Stakeholders Advisory Board
Stakeholders advisory board provides input from policy makers about implementation processes and helps make sure OPAL work will be useful to policy makers and clinicians, and helpful to patients and their families.
National Stakeholder Advisory Board Members:
Patricia E. Deegan, Ph.D.
Owner of Pat Deegan & Associates
Adjunct professor at the Dartmouth Institute, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College.
Dr. Deegan is a principal with Pat Deegan & Associates. For over 30 years she has been a thought leader and disruptive innovator in the field behavioral health recovery. Pat founded a health technology company run by and for people in recovery. The mission: To bring consumer voice and choice to the center of the clinical care team. Toward this end she developed the CommonGround Approach that includes the Hearing Distressing Voices Simulation, the award winning CommonGround Software, the online Recovery Library and the CommonGround Academy. Pat is an activist in the disability rights movement and has lived her own journey of recovery after being diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager. She is an Adjunct Professor at The Dartmouth Institute, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Duquesne University
Sherry Glied, Ph.D.
Dean, Professor of Public Service, Wagner School of Public Service, New York University
In 2013, Dr. Glied was named Dean of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. From 1989-2013, she was Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She was Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management from 1998-2009. On June 22, 2010, Dr. Glied was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services, and served in that capacity from July 2010 through August 2012. She had previously served as Senior Economist for health care and labor market policy on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers in 1992-1993, under Presidents Bush and Clinton, and participated in the Clinton Health Care Task Force. She has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Social Insurance, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and served as a member of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. In 2021, the Association of University Programs in Health Administration selected her as the recipient of the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research. Glied is also a member of the Board of NRXPharmaceuticals.
Dr. Glied’s principal areas of research are in health policy reform and mental health care policy.
Brian M. Hepburn, M.D.
Executive Director, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
Dr. Hepburn has been the Executive Director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) since July 2015. He previously was the Director of the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA) from 2002 to 2014 and that position became the Director of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) July 2014. Dr. Hepburn was the Clinical Director for MHA from 1996 to 2002. He was also the Director of Psychiatric Education and Training for MHA from 1987 to 1997. Dr. Hepburn received his M.D. degree in 1979 from the University of Michigan School of Medicine and received Residency Training in Psychiatry at the University of Maryland from 1979 to 1983. He was a Full-Time Faculty Member at the University of Maryland from 1983 to 1988 and has been on the Volunteer faculty at the University of Maryland since 1988. He maintained a private practice from 1983 until 2004.
Ruth S. Shim, MD, MPH.
Luke & Grace Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Dean of Diverse and Inclusive Education
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
Ruth Shim, MD, MPH is the Luke & Grace Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Calfornia, Davis. She also serves as Associate Dean of Diverse and Inclusive Education at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Shim received an MPH in health policy from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and an MD from Emory University School of Medicine. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Association for Community Psychiatry. She serves on the Research And Evaluation Committee of the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.
She serves on the Editorial Boards of JAMA Psychiatry, Psychiatric Services, Community Mental Health Journal, and American Psychiatric Publishing, and is co-editor of the books, The Social Determinants of Mental Health, and the recently published, Social (In)Justice and Mental Health. She is a former fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program, and an at-large member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Dr. Shim’s research focuses on mental health disparities and inequities, and she provides clinical psychiatric care in the UC Davis Early Diagnosis and Preventative Treatment (EDAPT) Clinic.
Ann Marie T. Sullivan, MD.
Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health
Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan has served as Commissioner for the New York State Office of Mental Health since 2014. New York State has a large, multi-faceted mental health system that serves more than 700,000 individuals each year. The Office of Mental Health (OMH) operates psychiatric centers across the State, and also oversees more than 4,500 community programs, including inpatient and outpatient programs, emergency, community support, residential and family care programs. As Commissioner, she has guided the transformation of the state hospital system in its emphasis on recovery and expansion of community based treatment, reinvesting over 60 million dollars in community services. Working closely with all mental health providers and health plans, she is responsible for the movement of the health benefit for the seriously mentally ill into managed care beginning October 2015. This new Health and Recovery Plan (HARP) benefit will embed in the Medicaid benefit critical recovery services such as crisis respite, peer, educational and employment supports. She has also been instrumental in expanding services for the mentally ill in prisons and in expanding the much needed community based continuum of care for the seriously mentally ill leaving prison and returning to their community.
Previously, she was the Senior Vice President for the Queens Health Network of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. As Senior Vice President, she was responsible for Elmhurst and Queens Hospital Centers, two public hospitals which serve a community of over 2 million New York City residents. Along with ensuring the seamless integration and coordination of services across the Network, Dr. Sullivan aligned and helped to implement key corporate programs such as the Care Management Initiative on the inpatient units and in the emergency services; the launching of best practices to improve patient safety; and the integration of behavioral health and medical services.
Dr. Sullivan is an active advocate for her patients and her profession, is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has served as the Speaker of the American Psychiatric Association’s Assembly and on its Board of Trustees. She is a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, a member of the American College of Psychiatrists and the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry.
Local Provider Stakeholder Advisory Board Members:
Mansour (Max) Banilivy, Ph.D. Vice President of Education, Training & Client/staff Wellbeing at WellLife Network in New York City and Long Island.
Dr. Banilivy has been providing comprehensive multidisciplinary behavioral and emotional health services, training and consultation nationally to school districts, private and nonprofit community as well as government including military agencies .
His education at the highest level includes postdoctoral training in eating disorders and family therapy at the Harvard Medical School’s Children’s Hospital and Judge Baker Guidance Center. Dr. Banilivy’s specialty areas include but are not limited to Clinical training of mental health professionals, Coping/Resiliency , Couples/Marriage/Sex therapy, Self Injury and Assessment, Management and Prevention of Suicide through training and education.
He speaks widely on a variety of topics. Dr. Banilivy is currently spending much of his time, regionally as well as at the state and national level training the community members and professionals on suicide risk identification, prevention, intervention, and postvention. He has published and served on the boards of professional organizations. Dr. Banilivy was the co-chair of the Consortium of SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINERS for New York State until 2015 which focused on education/training for suicide prevention. He is also on the executive board of the SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION of Long Island (SPCLI), having developed a website, and being responsible for the coordination of training and education for the region. An annual suicide prevention conference is organized as part of the focus of this board. He has been recognized for his work in the field of suicide prevention by the Livingworks Organization as the trainer of the year in 2009 and by the New York State Suicide Prevention Center (SPC) in 2011 for Excellence in Suicide Prevention.
Michael Blady, LCSW-R, Principal, Michael Blady Consulting, LLC.
Michael Blady, LCSW-R, is a clinical, training and program development consultant, and therapist. He was the Chief Operating Officer at The Bridge from 2012-2020. Prior to his tenure at The Bridge, Michael was Associate Executive Vice President at the Institute for Community Living, and Vice President of Clinical Operations at Safe Space. In his 40+ year career in human services as a clinician, supervisor, manager, and agency leader Michael has worked with adults, children, and families across the spectrum of social service needs. Michael is an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College where he teaches clinical practice to students in the Organization, Management and Leadership program. He is also on the faculty of the Academy for Justice-Informed Practice, CUCS, and consultant for the Center for Practice Innovations. Michael is a graduate of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Services, class of 1978.
John Bennett, LCSW-R, Director of Certified Community Behavioral Health Services at Access: Supports for Living
John Bennett, LCSW-R, is the Director of Certified Community Behavioral Health Services at Access: Supports for Living, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant recipient. Mr. Bennett oversees the delivery of services in the Hudson Valley, including outpatient counseling centers, PROS programs, mobile mental health teams, Behavioral Health Urgent Care Centers, Home and Community Based Services, and a first episode psychosis program. He received his MSW from New York University and has training in Interpersonal Therapy from the W.A. White Institute, as well as training in Open Dialogue, EMDR, CBT, DBT and gestalt therapy. Before coming to Access, he was the director of mental health at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, and a regional director of psychosocial services at the Institute for Family Health. He also sings bass in several community choirs.
Katariina Hoaas, LCSW. Chief Clinical Officer at Access: Supports for Living Inc
Ms. Hoaas began her career with Access in 2008 and currently oversees more than $20 million of the day-to-day operations of the agency. She provides strategic leadership and business development to Access’s Article 31 Mental Health Clinics, Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS), Mental Health Residential and Case Management, Mobile Mental Health Teams, Child Welfare, and Foster Care and provides clinical leadership to services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ms. Hoaas is committed to customer service engagement and excellence, evidence-based and outcome-driven practices, and ensuring that the voices of people served and their identified families are always well represented. A native of Finland, Ms. Hoaas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of New York having received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, in 1995.
Virna Little, PSyD, LCSW-r, SAP, CCM, co founder concert health and co founder and chief operating officer of Zero Overdose
Dr. Little is currently the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Concert Health, a national organization providing behavioral health services to primary care providers and the co-founder of Zero Overdose, a not for profit addressing the national crisis of unintentional overdoses. Prior Dr. Little worked for 22 years as a Senior Vice President for a large FQHC network in New York overseeing over 300 behavioral health and community staff and worked for New York City Health and Hospitals as a citywide family violence coordinator. She has a Doctoral degree in Psychology, a Masters in Social Work, a Masters in Business Administration and Healthcare, is a Certified Care Manager(CCM) and a recognized Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).
Dr. Little is a nationally and internationally known speaker for her work in integrating primary care and behavioral health, developing sustainable integrated delivery systems and suicide prevention. Dr. Little was a member of the University of Washington AIMS center and National Council for Community Behavioral Health consulting teams. She is also a faculty member for the national and international Zero Suicide initiatives and has spoken on national suicide prevention strategies at the White House.
Dr. Little is a consultant providing technical assistance to organizations and states around the country integrating primary care and behavioral health as well as an expert on the Collaborative Care model and the implementation of depression care programs. Dr. Little has been recognized with awards from the Society for Social Work Leaders in HealthCare, National Association of Social Workers , Community Health Center Network of New York, New York Suicide Prevention Committee and others. She has served on many boards including the New York Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Heart Association and the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved.
Recent publications include Commentary on substance use disorders and risk of suicide in a general US population: a case control study by Lynch et al., June 2020, Addiction Science & Clinical Practice; The National Health Service Corps at 50: A Legacy of Impact in Partnership with The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved., May 2020, Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved; COVID-19 Impact on Behavioral Health: Collaborative Care Is An Essential, Cost-Effective Solution, April 2020, The Chartis Group Publication; Clinicians perceptions of telephone-delivered mental health services, Dec 6, 2019, Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice.
Nadjete Natchaba, Ed.D., LMSW, MPA
Dr. Nadjete Natchaba, has been working with people living with mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness for over 20 years as a clinician, administrator, and executive in Human Services. Dr. Natchaba currently works at Services for the UnderServed , a nonprofit with a staff of 2,000 that provides $250 million in services. In her role of Chief Operating Officer, she leads a team of devoted clinicians and administrators managing Assertive Community Treatment Teams, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Care Coordination Services, Shelters for single adults & families, Home and Community Based Services and Crisis respite residences.
Dr. Natchaba joined the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College as a faculty member teaching fundamental courses in the MSW program to expand her work of preparing our workforce to “show up” for people served. Dr. Natchaba is also a member of National Association of Black Social Workers and a graduate from the African Centered Academy.
Supporting the workforce at S:US and in the larger community is Dr. Natchaba’s way of living up to her core value of interdependency.
Jeanie Tse, MD
Board-certified psychiatrist
Clinical Associate Professor, NYU School of Medicine
Jeanie Tse, MD, is the Senior Medical Director at Fountain House, a clubhouse community of people with serious mental illnesses in New York City. She is an Associate Professor at the NYU School of Medicine, teaching in the NYU Public Psychiatry Fellowship Program. She previously served as the Chief Medical Officer at ICL, a New York City not-for-profit serving people with mental illness and developmental disabilities where she worked for 15 years. She led ICL and its partners on award-winning integrated health initiatives, including development of the East New York Health Hub in an underserved Brooklyn neighborhood, and integration of primary care into Assertive Community Treatment and other behavioral health settings. She is past president of the NY Chapters of the American Association of Psychiatric Administrators and the American Association of Community Psychiatrists, and an alumnus of the National Council for Behavioral Health’s Psychiatry Leadership Program. She is the co-editor of “A Case-Based Approach to Public Psychiatry,” a text that explores the foundational principles of community mental health services and the care needs of special populations. She has a special interest in disrupting the impact of trauma on health outcomes, with an overarching aim to “bridge the gap” between academic psychiatry and the clinical challenges of disadvantaged communities.
Local Consumer Stakeholder Advisory Board Members:
Sharon R. Horton, Executive Director at NAMI NYS
NAMI NYS is a non-profit, state organization providing advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
Sharon possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience which she acquired on a diverse career path built upon a foundation of business and leadership development, event management, fundraising, and Impactivism.
Previously, in her 6-year role with the Capital Region American Heart Association, she managed powerful Executive Leadership Teams and built robust community partner relationships driving annual fundraising campaigns with a portfolio of $750,000. These campaigns engaged 800+ annual event attendees, honoring significant achievers in the arena of heart disease and stroke, and raising critical funding for the mission.
Prior her work with the Heart Association, Sharon managed regional Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk campaigns at the American Cancer Society in West Palm Beach, Florida. The combined campaign income portfolio was $625,000 and engaged more than 20,000 annual attendees collectively.
Her vivacious personality inspires innovation, enthusiasm, and positivity to achieve goals. She is a team leader and team player proficient in building and engaging powerful teams. As a proactive problem solver, Sharon demonstrates ease with anticipating needs and executing the most efficient solutions. She has exceptional Interpersonal skills, with a natural ability to connect with and understand diverse personalities in various cultures and environments.
Sharon holds degrees in both Paralegal Studies and Business Administration, which she obtained over a course of 10 years as a single mother raising her three children.
Over her career, she held many volunteer roles including NAMI Capital Region Board of Directors, Pericarditis Board of Directors, Fulton-Montgomery County Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Fulton County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, Gloversville Business Improvement District Board, American Cancer Society Relay for Life Committee, Southern Saratoga Chamber Women in Business member, and NAMI member.
Sharon lives at the foothills of the Adirondacks in Broadalbin, NY with her cherished tribe of friends and her treasured family including her three children; Joshuah, Jacob and Autumn, and two extraordinary grandchildren; Adrian and Ryley, who she says, have taught her the most valuable lessons in life blessing her with overflowing abundance.
In her free time, Sharon practices Yoga, meditation and Reiki. She loves time outdoors and being on the water; hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, rollerblading, gardening, snowshoeing, and unleashing her inner child through playtime with her grandboys.
Sharon feels a deep, personal connection to NAMI’s mission and is dedicated to achieving the organization’s vision of a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.
As a caregiver for loved ones who have struggled with mental illness, she exclaims, “It is a gift to have been on this journey with my loved ones who have been traumatized by stigma and a broken system of mental healthcare. It has taught our family valuable lessons in compassion, understanding, and resilience.”
Each step in Sharon’s career has built the road to this destination. She is incredibly grateful for this leadership opportunity tying together her life’s work and uniting with communities across New York State to have a stronger voice for those who need NAMI most.
Cory Muraglio, Regional Advocacy Specialist at New York State Office of Mental Health
Cory has been the RAS for the Long Island Field Office since September of 2018 where he uses his personal lived experience to bring a peer perspective to the field office. He is currently working with the Long Island RPC and peer representatives from both counties to establish the Peer Specialist Community of Practice on Long Island with the mission of supporting the growth and support of the per workforce in the region. He also has an interest in expanding the role the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services has with youth and is collaborating with community youth partners to spread the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services message to a new demographic.
Harvey Rosenthal, Chief Executive Officer at the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Inc (NYAPRS)
Harvey Rosenthal has over 45 years of experience working to promote public mental health policies and practices that advance the recovery, rehabilitation, rights, and full community inclusion of individuals with psychiatric disabilities and/or diagnoses.
He has provided service in inpatient and outpatient treatment settings, served a director for a clubhouse program for 10 years in Albany New York and as CEO of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) since 1993.
Under his leadership, NYAPRS’ advocacy has helped to transform state and national mental health systems, increase access to community-based housing, employment and peer support services, and advance numerous recovery and criminal justice related mental health reforms.
Harvey has helped to create several nationally acclaimed and replicated peer support and transformational training innovations, including the NYAPRS Peer Bridger Model™, the NYAPRS Training Collective and Project Inset, a peer led outreach and engagement and support initiative for people with repeat experiences with homelessness, incarceration and hospitalization.
He has also worked to fight stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations and to advance informed choice protections, self-directed care and racial equity.
Harvey currently serves on the boards of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and the College for Behavioral Health Leadership and as a member of New York’s Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council, Value Based Payment Work Group and the Advisory Council for the New York Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.
His work has been recognized with the highest honors from Mental Health America, the College for Behavioral Health Leadership, the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, the National Association of Peer Supporters and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
His commitment to our community is personal, dating back to a psychiatric hospitalization at age 19.
Amanda Saake, LMSW, CPRP, NYCPS-P, Special Assistant to the Commissioner at the New York State Office of Mental Health
Amanda is the Special Assistant to the Commissioner at the New York State Office of Mental Health, overseeing the Office of Consumer Affairs. In this role, she serves as the interface between individuals and families served by the public mental health system and OMH program, and policymakers. Her office is also dedicated to the Peer Workforce and Peer Support Services throughout the mental health system.
Amanda has experience providing direct service and supervision in the human services workforce. Amanda’s commitment to high-quality, person-centered supports and services is also personal, stemming back to her first encounters with the mental health system at the age of 17.
Amanda is a member of the Certification Commission for Psychiatric Rehabilitation’s (CPRP) Board of Subject Matter Experts. Amanda received the Distinguished Alumni Award from her alma mater in 2011. In addition, Amanda received the Brendan Nugent Leadership Award in 2020. This award is presented to an inspiring peer leader in promoting and advocating for the empowerment of people with psychiatric disabilities in New York State.
Amanda graduated from Marywood University and Columbia University School of Social Work. Amanda is a Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner, and a Provisional New York Certified Peer Specialist.
Tony Trahan, Director for the Bureau of Statewide Advocacy for the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services. (NYSOMH).
Tony’s job duties include ensuring consumer and family input to the divisions at the Office of Mental Health. His own experiences of being psychiatrically labeled and the path to recovery make him uniquely qualified to bring people’s voices to the policy and decision making at the NYSOMH. Tony is also a husband, father, sociologist, and an ordained minister.
Carlton Whitmore, Director at the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene’s Office of Consumer Affairs.
The Office of Consumer Affairs is responsible for assuring the voice of individuals with lived experience is integrated into all levels of city policies and planning. Carlton’s primary function in this role is to support activities that promote recovery, achieve health equity, and support efforts to address avoidable historical and contemporary injustices. Prior to this position, Carlton served as Assistant Director at Goodwill Industries’ Peer Advocacy Leadership program, where his responsibilities included providing supports for consumers reentering the workplace.