy development.
Dr. Colleen Cummings
Colleen Cummings, Ph.D is a licensed psychologist. She earned her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. She did her predoctoral internship training at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Cummings then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University. Dr. Cummings’ research interests include cognitive-behavioral interventions for youth with anxiety and mood disorders, as well as the dissemination of effective treatments to the community.
Dr. Lindsay Myerberg
Lindsay Myerberg, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at Alvord, Baker & Associates. She earned her B.A. from the Honors Program in the Department of Psychology at University of Richmond, with a minor in Rhetoric & Communications. She earned her M.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Children, Families, and Cultures from the Catholic University of America, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University. She completed her predoctoral internship training at the University of Maryland Medical Center Child and Adolescent Inpatient Unit. Dr. Myerberg has provided assessment and intervention services for children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings, including community clinics, outpatient specialty clinics, hospitals, inpatient units, and schools. Her research focuses on the adaptation of evidence-based interventions to increase accessibility of mental health care services for children and adolescents from contextually disadvantaged communities.
Dr. Brendan Rich
Brendan Rich, Ph.D,a licensed psychologist, is the Chair of the Department of Psychology at the Catholic University of America (CUA), were he is also an Associate Professor, the Director of the M.A. program in Psychological Science, and the Director of the Child Cognition, Affect, and Behavior Laboratory. Dr. Rich received his B.A. from Vassar College, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He completed his Predoctoral Internship at Children’s National Medical Center, and his Postdoctoral Fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Rich has extensive experience directing grant-supported research on child psychopathology and treatment interventions, having authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and given over 50 first-author research presentations at national and international conferences examining childhood mental health disorders. Dr. Rich’s research accomplishments have been recognized by awards from organizations including the American Psychological Association (APA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), American Association for Higher Education, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, and Society of Biological Psychiatry.
Dr. Nina Shiffrin Starin
Nina Shiffrin Starin, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Research at Alvord Baker & Associates. She earned her B.S. with honors and distinction in Human Development from Cornell University. She served as a post-baccalaureate fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Shiffrin Starin completed her predoctoral internship at the Temple University Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorder Clinic and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Yale University. Dr. Shiffrin Starin has provided evidence-based treatments for children, adolescent and adults in a variety of settings. She is actively involved in research on cognitive-behavioral interventions for youth.
Dr. Rachel Weinstock
Rachel Weinstock, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist at Alvord, Baker & Associates. She earned her B.A. from Cornell University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Georgia State University. She completed her predoctoral internship training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She then completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Children’s National Medical Center, with a focus on youth anxiety and related disorders. Her research interests include factors contributing to the development of anxiety disorders, as well as barriers to treatment for children with mental health concerns.
Abigail Pearlman
Abigail Pearlman is a clinical research coordinator at Alvord, Baker & Associates. She earned a B.S. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Rochester. Her research experience includes working in the University of Rochester Cognitive Development Lab and at the Mount Hope Family Center in Rochester, NY. She is passionate about making mental health care accessible so that all children have the chance to thrive.