Our new year is off to a great start, beginning with the news that Michelle Lynch will be joining us as our new Vice Chair for Finance and Administration in March. Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role from her time as Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine, and we look forward to welcoming her to the Department. I also want to express my deep gratitude to Heather Glansbeek who stepped in as interim Vice Chair and did an amazing job in this role.
I am also excited to announce the formation of a new departmental Clinician Scientist Training Program that will seek to inspire and support clinicians to consider careers in research. Trainees and faculty mentors will have new opportunities for support through a pilot grant program, early career start-up support, and the development of a Clinical Trial Consultation program.
We announced the creation of this new Clinician Scientist Training Program at the second annual meeting of the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions earlier this month. It was a terrific event that showcased the incredible amount of work that has been done in the three years since we launched the Institute as well as some of our future plans. President Cauce joined us for this meeting along with Lynn and Mike Garvey and their daughter Denise, and we had an opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to the Garvey Family for their generosity that is now supporting nearly 100 innovators from all three UW campuses, several innovative new training programs, and the recruitment of experienced faculty to lead the Institute’s work. You can watch a recording of the event if you were unable to attend and follow the progress of the Garvey Institute on the Institute’s website.
We continue to receive strong public and private support for our important work in education and workforce development, including new funding by the U.S. Department of Education to put Master of Social Work Students in high-need school districts to serve as mental health professionals, legislative support to create a new type of credential for a Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS) in Washington state, and philanthropic support such as the gift that funds the Ventura Endowed Fellowship for Autism Research to increase clinical capacity for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. I want to express my deep gratitude to the nearly 150 individuals who provided philanthropic support for behavioral health research, education and clinical care at UW Medicine in 2022, and I believe that this is a tremendous testament to the good work that you all do every day.
A big congratulations to our Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship program and our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency program on their 2023 Match results. I look forward to welcoming this outstanding group of new trainees when they join us here in Seattle in June and July. Congratulations also to Pamela Collins for receiving the UW Medicine MLK Community Service Award that honors individuals or groups who exemplify Martin Luther King, Jr.’s principles.
On a more somber note, I am saddened and deeply frustrated by continued acts of racism and violence in our communities. I want to join President Cauce and others in expressing outrage, frustration, and sorrow about the murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police and the senseless gun violence that traumatized our Asian American communities earlier this month. Let us not become discouraged by these tragic events but keep up the struggle to become a more just, diverse, and equitable society. Let us keep making change in our own community and beyond, to honor the humanity in all of us, and to celebrate even small victories in the struggle against racism and discrimination. In the words of president Cauce: “Together we must continue the urgent, vital work of building a world in which Black people’s humanity is seen, valued, and honored, so that they can live, thrive, and prosper without fear, creating a world that is better for us all.”
This month, UW Medicine launched an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion survey. Please take a few minutes to complete this important survey and help us identify additional opportunities to improve our own efforts to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment here at UW Medicine.
Thank you for all you do! I look forward to what we can accomplish together in 2023.
Jürgen
Welcome to Michelle Lynch, our new Vice Chair for Finance and Administration We are happy to announce that Michelle Lynch will be joining the department as our next Vice Chair for Finance and Administration on March 1. Michelle has spent over 20 years working at the University of Washington, the last 10+ as the Administer of the Division of General Internal Medicine, the largest division within the Department of Medicine. She successfully managed tremendous growth over the past few years including navigating the 2020 integration of the UWMC Northwest campus and UW Primary Care into the Department of Medicine and launching two new fellowship programs (Academic Hospital Medicine and Addiction Medicine). Among other roles, she has served as the Interim Administrator for the division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition (Department of Medicine); Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the Senior Vice President, Finance and Facilities; a Policy Development Analyst in the Office of Planning and Budgeting; and a Financial Analyst and Fee Schedule Manager with Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound.
A lifelong Husky, Michelle earned a BA in business administration and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her geologist daughter, and attending local music events (including singing with a women’s a cappella group, the Beaconettes). Michelle brings many valuable experiences to her new role and we look forward to working with her!
Please participate! UW Medicine Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Survey
Please participate in the UW Medicine Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion survey, an important effort to assess Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion across UW Medicine and provide actionable data to help prioritize areas for our work at the entity and departmental levels. The survey asks questions about your personal identities, experiences of belonging and inclusion in your workplace or academic program, and questions about inequitable treatment you may have experienced while you have been employed by UW Medicine. Your voluntary participation will allow leadership to understand UW Medicine's current environment and will be used to guide the work toward UW Medicine's Mission and Vision and the work of individual teams. Your answers will be kept confidential and the survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. Due date is February 28. If you have any questions or concerns contact Callie Hunter, callieh@uw.edu. Thank you.
Help us welcome our new faculty and staff Olivia Amestoy (she/her/hers) joined the department in January 2023 as a Graduate Research Study Assistant at the Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center at Harborview. Olivia received her Bachelor’s at UW and is back for her MSW. Go dawgs! As a Veteran herself, Olivia also works at the Seattle VA ERIC doing research with Vietnam-Era Veterans. Outside of work, Olivia enjoys checking out restaurants all around Seattle and being outside. If you would like to reach out to Olivia and say hello, her email is oames15@uw.edu.
Eric Boelter, PhD (he/him/his) joined the department in January 2023 as a Clinical Professor and lead Psychologist developing a new subunit in the PBMU at Seattle Children’s. This new unit will specialize in the assessment and treatment of children/adolescents with intellectual and developmental delays, including autism and related disorders, who are admitted for severe challenging behavior. Dr. Boelter completed his doctoral degree at the University of Iowa and then a postdoc fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University. In 2010, he came to the Seattle Children’s Autism Center and developed the Biobehavioral Program to work with children/adolescents with IDD and challenging behavior. He has directed that program for the past 12 years prior to shifting to the PBMU. Outside of work, Dr. Boelter loves to get out into the mountains with his wife and two children. If you would like to reach out to Dr. Boelter and say hello, his email is eboelter@uw.edu.
Makayla Dehmer (she/her/hers) joined the department in January 2023 as a Research Assistant for the Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors (CSHRB). Makayla will be working at Project MAC where she will be helping Katherine Walukevich-Dienst in her endeavors to create an accurate and consistent measure of momentary affect to be used in future cannabis use research. Makayla is a recent graduate from the UW, as of March of 2022. She previously worked in CSHRB as an undergraduate Research Assistant for Jessica Canning in the College Alcohol and Peers Study. Makayla hopes to continue to explore the research world and ultimately pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of work, Makayla loves to practice yoga, go for runs, cook and read. She treasured her time at UW as a student and is looking forward to continuing her time at UW as an employee. If you would like to reach out to Makayla and say hello, her email is dehmem@uw.edu.
Connor Gallik, PhD (he/him/his) joined the department in October 2022 as an Attending Psychologist for the adolescent pod on the psychiatry and behavioral medicine unit (PBMU). Dr. Gallik completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children and adolescents at the University of Connecticut. He completed his clinical internship at Pacific University followed by a 1-year postdoctoral fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital. At SCH, he provided consultation, assessment, individual therapy, and program development for the PBMU and served as an individual therapist and group facilitator in the adolescent DBT program. Additionally, he provided mental health assessment and ongoing support for youth pursuing gender affirming medical care at the SCH Gender Clinic. Dr. Gallik’s research focuses on understanding factors related to the mental health and wellbeing of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth. Clinically, he is interested in working with children, adolescents, and their families, with a focus on TGD youth. He also provides training in TGD affirming care for mental health and medical professionals and speaks to community audiences about supporting transgender youth. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outside with his dog Ghost, cooking and baking, gardening, and rock climbing. Dr. Gallik and his husband have recently taken up pickleball which they’ve been enjoying a lot! If you would like to reach out to Dr. Gallik and say hello, his email is cgalli@uw.edu.
Yasmin Landa (she/her/hers) joined the department in December 2022 as a Research Study Assistant at the School Mental Health Assessment, Research, & Training (SMART) Center. She is a recent graduate from the University of Washington, where she earned a BA in Psychology and Sociology. As an undergraduate, Yasmin conducted an independent research project exploring the effects of in-patient psychiatric socio-physical experiences on treatment engagement posthospitalization. This research coupled with her work experience at Newport Academy, an adolescent treatment center, sparked an interest in mental health intervention with a focus on youth. She now assists in projects such as VIBRANT & BASIS that focus on mental health research and interventions in school systems. During her free time, Yasmin enjoys de-stressing with a good book, painting, gaming, and spending time with her dog and loved ones. If you would like to reach out to Yasmin and say hello, her email is landayas@uw.edu.
Emily Mossberg (she/her/hers) joined the department in January 2023 as a Technology Transfer Specialist for the Opioid Response Network within the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI). Emily will be prioritizing response to requests for assistance from indigenous communities. Emily completed her MPH and has a background in prevention science and harm-reduction. The bulk of her previous public health experience involved planning, implementing and evaluating local prevention programs targeting substance misuse and problem gambling. She is passionate about incorporating a trauma-informed lens and working to reduce stigma around substance misuse. Outside of work, Emily enjoys being in nature, reading, yoga, trying new recipes, and connecting with loved ones. If you would like to reach out to Emily and say hello, her email is mossbe@uw.edu.
Kyle Payne (he/him/his) joined the department in January 2023 as a Continuing Education Coordinator/PACT Trainer for the Supporting Psychosis Innovation through Research, Implementation, and Training (SPIRIT) lab at Harborview. Kyle’s prior work includes providing services in community mental health settings with a specialization in supported education and employment. Kyle worked for the New Journeys program for over five years as a Supported Education and Employment Specialist in multiple settings. He attended The Evergreen State College and graduated with a BA in Psychology with a focus on Human Relations. Outside of work, Kyle enjoys playing music, spoiling his cat and attending concerts. If you would like to reach out to Kyle and say hello, his email is kpayne4@uw.edu.
David Reed, PhD (he/him/his) joined the department in January 2023 as a Data Analyst for Patricia Arean’s lab. Dr. Reed is a Clinical Psychologist by training and a fellow at VA Puget Sound in the Health Services Research & Development Department. He received his undergraduate degree from University of South Carolina in Experimental Psychology and his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University. His current research centers around bringing more human, holistic and well-being focused perspectives to health care while focusing on two interconnected areas of investigation: 1) psychosocial self-regulatory mechanisms of the mind-body connection (e.g., meaning-making) among individuals with complex co-occurring physical and mental health conditions and 2) developing and testing mind-body interventions that improve physical and emotional well-being. Outside of work, Dr. Reed enjoys running, camping, music, art and horror films. If you would like to reach out to Dr. Reed and say hello, his email is davider2@uw.edu.
Mental health in schools receives boost Washington state is grappling with a mental health crisis among youth. A statewide questionnaire of students across grade levels showed that in 2021, 45% of Washington 12th graders reported feeling depressed (sad and hopeless), an increase of four percentage points since 2018.
To help reverse that trend, a coalition of Washington agencies including UW Medicine has received funding from the U.S. Department of Education for a five-year initiative that will put Master of Social Work Students from diverse backgrounds in high-need school districts to serve as mental health professionals.
The Washington State School Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Project is a collaboration between UW and the state’s four other higher education social work training programs, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Washington Association of Social School Workers and the WA State Association of School Principals. The project’s goals are to increase the number of school mental health service professionals.
Led by Eric Bruns, PhD, and Jennifer Stuber, PhD, the UW Schools of Medicine and Social Work will receive $6 million to provide training and conditional scholarships to more than 100 students. They’ll be placed in public schools starting with the 2023-24 academic year. UW also will have training enhancements to offer to any student who wants to work in a school setting and will provide assistance with advanced practicum placement opportunities.
Philanthropy supports diagnosis and treatment of autism
Autism is diagnosed in 1 in 59 children in the United States and the waitlist for services in our region’s largest autism center is nearly a year long. There are not enough providers to meet our community’s needs.
Generous philanthropic donors created the Ventura Endowed Fellowship for Autism Research to support training and education in the field of autism and ultimately increase clinical capacity for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Proposals from applicants are evaluated based on the likelihood that the training and educational experience will increase expertise to serve community needs or increase the number of providers focusing on autism in the region.
Congratulations to the four trainees who received funding from the Ventura Autism Fellowship Fund this year. Shawna Harbin, PhD, a SMART Center postdoctoral scholar, and Hannah Benavidez, a Research in Early Autism Detection and Intervention (READi) Lab graduate student, will use the funds to support training on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a standardized assessment that can help in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders across ages, language skills, cultural backgrounds, and developmental levels. Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows Angela Dahiya-Singh, PhD, and Karís Casagrande, PhD, will use the award to attend the International Society for Autism Research in May 2023 where they will present data on projects related to evidence-based services for families and children with ASD in rural underserved communities and training models to increase capacity in the community for autism services (respectively).
Thank you to Jennifer Gerdts, PhD, Jill Locke, PhD, Fred Shic, PhD, and Sara Jane Webb, PhD, for reviewing applications. A second round of applications will be reviewed March 15, 2023. Contact Dr. Webb (sjwebb@uw.edu) for application materials. For more information about the Ventura Endowed Fellowship for Autism Research please contact David Chow (chowd@uw.edu) Director for Philanthropy for UW Medicine Advancement.
Update: Behavioral Health Support Specialist program Anna Ratzliff, MD, PhD, and Bill O’Connell, EdD, traveled to Olympia earlier this month to testify in support of Senate Bill 5189 to credential a Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS) in Washington. Credentialing is a strategic priority of the Behavioral Health Support Specialist workforce project to support organizations in service recovery and sustaining the BHSS position. Eight colleagues from across the state joined them in testifying to support the bill. Among 60 who signed into the hearing, but did not testify, 58 were for the bill, two were neutral and none opposed. Rep. Callan introduced a bipartisan companion bill in the House (House Bill 1348) which was also heard this month. For more information visit the BHSS project page or contact bhsswa@uw.edu.
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship Match Results
The Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship has risen to one of the top programs in the country under the directorship of Marcella Pascualy, MD, and once again had a fantastic match. When Dr. Pascualy steps down to enjoy retirement this summer, Tom Soeprono, MD, will step in as our new C-L Psychiatry Fellowship Program Director. Thank you to our dedicated faculty whose continuous efforts make this fellowship strong and nationally competitive.
Annie Felhofer, MD
Residency: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard
Ashwin Karnik,MD
Residency: University of Washington, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Emily Schutzenhofer, MD
Residency: George Washington University
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Match Results
We are delighted to announce the 2023 match results for our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency program directed by Ray Hsiao, MD. Our fellows and faculty once again did an amazing job of presenting our program in a favorable and balanced manner. A big thank you to Dr. Hsiao and all the faculty and fellows who prioritized interviews and put in hours of extra work. Their efforts resulted in a truly exceptional class!
Michael Dang, MD
Residency: University of Connecticut Psychiatry Residency Program
Jay Davidson, MD, MPH
Residency: University of New Mexico - Albuquerque, NM
Ellen Kim, MD
Residency: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Grace LaPier, MD
Residency: California Pacific Medical Center,
Sruthi Poduval, MD
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Margaret Wohlleber, MD
Residency: Emory University
Save the date! Spring Faculty Teaching Retreat
This year’s Spring Faculty Teaching Retreat will be held on April 12, 2023 from 1-5 PM at the Center for Urban Horticulture and via Zoom. The focus of this year's Spring Faculty Teaching Retreat will be on cultural psychiatry. We will offer free CE to our attendees and lunch for those attending in person. More details and RSVP will be distributed in the Spring. Please block your schedules now.
Garvey Institute Second Annual Meeting Over 75 researchers, clinicians, educators and supporters attended the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions second annual meeting held last week at South Lake Union. Mike and Lynn Garvey who established the Institute with a $ 50 million foundational gift and their daughter Denise Tabbutt were in the audience as well as President Ana Mari Cauce, Garvey Institute Community Advisory Board members Craig Cole, Rita Egrari, Joe Whittinghill and Ken Worzel, members of our five Faculty Advisory Groups and Jürgen Unützer, Director of the Institute.
The meeting provided an overview of the 36 projects currently funded by Garvey Institute Innovation Grants in the areas of cognitive aging, addictions, trauma, technology and brain health, and adolescent and young adult mental health. Investigators supported by these grants come from 23 departments in 9 schools and colleges across all three UW campuses. Several investigators presented on their work to provide a flavor of what is being accomplished including:
The meeting also gave an overview of a new Clinician Scientist Training Program that will be launching this spring, a new Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry Fellowship Program directed by Michael Schrift, DO, and Mike Persenaire, MD that just received national accreditation, and new and emerging training opportunities in cognitive aging presented by Tom Grabowski, MD, Tim B. Engle Endowed Professor for Brain Health Innovations. Speakers also talked about exciting opportunities on the horizon such as the new Behavioral Health Teaching Facility on the Northwest Campus presented by Ryan Kimmel, MD, powerful new treatment modalities such as neuromodulation and novel therapeutics presented by Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, the expansion of the outpatient psychiatry clinic at UW Medical Center-Roosevelt presented by Amanda Focht, MD, and patient and family education opportunities presented by Mollie Forrester, MSW, LICSW. Becky Sladek, MS, invited all of us to help with networking to recruit the ‘best and brightest’ for the new Behavioral Health Teaching Facility and other new programs we are building over the coming year.
Clinician Scientist Training Program launching soon
Practicing clinicians who are also engaged in research and discovery are central to the development of new solutions for the millions of individuals struggling with mental health and addiction problems around the world. They are also ‘key ingredients’ in our efforts to rapidly translate scientific discoveries into better care for our patients and families, but only a small number of our medical students and psychiatry residents actively participate in research during their training. To bridge this gap, we are launching a new Clinician Scientist Training Program.
The new program is made possible by the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions and support from several other supporters of the department. It will provide pilot grant funding to trainees and faculty mentors for research and early career start-up support for junior faculty members. It will also support a new Clinical Trials Consultation and Technical Assistance Program (C-TAP) to assist trainees and new investigators with study design, implementation and dissemination efforts led by Mary Hatch, PhD. We are completing an internal recruitment for an experienced Clinician Scientist supported by the Garvey Institute’s Mark N. Tabbutt Endowed Professorship for Education in Brain Health who will direct the new program and provide more information once this recruitment is complete. This program is an excellent example of how philanthropic support can help us invest in the future of our department and I encourage you to reach out to David Chow (chowd@uw.edu) or Becky Sladek (rsladek@uw.edu) if you feel this is an effort you would like to support.
D-ELITE Randomized Clinical Trial results published in JAMA Kate Hoerster, PhD, MPH, was first author in a paper published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that showed a remotely delivered self-directed behavioral lifestyle intervention resulted in greater weight loss for adults with obesity than usual care at 12 months, but that the difference is not clinically important. Congratulations to Kate and the entire Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran Centered and Value Driven Care (COIN) team!
Pamela Y. Collins receives 2023 MLK Community Service Award The UW Medicine MLK Community Service Award 2023 honors individuals or groups who exemplify Martin Luther King, Jr.’s principles through commitment to addressing community needs, particularly communities of color and low income; development and implementation of significant programs to improve the human condition; and outstanding efforts to protect and empower all individuals. This year, Pamela Y. Collins, MD, MPH, was one of 11 recipients who received the award.
Dr. Pamela Collins is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington, where she is Executive Director of I-TECH and director of the UW Consortium of Global Health, a joint effort of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Global Health. She is a psychiatrist and mixed methods researcher with 25 years of experience in global public health and global mental health research, education, training and capacity-building, and science policy leadership. Her research has focused on social stigma related to mental illness and its relationship to HIV risk among women of color with severe mental illness; the intersections of mental health with HIV prevention, care, and treatment; and the mental health needs of diverse groups in the US, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is currently the Principal Investigator of EQUIP Nairobi: a pilot implementation of Trauma-Focused CBT in Nairobi, Kenya, part of a more comprehensive effort to meet the mental health needs of children and adolescents in Nairobi.
University of Washington
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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Seattle, WA 98195
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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We are happy to announce that Michelle Lynch will be joining the department as our next Vice Chair for Finance and Administration on March 1. Michelle has spent over 20 years working at the University of Washington, the last 10+ as the Administer of the Division of General Internal Medicine, the largest division within the Department of Medicine. She successfully managed tremendous growth over the past few years including navigating the 2020 integration of the UWMC Northwest campus and UW Primary Care into the Department of Medicine and launching two new fellowship programs (Academic Hospital Medicine and Addiction Medicine). Among other roles, she has served as the Interim Administrator for the division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition (Department of Medicine); Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the Senior Vice President, Finance and Facilities; a Policy Development Analyst in the Office of Planning and Budgeting; and a Financial Analyst and Fee Schedule Manager with Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound.
Olivia Amestoy (she/her/hers) joined the department in January 2023 as a Graduate Research Study Assistant at the Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center at Harborview. Olivia received her Bachelor’s at UW and is back for her MSW. Go dawgs! As a Veteran herself, Olivia also works at the Seattle VA ERIC doing research with Vietnam-Era Veterans. Outside of work, Olivia enjoys checking out restaurants all around Seattle and being outside. If you would like to reach out to Olivia and say hello, her email is 
Eric Boelter, PhD (he/him/his) joined the department in January 2023 as a Clinical Professor and lead Psychologist developing a new subunit in the PBMU at Seattle Children’s. This new unit will specialize in the assessment and treatment of children/adolescents with intellectual and developmental delays, including autism and related disorders, who are admitted for severe challenging behavior. Dr. Boelter completed his doctoral degree at the University of Iowa and then a postdoc fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University. In 2010, he came to the Seattle Children’s Autism Center and developed the Biobehavioral Program to work with children/adolescents with IDD and challenging behavior. He has directed that program for the past 12 years prior to shifting to the PBMU. Outside of work, Dr. Boelter loves to get out into the mountains with his wife and two children. If you would like to reach out to Dr. Boelter and say hello, his email is 
Makayla Dehmer (she/her/hers) joined the department in January 2023 as a Research Assistant for the Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors (CSHRB). Makayla will be working at Project MAC where she will be helping Katherine Walukevich-Dienst in her endeavors to create an accurate and consistent measure of momentary affect to be used in future cannabis use research. Makayla is a recent graduate from the UW, as of March of 2022. She previously worked in CSHRB as an undergraduate Research Assistant for Jessica Canning in the College Alcohol and Peers Study. Makayla hopes to continue to explore the research world and ultimately pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of work, Makayla loves to practice yoga, go for runs, cook and read. She treasured her time at UW as a student and is looking forward to continuing her time at UW as an employee. If you would like to reach out to Makayla and say hello, her email is 
Connor Gallik, PhD (he/him/his) joined the department in October 2022 as an Attending Psychologist for the adolescent pod on the psychiatry and behavioral medicine unit (PBMU). Dr. Gallik completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children and adolescents at the University of Connecticut. He completed his clinical internship at Pacific University followed by a 1-year postdoctoral fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital. At SCH, he provided consultation, assessment, individual therapy, and program development for the PBMU and served as an individual therapist and group facilitator in the adolescent DBT program. Additionally, he provided mental health assessment and ongoing support for youth pursuing gender affirming medical care at the SCH Gender Clinic. Dr. Gallik’s research focuses on understanding factors related to the mental health and wellbeing of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth. Clinically, he is interested in working with children, adolescents, and their families, with a focus on TGD youth. He also provides training in TGD affirming care for mental health and medical professionals and speaks to community audiences about supporting transgender youth. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outside with his dog Ghost, cooking and baking, gardening, and rock climbing. Dr. Gallik and his husband have recently taken up pickleball which they’ve been enjoying a lot! If you would like to reach out to Dr. Gallik and say hello, his email is 
Yasmin Landa (she/her/hers) joined the department in December 2022 as a Research Study Assistant at the School Mental Health Assessment, Research, & Training (SMART) Center. She is a recent graduate from the University of Washington, where she earned a BA in Psychology and Sociology. As an undergraduate, Yasmin conducted an independent research project exploring the effects of in-patient psychiatric socio-physical experiences on treatment engagement posthospitalization. This research coupled with her work experience at Newport Academy, an adolescent treatment center, sparked an interest in mental health intervention with a focus on youth. She now assists in projects such as VIBRANT & BASIS that focus on mental health research and interventions in school systems. During her free time, Yasmin enjoys de-stressing with a good book, painting, gaming, and spending time with her dog and loved ones. If you would like to reach out to Yasmin and say hello, her email is 
Emily Mossberg (she/her/hers) joined the department in January 2023 as a Technology Transfer Specialist for the Opioid Response Network within the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI). Emily will be prioritizing response to requests for assistance from indigenous communities. Emily completed her MPH and has a background in prevention science and harm-reduction. The bulk of her previous public health experience involved planning, implementing and evaluating local prevention programs targeting substance misuse and problem gambling. She is passionate about incorporating a trauma-informed lens and working to reduce stigma around substance misuse. Outside of work, Emily enjoys being in nature, reading, yoga, trying new recipes, and connecting with loved ones. If you would like to reach out to Emily and say hello, her email is 
Kyle Payne (he/him/his) joined the department in January 2023 as a Continuing Education Coordinator/PACT Trainer for the Supporting Psychosis Innovation through Research, Implementation, and Training (SPIRIT) lab at Harborview. Kyle’s prior work includes providing services in community mental health settings with a specialization in supported education and employment. Kyle worked for the New Journeys program for over five years as a Supported Education and Employment Specialist in multiple settings. He attended The Evergreen State College and graduated with a BA in Psychology with a focus on Human Relations. Outside of work, Kyle enjoys playing music, spoiling his cat and attending concerts. If you would like to reach out to Kyle and say hello, his email is 
David Reed, PhD (he/him/his) joined the department in January 2023 as a Data Analyst for Patricia Arean’s lab. Dr. Reed is a Clinical Psychologist by training and a fellow at VA Puget Sound in the Health Services Research & Development Department. He received his undergraduate degree from University of South Carolina in Experimental Psychology and his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University. His current research centers around bringing more human, holistic and well-being focused perspectives to health care while focusing on two interconnected areas of investigation: 1) psychosocial self-regulatory mechanisms of the mind-body connection (e.g., meaning-making) among individuals with complex co-occurring physical and mental health conditions and 2) developing and testing mind-body interventions that improve physical and emotional well-being. Outside of work, Dr. Reed enjoys running, camping, music, art and horror films. If you would like to reach out to Dr. Reed and say hello, his email is 
Washington state is grappling with a mental health crisis among youth. A statewide questionnaire of students across grade levels showed that in 2021, 45% of Washington 12th graders reported feeling depressed (sad and hopeless), an increase of four percentage points since 2018.
Anna Ratzliff, MD, PhD, and Bill O’Connell, EdD, traveled to Olympia earlier this month to testify in support of Senate Bill 5189 to credential a Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS) in Washington. Credentialing is a strategic priority of the Behavioral Health Support Specialist workforce project to support organizations in service recovery and sustaining the BHSS position. Eight colleagues from across the state joined them in testifying to support the bill. Among 60 who signed into the hearing, but did not testify, 58 were for the bill, two were neutral and none opposed. Rep. Callan introduced a bipartisan companion bill in the House (House Bill 1348) which was also heard this month. For more information visit the 
Over 75 researchers, clinicians, educators and supporters attended the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions second annual meeting held last week at South Lake Union. Mike and Lynn Garvey who established the Institute with a $ 50 million foundational gift and their daughter Denise Tabbutt were in the audience as well as President Ana Mari Cauce, Garvey Institute 
Kate Hoerster, PhD, MPH, was first author in a 
The