Heather Brennan, Ph.D., is the CEO of PracticeWise. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the medical industry with a focus on strategic direction and business growth in women’s health and wellness. Prior to joining PracticeWise, Dr. Brennan has held a variety of executive leadership positions including serving as the VP/General Manager of MTF Biologics’ Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Franchise, where she drove significant growth and solidified a leadership spot for the company in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Dr. Brennan is passionate about advancing the field of behavioral health and enhancing patient outcomes through scientific evidence. She graduated from Lehigh University with a Mechanical Engineering degree and from Rutgers University with her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering.
David Daleiden, MBA, is the Vice President of Finance and Operations for PracticeWise, and serves on the Executive Management team. David has been working with PracticeWise since 2007 in various administrative and financial roles. He currently handles all financial and accounting functions. David has his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA from Loyola Chicago.
Allison R. Love, Ph.D., is the Training Manager for PracticeWise, and serves on the Professional Development and Services and Product Development teams. Dr. Love obtained her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, and a B.S. in psychology from the College of Charleston. She pursued predoctoral internship and postdoctoral training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and completed an additional postdoctoral year as a Harvard Medical Fellow at Judge Baker Children’s Center. Dr. Love’s clinical and research interests center on implementation and quality improvement within systems of care, and empirically-based services for children and adolescents with a specific focus on trauma and disruptive behavior.
Aparajita (Tuma) Kuriyan, Ph.D., is the Manager of Research and Products for PracticeWise. Dr. Kuriyan completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Florida International University and a clinical internship at Citrus Health Network, in Miami, FL. Dr. Kuriyan specialized in child psychology during her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center and received her B.A. in Psychology and English at the University of Rochester. Prior to her position at PracticeWise, Dr. Kuriyan was a faculty member at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Her research focused on bringing evidence-based treatments to community settings (e.g. schools) and on engaging families in youth mental health.
Gabby Lampe, MBA, is the Director of Marketing and Communications for PracticeWise. She has 15 years of experience in various aspects of marketing and previously worked for Forest Institute of Professional Psychology and Missouri State University in the areas of community engagement, health and human services, and advancement. Gabby received her B.S. in Marketing and MBA from Missouri State University. She has a passion for building strong communities, creating awareness, and spreading kindness.
Rebecca Jackson is the Business Manager for PracticeWise. She earned her B.S. from Ashford University in Psychology. Rebecca has 15 years of experience with project management and implementation. Previously, she worked for Intellectual Medicine and New England Center for Pediatric Psychology in the areas of research project implementation and account management. She has a passion for pediatric mental health and relationship building.
Cheri Sofia, MBA, is the Associate Operations Manager for PracticeWise, and a member of the Administrative Team. With a background in nonprofit management specializing in maternal, infant, and child health, she brings valuable experience in operations and organizational efficiency. Cheri holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an MBA from Western Governors University.
Monica Whitehead, Ph.D., is the Associate Training Manager for PracticeWise. With over eight years of experience in direct care with child and adolescents across the care continuum from prevention to crisis intervention, she brings invaluable expertise to our team. In addition, she has led continuing education efforts to increase knowledge of and access to evidence-based treatments across settings including but not limited to primary care clinics, schools, and community mental health agencies. Dr. Whitehead is dedicated to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practice particularly in relation to youth with anxiety and behavioral disorders. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Georgia and completed her internship and fellowship at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania.
Kaoru Powell, Ph.D., MBA., is the Associate Implementation Manager for PracticeWise. Dr. Powell completed their Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Montana, their MBA at Southern New Hampshire University, and their BA in Psychology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Their research interests are focused on improving the quality of children’s behavioral health through implementation of evidence-based practices in systems of care and characterizing treatment-as-usual. Prior to PracticeWise, Dr. Powell served as the Assistant Director at a Hawai’i-based nonprofit that supported local caregivers, guiding operational development and business growth. Dr. Powell’s clinical practice focuses on child and adolescent assessment for neurodevelopmental concerns.
Rebbeka Carmona, is a Project Coordinator for PracticeWise. She earned her B.A. in Applied Psychology at The University of Illinois at Chicago. She has worked as a research assistant in several labs where she engaged in community mental health research for ethnic and racial minority youth and adults. Outside of work, Rebbeka enjoys hiking alongside her corgi, traveling, and catching a nice sunset on the coast.
Emma Smith, M.S., is the Learning Coordinator for PracticeWise. She received her B.A. in psychology from Newberry College and her M.S. in forensic psychology from Arizona State University. Emma has previously worked for the state of South Carolina in health and human services. She has a passion for volunteering and reducing the stigma of mental health issues.
Kimberly Becker, Ph.D., serves on the Services and Products Development, Special Projects, Professional Development, and Research and Evaluation teams at PracticeWise. Dr. Becker is currently an associate professor at the University of South Carolina Department of Psychology. Dr. Becker received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Arizona following her undergraduate studies at the College of William & Mary. Her research has focused on family engagement, evidence-based clinical decision-making, and school-based services.
Adam Bernstein, Ph.D., is a Senior Consultant for PracticeWise. Dr. Bernstein provides leadership and direction for clinical products via the Services and Products Development teams, and serves as a lead trainer on the Professional Development team. He holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and received a coterminal B.A. in computer science and M.A. in psychology from Stanford University. Dr. Bernstein's research has focused on helping service systems inform selection of evidence-based treatments to benefit as many youths and families as possible in their unique local service populations.
Ari Blum, MSW, LCSW-C, serves as a lead trainer on the Professional Development team for PracticeWise. Ari Blum also works for the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services as the Chief of the Bureau of Behavioral Health. Ari has an interest in the implementation of evidence-based practices for youth and families. He received his master's degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Additionally, Ari maintains a private practice where he works with children and families and was an adjunct faculty for the University of Maryland, School of Social Work and Stevenson University.
Teri Bourdeau, Ph.D., ABPP, is Senior Consultant for PracticeWise, and serves on the Services and Products teams. Dr. Bourdeau received her B.A. in psychology and her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Tulsa. She completed a psychology internship in the department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical School and a pediatric and clinical psychology postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Bourdeau was an Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and also engaged in private practice prior to assuming her current position with PracticeWise.
Amanda Bowling, Ph.D., serves as a literature validator on the Services and Products Development team at PracticeWise. With 15 years of psychology research experience, she brings invaluable expertise to our team. Amanda’s research focuses on increasing the accessibility of evidence-based services to underserved youth, primarily through the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices in community settings. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oregon's Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health. She obtained her doctorate degree in child clinical and school psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and completed her internship at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on the integrated behavioral health track. She earned her B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley in psychology with honors and minored in English and education.
Alexandra Burgess, Ph.D., serves in many capacities on the Services and Products Development and Professional Development teams at PracticeWise, LLC. Dr. Burgess earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at Worcester State University. Her research interests include childhood perfectionism, youth anxiety disorder assessment and treatment, and the intersection of mental health with experiences of inequality and systems of oppression.
Esther Chao McKee, Ph.D., LCSW, is an independent consultant for PracticeWise. She received her B.S. from Oklahoma State University, her MSSW from the University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida. Dr. Chao McKee is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience practicing in hospital settings. As the clinical director of Bay Area Youth Services, she oversaw therapeutic services and programs helping children and families involved in Florida’s juvenile justice system. Dr. Chao McKee is also an Approved Supervisor for social work licensure in Florida and has taught university students in practice courses as well as field training.
Taya Cromley, Ph.D., serves on the Services and Products Development and Professional Development teams. She currently works as an independent consultant, focusing on the integration of behavioral health in primary care. Dr. Cromley was previously an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton and served as a subject matter expert in the implementation of evidence-based practice within the military health system. She was the co-director of the Child STEPs Project and completed her postdoctoral work at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Cromley received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Northwestern University and completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University.
Halina Dour, Ph.D., is a literature coder for PracticeWise. With over a decade of experience in evidence-based psychotherapy, she brings invaluable expertise to our team. She is the owner of The Center for Genuine Growth, PLLC - a multi-state telehealth psychotherapy practice. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also spent a year engaging in research projects as a graduate student in the Child FIRST Lab.
Ashley Fabeck, M.A., is an independent consultant with PracticeWise. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and received her master’s degree from Pepperdine University. Ashley is a clinical coordinator with Pacific Clinics in Los Angeles and a lead trainer of their clinical foundations training series. Her clinical work during the past ten years has focused on helping children and their families within a community mental health setting. Ashley’s clinical interests include treatment of complex trauma, depression, and anxiety using evidence-based practices, specifically within the transitional age youth population.
Shantel Fernandez Lopez, Ph.D., is a Training Professional and Consultant on the Professional Development Team. She received her B.A. from the University of Hawaii. Her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology were earned from the University of Tulsa. Dr. Fernandez Lopez completed her internship at the Medical University of South Carolina Consortium and postdoctoral fellowship at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC). Dr. Fernandez Lopez is currently a Military Behavioral Health Child Psychologist, Assistant Professor at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. She was on the faculty at TAMC, engaged in direct clinical care in private and community practices, and taught university students. Dr. Fernandez Lopez is also a trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.
Kayla Gorenstein, M.A., is a literature coder on the Service and Products Development Team at PracticeWise. She received her clinical psychology M.A. from California State University Northridge and is currently pursuing her Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California. Her primary research interest is cultural neuropsychology, and she hopes to provide culturally adapted neuropsychological testing for ethnically diverse communities in the future.
Hilary M. Gould, Ph.D., serves as a literature coder on the Development team at PracticeWise. She received her Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles and completed a respecialization program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in clinical psychology. Dr. Gould is a licensed psychologist and works in the Community Psychiatry Program at the University of California, San Diego where she supports training and supervision of psychiatric residents and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. Her research has focused on evidence-based practices in assessment and treatment and interdisciplinary education.
Karen Guan, Ph.D. serves on the Professional Development and Services and Products Development teams at PracticeWise. Dr. Guan is a licensed clinical psychologist focused on improving healthcare quality for underserved consumers. As Director of Learning at Pacific Clinics, she oversees internal learning needs for 2,000+ employees at California's largest non-profit behavioral health agency, including the MAP-based Clinical Foundations program. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Charmaine Higa-McMillan, Ph.D., is a Senior Consultant for PracticeWise. With over 20 years of experience in clinical psychology, she brings invaluable expertise in evidence-based practice implementation, training, and professional development. Dr. Higa-McMillan serves on the Products and Services teams and has extensive experience developing and leading the On-Demand Learning and Practice Guide workgroups. She is also a Lead Trainer and Consultant for MAP and MATCH. In addition to her work at PracticeWise, she is a professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, where she directs the Master’s Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, focusing on training future mental health professionals. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Tulsa after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
Tamar Kreps, Ph.D., is a literature coder at PracticeWise. She is an Associate Professor of Management and Industrial Relations at the Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Kreps earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and PhD in Business from Stanford University. In her research and practice, she focuses on improving inclusion, diversity, and access in both organizations and evidence-based mental health services.
Michelle C. Levy, Ph.D., serves on the Professional Development team at PracticeWise, as a consultant and associate trainer and serves on the Services and Products Development team. She completed her postdoctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles, as a co-director of the Child STEPs Project focused on youth mental health. Dr. Levy received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Purdue University and completed internship at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. Her research and clinical interests focus on parenting practices, child anxiety and the treatment of trauma in youth. She currently works with children, families and adults in a private practice setting.
Tina Listro, Ed.M., M.A., LMFT, serves as a Consultant for PracticeWise with 17 years of experience in the field of mental health, she brings invaluable expertise to our team. She graduated from California State University Northridge with bachelor's degrees in child development and psychology coupled with her initial master's degree in educational psychology. She then graduated from Phillips Graduate University with an additional master's degree in clinical psychology. Tina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who also provides clinical supervision to Interns and Associates within the framework of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health contracted agencies. Tina is dedicated to working with children and families in all generalized environments to facilitate overall growth and development through data driven evidence-based practices. Tina also actively advocates for essential resources to help families continue to thrive.
Alexander Lower, M.Ed., serves as a coder and screener on the Services and Products Development Team. He studied psychology and engineering design at Northwestern University and math education at Xavier University. Alex is an educational consultant and curriculum developer under the moniker Mental Math by Alex. His research interests include child psychopathology, social-emotional learning, and the development of broad-based prevention programs in schools. Alex appreciates the exposure to current literature that PracticeWise offers and how the literature informs and expands his own interests and perspective, especially as he pursues further education in psychology.
Brad J. Nakamura, Ph.D., is a Services and Products Development team member at PracticeWise. Dr. Nakamura currently is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). Dr. Nakamura is also the co-director of the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy at the UHM, a research, training, and therapy clinic. Currently he is also co-chair of the State of Hawaii Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division’s (CAMHD) Evidence-Based Services (EBS) Committee, an interdisciplinary network focused on promoting evidence-based practices.
Emily Olson, B.A., is a literature coder for PracticeWise. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Her primary research interests include the etiology and treatment of anxiety disorders and body dysmorphic disorder. She recently worked as a research coordinator for the San Francisco VA Medical Center on studies examining sleep apnea, insomnia, PTSD, and chronic pain in Veterans.
Sydney Pauling, M.A., serves as a literature validator and screener on the Services and Products Development team at PracticeWise. She is a doctoral candidate in the School/Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Texas at Austin. Sydney is interested in understanding the various overarching systems that promote (or hinder) patient access to evidence-based mental health services. In the future, she hopes to work as a liaison across various systems of healthcare to bridge the science-practice gap and optimize child and adolescent wellbeing.
Jennifer Regan, Ph.D., serves in multiple roles on the Services and Products Development team for PracticeWise, LLC. She received her B.A. in psychology from Johns Hopkins University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently providing consultation services related to implementing evidence-based practices and quality metrics into digital healthcare. She has previously worked in training and research, quality improvement, and clinical operations across nonprofit, government, and industry settings. She also continues to serve individuals and families in her private practice, specializing in anxiety disorders for children, adolescents, and young adults.
Melissa Sovak, PsyD, is an independent consultant with PracticeWise. She is an outpatient psychologist and supervisor in the doctoral training program at Washburn Center for Children in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Sovak is also a MAP Training Professional and provides trainings and consultation for the state of Minnesota. She completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology in 2010. Melissa provides psychological testing and individual and family outpatient therapy services for children and adolescents. Melissa’s clinical interests include trauma, anxiety, and disruptive behaviors.
Cameo F. Stanick, Ph.D., serves on the Professional Development team at PracticeWise, as a lead trainer and consultant. With over 2 decades of experience in mental health, Dr. Stanick brings invaluable expertise to our team. Dr. Stanick is a licensed clinical psychologist and Senior Director of Behavioral Health Implementation and Innovation at CharacterStrong. Dr. Stanick received her Ph.D. from the University of Tulsa and was co-Director on the Child STEPs study. She was also an Associate Professor in the Psychology department at the University of Montana from 2009-2016, where she is now affiliate faculty. Dr. Stanick was Vice President of the Training and Implementation Practice Department at Sycamores, a large children’s mental health agency in Southern California, from 2016 to 2024. She joined CharacterStrong in 2024. Dr. Stanick’s work focuses on dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for youth mental health, with particular emphasis on trauma exposure and traumatic stress in children and adolescents.
Taylor Thompson, Ph.D., serves as a distance learning developer on the Services and Products Development team, a coding validator for the PWEBS team, and a monthly contributor to the blog for the Marketing and Communications team at PracticeWise. She is a licensed psychologist and is currently an assistant clinical professor at Florida State University College of Medicine in the Office of Student Counseling Services. She earned her M.A. from Wake Forest University and her Ph.D. in counseling psychology and school psychology from Florida State University. Dr. Thompson’s clinical interests include anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and family relationships. Her research interests center on diverse youth, including Asian American adolescents, gifted and talented children, and college students with disabilities.
Janelle L. Wagner, Ph.D.,is a Senior Consultant for PracticeWise. With 22 years of experience in pediatric psychology, she brings invaluable expertise to our team. Janelle has focused her clinical and research career on behavioral health evaluation and treatment for youth with epilepsy. She has authored over 100 papers and book chapters and holds leadership roles in national and international epilepsy and pediatric psychology communities. At PracticeWise, Janelle serves on the Professional Development and Product and Development team. She received her BA from Wake Forest University and her MS and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Abby Winnier serves as a literature coder on the Services and Products development team. She received a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences and a bachelor's in Latin American Cultures and Languages (Spanish) at The University of Texas at Austin in 2022. She currently works as a full-time Research Associate under Dr. Sarah Kate Bearman in the Educational Psychology department at UT Austin. Abby's research interests center on improving child outcomes by strengthening the home-school connection in educational settings and providing sustainable, culturally aligned care in youth mental health settings.
Bruce Chorpita, Ph.D., is the President and co-founder of PracticeWise, LLC. He has worked in multiple academic and government leadership positions related to children’s mental health and practice improvement. Dr. Chorpita currently holds the position of Professor of Psychology, at the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York. Dr. Chorpita is widely published in the areas of children's mental health services, and he has held research and training grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Hawaii Departments of Education and Health, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the William T. Grant Foundation. He founded PracticeWise out of a commitment to making knowledge and science work better to improve the lives of children and families.
Eric Daleiden, Ph.D., is a co-founder and partner of PracticeWise, LLC. He has worked extensively in strategic and operational management and has held leadership positions in the academy, government, and the private sector. Along with Dr. Chorpita, he is the chief architect of the PracticeWise products and services. Dr. Daleiden holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and has published numerous scientific papers and technical reports. His personal mission is to improve the lives of youth and families through better understanding and delivery of behavioral health services.
Sharon Gabrielson, BSN, M.A., is the non-executive chair of the board of PracticeWise. She is the founder and CEO of SRG Associates, LLC, a board and C suite advisory firm focused on value creation, strategic growth, and corporate governance. Sharon has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the health care sector including operational management, strategic planning, and commercialization of products and services. She holds a BSN from Winona State University, and an MA from Saint Mary's University. She has experience as an independent board director for numerous public and private companies.
Heather Brennan, Ph.D., is the CEO of PracticeWise. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the medical industry with a focus on strategic direction and business growth in women’s health and wellness. Prior to joining PracticeWise, Dr. Brennan has held a variety of executive leadership positions including serving as the VP/General Manager of MTF Biologics’ Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Franchise, where she drove significant growth and solidified a leadership spot for the company in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Dr. Brennan is passionate about advancing the field of behavioral health and enhancing patient outcomes through scientific evidence. She graduated from Lehigh University with a Mechanical Engineering degree and from Rutgers University with her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering.
Mary Clark is the founder of Clark Partnership LLC, a consulting firm specializing in the cross sector between health plans and healthcare providers. As a versatile, industry thought leader working with national and regional health plans, her focus is on innovative contracting strategies yielding profitable growth for providers. Mary has 35 years of executive leadership experience with global companies including UnitedHealthcare and Healthways. She has a keen understanding of boards in both strategy setting and governance serving on non-profit, advisory and association boards. Mary is actively involved in her community serving as Chair of the Finance Committee for the Women’s Giving Alliance. She and her husband Chuck reside in Jacksonville, FL and have two grown daughters.
Fred Goldstein is the founder and president of Accountable Health, LLC, a healthcare consulting firm focused on population health. He has over 30 years of experience in population health, disease management, HMO and hospital operations. He is a member of the Graduate Faculty of the John D. Bower School of Population Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the editorial Board of the journal Population Health Management, and the Best Practices Review Panel for the Institute for Medicaid Innovation. Fred co-founded and serves as a judge for the Health Value Awards and is Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Population Health Alliance. He received his MS in Health Care Administration from Trinity University and a BA in Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dennis Morrison, PhD, is the owner of Morrison Consulting, specializing in behavioral health information technology. With over 40 years of experience, Dennis has held key leadership roles, including Chief Clinical Officer at Netsmart Technologies and CEO at Centerstone Research Institute. He is a TEDx speaker, podcast host, and co-inventor of a patented behavioral health outcomes software product. A Ball State University Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Dennis also served as a U.S. Navy Aerospace Physiologist, training TOPGUN pilots. An avid pilot and triathlete, he has completed 19 triathlons since turning 70.
Laura Neuenschwander is the Director of Global Inclusion and Diversity at Medtronic. In this role she is focused on creating programs, policies and processes to drive gender & ethnic equity at Medtronic. She has more than 25 years of experience in HR, marketing, and the medical device industry. In 2000, Laura and her husband founded a non-profit organization, Tix for Tots, which has given away over 500,000 tickets to children-in-need in the Twin Cities area. She has also served on the board for Empower Leadership Academy for girls and currently sits on the advisory board for Linkage’s Women In Leadership. Laura has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Speech from St. Cloud State University and a master’s degree in business from the University of St. Thomas. She and her husband have three children, Charlie, (17), Maya (17) and Lauren (14) and spend the bulk of their spare time keeping up with their busy teenager schedules.
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