Speaker biographies
Welcoming Remarks
Reem Aly serves as the Executive Director of the Ohio-School Based Health Alliance. Reem joined the organization as the first ever, full-time Executive Director in August of 2022. Reem brings many years of unique policy, advocacy, research, data and leadership experience to the Alliance. Throughout her career, Reem has led many state-wide, multi-sector initiatives focused on improving maternal and child health, bridging health care and population health, and health equity. Her prior nonprofit experience includes serving as Groundwork Ohio’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, and a decade of service as Vice President of Policy at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Reem has also worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Bricker & Eckler, LLC and OCLC. Reem served on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the Executive Advisory Committee for the Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health. Reem holds a Law degree and Master of Health Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from The Ohio State University.
Reem Aly, JD, MHA
Kelly Carey
Kelly Carey is the Director of Policy & Public Affairs for the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC), which supports Ohio’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alike networks. Kelly also serves as the Board Chair for the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance. With nearly 20 years’ experience in and around state government, Kelly serves in the government affairs, public policy and external relations on behalf of OACHC. Kelly is a member of the Ohio Women in Government and a proud alumna of The Ohio State University.
Sara Haig, MSW
Sara Haig is the Section Administrator for Women and Family Health Services at the Ohio Department of Health. Sara received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Dayton and her master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University. She is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Ohio with experience in community mental health, early childhood and state and local government. Sara has worked at ODH for over ten years in a variety of roles within maternal and child health. Sara lives in central Ohio with her husband and three young children and enjoys being active and anything true crime.
Plenary Sessions
Advancing School-Based Health Care and Cross-System Partnerships
Olga Acosta Price, PhD
Dr. Olga Acosta Price is the director of the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and is associate professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at the University. She is a clinical psychologist with postdoctoral training in school mental health. In her current capacity as director of CHHCS she advocates for the expansion of school-connected and community-based prevention and intervention approaches across the US, with a focus on strengthening systems to ensure quality education and health equity for vulnerable populations. In her prior role, Dr. Acosta Price became founding director of the School Mental Health Program (SMHP) at the Department of Mental Health in Washington, DC and launched comprehensive school-based mental health programs in more than 30 public charter and DC public schools over six years. Dr. Acosta Price has dedicated herself to promoting prevention and early intervention programs that address the mental health needs of children and their families, and has developed, implemented, and evaluated programs promoting mental health and resilience conducted in school and community settings. Dr. Acosta Price is currently the chair of the board of directors for the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC), a national advisory member for the Hispanic and Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, among other advisory roles. She has written numerous articles and book chapters on children’s mental health and school-based services and has presented at national conferences and meetings on children’s health. Dr. Acosta Price has won numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career including the 2018 Martin C. Ushkow Community Service Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health, the 2019 DC Champion award from the School Social Work Association of DC, and is the recipient of the 2021 Juanita Cunningham Evans Memorial Award, the highest honor in her field of school mental health. Dr. Acosta Price received her Masters and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her undergraduate degree in psychology from Vassar College.
Strengthening the Foundation for Ohio's Children Through School-Based Health
Kelly Carey
Kelly Carey is the Director of Policy & Public Affairs for the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC), which supports Ohio’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alike networks. With nearly 20 years’ experience in and around state government, Kelly serves in the government affairs, public policy and external relations on behalf of OACHC. Kelly is a member of the Ohio Women in Government and a proud alumna of The Ohio State University. Kelly also serves as the Board Chair for the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance.
Representative Sara Carruthers
State Representative Sara Carruthers is currently serving her third term as state representative. She represents the 47th House District, which encompasses portions of central and northwestern Butler County. Representative Carruthers hails from Hamilton, Ohio, where she is an active community leader and philanthropist for several charitable causes. She has served or serves on many boards including the Hamilton Community Foundation, The Michael Feinstein Great American SongBook Foundation and Fort Hamilton Hospital. She is a member of P.E.O., Hamilton Garden Club, Arronoff Center for the Arts, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Fitton Center, Christ Church Glendale, Delta Zeta Sorority and the Butler County (Ohio) Republican Party. In addition to her extensive community involvement, she also has a media background working for such stations as WKRC-TV, WKRC 55, WKRQ, TCI, and TvHamilton. She has done commercial work, voice-overs, show hosting and industrial film work. She was a White House Press assistant during the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations. A mother of twins, Elizabeth and Rogue, Representative Carruthers attended Miami University and continues to work for Delta Zeta Sorority. She made the Women of Achievement rooms at the Delta Zeta Historical Museum a reality.
Senator Theresa Gavarone
Senator Theresa Gavarone has served in the Ohio Senate since 2019 and is currently in her first full term after having previously served in the Ohio House since 2016. She represents the people of Erie, Ottawa, and Wood counties and parts of Huron and Lucas counties. She was elected by her Senate colleagues to serve as Senate Majority Whip for the 135th General Assembly. Prior to serving in the legislature, Senator Gavarone served on Bowling Green City Council and has been an attorney for nearly 30 years. In addition to her public service, Senator Gavarone also owns a small business with her husband, Jim, with whom she has three children.
Representative Dani Isaacsohn
State Representative Dani Isaacsohn is currently serving his first term representing Ohio’s 24th House District. The district includes much of the City of Cincinnati: Westwood, Price Hill, Fairmount, the West End, Over-the-Rhine, Mt. Auburn, CUF, Walnut Hills, Downtown, Mt. Adams, the East End, Columbia-Tusculum, and Mt. Washington. In the Statehouse, Rep. Isaacsohn is committed to fighting for better childcare for parents, more investments in both mental health services and extracurricular activities for young people, and making sure that seniors have what they need to age with dignity. He also knows that we must tackle racial and income inequality head-on in order to make lasting progress. Rep. Isaacsohn is a Walnut Hills High School graduate, received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a master’s degree from Cambridge University, and a J.D. from Yale Law School. He serves as the ranking member on the Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and also serves on the Finance, Government Oversight, Ways and Means, and Technology and Innovation committees.
Working Together: Building School-Based Health Care
and School District Partnerships
Reem Aly, JD, MHA
Reem Aly serves as the Executive Director of the Ohio-School Based Health Alliance (Ohio Alliance), where she joined as the first ever full-time Director in 2022. Reem brings many years of unique policy, advocacy, research, data and leadership experience to the Alliance. Throughout her career, Reem has led many state-wide, multi-sector initiatives focused on improving maternal and child health, bridging health care and population health, and health equity. Her prior nonprofit experience includes serving as Groundwork Ohio’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, and a decade of service as Vice President of Policy at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Reem has also worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Bricker & Eckler, LLC and OCLC. Reem served on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the Executive Advisory Committee for the Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health. Reem holds a Law degree and Master of Health Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from The Ohio State University.
Brian Bailey, MEd
Brian Bailey has been in public education for 26 years and is in his first year as Superintendent of Goshen Local Schools. He served as the Assistant Superintendent of the district for twelve years prior to stepping into the Superintendent role this year. Brian is a highly professional administrator with an outstanding reputation in the field of education. Holding a Superintendent Certification from Xavier University, he completed his Master's in Education with a focus on Educational Administration at the University of Cincinnati in 2004 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Wilmington College in 1999. With a passion for staying in front of advancements in education, building strong relationships, and fostering effective student-centered learning environments, he brings energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to meet the expectations of the students, families, and teachers of Goshen.
Chelsie Hornsby
Chelsie Hornsby is the Senior Director of Business Development at HealthSource of Ohio. Chelsie has worked in the healthcare industry for 16 years and has showcased expertise in the areas of strengthening business partnerships and creating successful marketing strategies. Chelsie is a proven adult learner, who built on her associate degree while working full time and earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications in 2021. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Marketing and Communications.
Julie Ramos
Julie Ramos is in her 26th year of education. From teaching students and adults to leading educators, Julie’s passion is making decisions that positively impact people. Currently, Julie is the Director of Strategic Innovation at Wickliffe City Schools. Prior to her current role, she served as the superintendent of Ledgemont Schools, was employed as an Outreach Coordinator at the Geauga Educational Service Center, and was a professor at Kent State University, Geauga Campus. Julie’s personal mission is to continue to learn and grow, be brave and kind, and build up others along the way!
Joe Spiccia, MEd
Joe Spiccia has 46 years of experience in education. Currently, he is superintendent of the Wickliffe City School District. Prior to his Wickliffe experience, Joe was the superintendent in the Buckeye Local School District, the Mentor High School principal, the Hudson High School principal, an assistant high school principal, a teacher, and a coach. Joe's overriding mission is to create an environment in which students, staff, colleagues, and the community he serves can be successful and thriving.
Tiffany Ways, MSW, LISW-S
Tiffany Ways is the Chief School Health Officer for Health Partners of Western Ohio and is responsible for school-based service across the Health Partners’ system. Health Partners’ school-based services are multifaceted in both service area and delivery model. The school-based services include integrated, comprehensive health centers; telehealth; and medical, dental, and vision outreach services. Tiffany holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. She completed the University of Kansas School of Medicine Community Health Center Executive Fellowship in December 2020. Tiffany has over 19 years of experience in the social work field.
Workshop Sessions A
Community Health Workers: Essential Members of the School Health Team
Katie Davis Bellamy, MSN, RN, PHNA-BC
Katie Davis Bellamy is an Advanced Public Health Nurse who serves as the Executive Director for Community & Corporate Health at The MetroHealth System and is Chief Operating Officer for MetroHealth Community Health Centers. Under her purview is the system’s School Health Program that provides integrated primary care, prevention services, and consulting to schools across Northeast Ohio. She also supports the areas Community and Employee Health Services and Institute for H.O.P.E’s Community Health Workers. She is the Co-PI on a HRSA Community Health Working Training initiative. Katie is a prior National School Based Health Alliance Leadership Fellow; frequent lecturer in the Nursing and Master of Public Health Programs at Baldwin Wallace University and Case Western Reserve University; and currently on the Ohio Board of Nursing CHW Advisory Group. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Baldwin Wallace University; attended Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing for both of her nursing degrees and is currently enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham working on her Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Julie A Cobb, BSN, RN, AMB-BC
Julie A Cobb is the manager of The MetroHealth School Health Program. She has been a part of The School Health Program for the past 5 years, and a part of The MetroHealth System for the past 24 years. She began her career in The Burn Intensive Care Unit and transitioned to ambulatory care in 2012. She finds it an honor to work with the students of Cleveland and bridge gaps to care. This is her first time presenting on behalf of the program, and she is excited to share about the amazing Community Health Workers.
Dental Care in Schools: Developing the Future Pediatric Oral Health Workforce and Striving for Health Equity
Amy Baer, RDH, BA
Amy is a Project Coordinator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In this role, Amy supports a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) project designed to enhance dental resident training through the implementation of mobile school- and community-based dental clinics. She received her undergraduate degree at Ohio University and her dental hygiene degree from Central Piedmont Community College. Prior to joining Nationwide Children’s, Amy spent time as an elementary school teacher and as a dental hygienist – both experiences provide her with unique insights into the day-to-day operations, needs, and resources of schools and dental clinics.
Kim Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS
Dr. Hammersmith is an Associate Professor-Clinical and the Director of the Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry program at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry and Nationwide Children's Hospital. She received her undergraduate degree at Duke University and her dental and public health degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her residency in pediatric dentistry at the Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is the PI for a 5-year $2.25M HRSA training grant, a graduate of the AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning as well as the Kellogg School of Management Leadership Institute, a delegate on the ADEA Council of Advanced Education Programs, a member of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Exam committee, and a reviewer for several dental journals.
School-Based Health Center 101: From Start-up to Implementation
Katherine Meyers Bissett, BA, RN, BSN
Katherine Meyers Bissett is a graduate of the University of Richmond and the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She has designed her nursing career to focus on being a partner and ally to her patients and families and is committed to leveraging the power of nurses in the community. Her research has focused on pediatric asthma and adolescent reproductive health. She received leadership development and training in systems-level change as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar. Katherine spent the last ten years developing equity-focused school-based health programs in Maryland and Ohio. She is now a strategic consultant and an instructor at the Case Western School of Nursing. Katherine serves as the Ohio School-Based Alliance’s SBHC consultant. At home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Katherine enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, and cooking with her four children, two dogs, and husband Scott.
Supporting Ohio's Students through Healthy Student Profiles Data and Attendance Initiatives
Christina May, RN, BSN, MS
Christina May is a registered nurse with 25 years of experience in supporting the public health needs of Ohio’s children. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Malone College in 1995. After graduating she lived and worked as a public health nurse supervisor in Canton, Ohio while working towards her master’s degree in Community Health. She is currently employed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce as the School-based Health Coordinator, where she coordinates the department’s efforts towards improving the health of Ohio’s students through school-based healthcare, Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid, and Student Wellness and Success funds.
Patrick Hickman, MEd
Patrick Hickman is Ohio’s Attendance Advisor at the Department of Education and Workforce. He has a BA in English and M.Ed. in Education from Ohio State University and an M.Ed. in School Leadership. He has worked as a substitute teacher, high school English teacher, assistant principal, and principal in public, charter, online, blended, and private schools. He believes strongly in all students being able to access and enjoy their education. In his spare time, he enjoys wearing festive shirts, playing games with friends, cooking, and spending time with his wife, two boys, and two cats.
Workshop Sessions B
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Health and Equity in Ohio
Carrie Almasi, MPA
Carrie Almasi is the Director of Assessment and Planning at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Carrie oversees HPIO’s Assessment and Planning stream of work, which includes needs assessments and strategic plans produced for decision-makers at the state and local levels. She leads projects on issues such as health equity and the social drivers of health, and has expertise in policy areas including child and family health, health disparities and inequities and older adult health. Carrie holds a Master of Public Administration from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Miami University.
Becky Carroll, MPA
Becky Carroll is the Director of Policy Research and Analysis at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Becky oversees HPIO’s Policy Research and Analysis stream of work, which includes policy briefs, fact sheets, and data snapshots. She leads projects on issues such as population health, healthcare spending, equity, and the social drivers of health, and has expertise in health policy issues surrounding children. Becky holds a Master of Public Administration from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University.
Models for School-Based Vision Care
Steve Dorman, MS
Steve Dorman is the Director of External Relationships for the Ohio Optometric Association (OOA). He primarily focuses on guiding the Association’s charitable partner, the Ohio Optometric Foundation, which operates the In-School Eye Exam (iSee) program. Steve has spent over a decade developing programs related to children’s vision and eye health care for the OOA. Prior to arriving at the OOA, Steve taught peacemaking skills to children and ESL to adults in the Boston area. His previous work led him to obtain a MS in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University. He also holds a BA in Political Science from Gettysburg College. When not advocating for children’s vision, Steve can be found shuttling his three children to various activities where he sometimes coaches and always supports them. He hikes and runs when he can, walks his rambunctious dog just enough, and cooks much less than he used to.
School-Based Telehealth: Connecting Kids to Care
Javar Jackson Sr., MPH, LSSBB
Javar Jackson Sr. serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Third Street Family Health Services, a tri-county, rural Federally Qualified Health Center in Ohio where he oversees the Health Center’s daily operations. He has supported the expansion of the Health Center by adding on-site pharmacy services, school-based health centers and mobile health. Prior to his work in the community health center space, Mr. Jackson served as a Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Operations for a standalone, physician owned rehabilitation hospital where he supported the development of the outpatient specialty clinic service line, addition of orthopedics surgical services and continuity of the inpatient service line. He held system and local infection prevention, patient safety and quality improvement roles supporting large complex acute care hospitals in the Metro Detroit and Lansing (MI) areas. He has also supported rehabilitation facilities as a Commission on Accredited Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF, International) Administrative surveyor and consultant. Mr. Jackson has a Master of Public Health with emphasis in epidemiology from Michigan State University. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the American College of Health Care Executives, National Association of Health Services Executives, Medical Group Management Association, and the Healthcare Finance Management Association.
Jamie Lewis, ARMA
Jamie Lewis is the Senior Practice Manager for two Rural Health Clinics – Aultman Orrville Carrollton Health Center and Aultman Orrville Carrollton Schools Health Center. She started her healthcare career within the United States Army, serving her country as a Medic. She has worked in the healthcare field for Aultman for over the past 26 years, working the last 20 years in Carrollton, Ohio. Jamie is honored and privileged to see the impact of her work on her community. She is happily married to her spouse, David, for over 26 years, and raised two boys in her hometown of Carrollton, Ohio.
Michele Wilmoth, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN
Michele Wilmoth is the Director of School Health Services at Akron Children’s Hospital. Michele is a licensed, national certified School Nurse. She has been a pediatric nurse for over twenty-five years, specializing in School Health Services. Michele is a graduate of the Johnson & Johnson School Health Leadership program, a 2-year fellowship program designed to develop community health advocates and leaders. She is responsible for oversight, growth, and direction of Akron Children’s School Health Service program serving over 40 school districts in Northeast Ohio.
Luke Wortley, MFA
Luke Wortley joined IRHA in 2016 after several years as both a full and part-time high school teacher in Indianapolis. He has a B.A. in Spanish from Wright State University and has been speaking Spanish since he was a junior in High School. At IRHA, Luke is the Program Director of the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC), concentrating on connecting the states of IL, IN, MI, and OH with telehealth resources, engaging in technical assistance for healthcare providers, and serving as a connection point for industry professionals who are interested in learning about access to care, health equity, and digital literacy. He also serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator for the IRHA with an emphasis on auditing internal culture for unconscious bias, inclusive practices, and psychological safety while aiming toward justice in process and programming. Luke is also adjunct faculty in the Core Curriculum Department at Butler University, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in the Spring of 2015. He has taught Latin American History survey courses as well as First Year Seminar. Additionally, Luke writes fiction and poetry; his work has appeared in a variety of literary journals around the country, and his debut full-length collection of poetry is entitled Shared Blood, which was published in late 2023 from Gnashing Teeth Press.
Workshop Sessions C
Building Roads to Bridge Gaps—Logan-Hocking’s Partnerships Provide Comprehensive Health Care to Children in an Underserved Appalachian County
Brice Frasure, MA
Brice Frasure is the Director of Student Programs for Logan-Hocking Local Schools where he oversees district testing, advanced education programs (AP & College Credit Plus), blended learning programs, federal grants, and whole-child initiatives. He has worked in the K-12 education setting for 30+ years and has served in several educational roles. Brice's first educational experience was as a teacher and coach at the MS & HS levels for 10 years. Later, he served as a Building Principal in Elementary, Middle, and High School settings for another 15 years. Brice is a proud alumnus of Logan High School and earned his Teaching Degree from the University of Dayton and a Master's Degree in Administration from Ohio University. Currently, he resides in the Hocking Hills with his wife Lisa, along with their dog Oliver and cat Maxwell.
Jacob White, PhD
Dr. Jacob White is the Co-Director of the PEER Applied Research Team at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service where he provides strategic leadership in the design and implementation of applied research and evaluation projects for public and non-profit organizations. The Planning, Evaluation, Education, and Research (PEER) Team manages an annual portfolio of approximately 30 externally funded projects spanning multiple sectors including healthcare, social services, education, addiction and recovery, energy, and the environment, with specific focus on initiatives that impact the Appalachian region. The Team’s project work includes support from a multitude of federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Education. Before joining the Voinovich School, Jacob served as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Rio Grande (URG). His work has been published in various academic journals in the fields of chemical education, STEM education, teacher preparation, and environmental chemistry. Jacob was the 2005 recipient of the Donald R. Clippinger Research Award from Ohio University, the 2011 recipient of the Edwin Jones Teaching Award from URG, and he received Professor Emeritus honors from URG in 2022. Jacob has a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Analytical) from Ohio University.
Uplifting Youth Voices: Laying the Foundation for Youth Development and Youth Advisory Councils
Harper Byers
Harper Byers is a program coordinator at the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA). She has worked at SBHA for three years and has been a part of Youth Development work for nearly two of them. She oversees the SBHA Youth Advisory Council and coordinates the ‘Be the Change’ Youth Training Program. ‘Be the Change’ is an annual event where young people from across the country unite to engage in health, education, policy, and leadership workshops. Harper has co-developed and co-facilitated several Youth Development training courses related to Youth Advisory Councils and best practices for engaging youth in SBHCs. Before coming to SBHA, Harper worked for the Health Education Department of Seattle Public Schools on projects relating to reproductive healthcare accessibility.
Joey Kaji
Joey Kaji, a Senior at Madison West High School, is a first-year youth advisory council member. Joey began working in advocacy as a part of the Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) program, where he took on a project to help the fledgling School-Based Health Centers in his district. This past year he worked with the Youth Governance Program (YAB) for Dane County to draft and pass a resolution portraying the county’s support for mental health. Joey also investigates social media and its effects on adolescent mental health through the University of Wisconsin Pediatrics Department. In school, Joey loves history and computer science fields and hopes to use the skills learned there to pave the way for improved healthcare worldwide. He hopes amplifying youth voices regarding healthcare will lead to better lives for all.
Integrating School-Based Behavioral Health Services
Tiffany Banks, MA, LPCC-S
Tiffany Banks is currently a Regional Director at OhioGuidestone. A proud graduate of John Carroll University, she obtained her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling. She has over 17 years of postgraduate level experience in the field of behavioral health. Currently, she oversees the early childhood mental health program, community-based program, and school services programs within the Cuyahoga region. She has a high commitment to program development, reducing stigma in engaging behavioral health services and providing culturally competent clinical care to communities. She has a passion for collaborative relationships that will seek to integrate quality therapeutic care to address the needs of the whole person. She has a strong commitment to raise awareness for behavioral health education, advocacy for evidence-based services and equitable access to support and services.
Mary Francis, MA, LSW, LICDC
Mary Francis is an experienced consultant who develops teams, communities of practice, portfolios of grants, and provides technical assistance that contributes to behavioral health solutions. Mary consults for the Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success to help Ohio’s K-12 schools, health providers, and families work together to improve access to quality care across the continuum. Mary provides consultation with school districts, hospitals and FQHCs, social service organizations, governmental agencies, other health providers, and funders to expand services, create policy change, improve program design, spread best practices, and conduct evaluations. Previously, Mary served as Director of Prevention Services at the Addiction Services Council. She was also an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of Cincinnati Teacher’s College for 15 years, where she wrote the course syllabi and taught substance abuse prevention and mental health courses for the UC Addiction Studies program to undergraduate and graduate students. Mary worked with Wright State University's SARDI program, writing and teaching about curriculum adaptations for people with disabilities, with the Miami County Recovery Council as a clinician, and served as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Mercy Hospital’s prevention department serving the Appalachian community. Mary serves on the executive board of the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance. Mary formerly served on the advisory board for Children’s Oral Health Network, Growing Well, and the OhioMHAS Health Equity Workgroup for Community Collective Impact Model for Change.
Heather Hahn, LPCC
Heather Hahn is a licensed professional clinical counselor at Rocking Horse Community Health Center in Springfield Ohio and has been providing school-based behavioral health services for 5 years. She is also providing consultation as the agency plans to open a newer, larger clinic on an additional high school campus, and supervision for new school-based health care providers within the agency. Prior to becoming a therapist, Heather worked as a classroom teacher for 7 years, and feels there is no denying the value for students, staff, and families that school-based healthcare can provide.
Molly Wimbiscus, MD
Dr. Wimbiscus obtained her undergraduate degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and her medical degree from University of Tennessee College of Medicine; she completed her adult psychiatry residency and child psychiatry fellowship as chief at Cleveland Clinic. She previously was co-director of the Medical Humanities course at Case Western Reserve University Lerner College of Medicine and currently is Program Director for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. She founded the School Mental Health Program at Cleveland Clinic in 2014. She is PI on two studies exploring care coordination between healthcare and school systems and leads a multi-institutional team in a SAMHSA-funded project building trauma-informed comprehensive mental health systems of care in school districts in northeast Ohio (replicating the “Lakewood Model”). Dr. Wimbiscus serves on the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Schools Committee. She also serves locally on the Better Health Partnership Youth Mental Health subcommittee and the Cuyahoga County Youth Risk Behavior Survey advisory board. She is a founding parent and served on the Intergenerational Schools boards from 2010-2021. She currently is a trustee for the Woodruff Foundation. She has been a Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer since 2017.
Increasing Access to Comprehensive Well Visits By Providing “Wellness Days” Through a School-Based Health Center
Teresa Fletcher, MSN, APRN- CNP
Teresa Fletcher is a board-certified pediatric primary care nurse practitioner. She is a graduate of the University of Akron College of Health Professions and School of Nursing for her undergraduate and master’s degrees. She has over 18 years of nursing experience at Akron Children’s where she has held various roles. In her current role she is a Nurse Practitioner and the Program Development Coordinator for Akron Children’s school-based health center.
Kristen O’Neal, MSN, APRN-CNP
Kristen O’Neal is a board-certified pediatric primary care nurse practitioner. She received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Vanderbilt University. Her nursing background is in adolescent medicine at Akron Children’s Hospital. In her current role she is a Nurse Practitioner within Akron Public Schools through Akron Children’s school-based health center.