26 AC Speaker Bios

2026 Speakers

Courtney Barry, PsyD

Courtney Barry, PsyD, MS, is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at MCW and a licensed Clinical Health Psychologist. She directs Interprofessional Education, developing team-based training for medical students. Her research focuses on integrating physical and mental health, especially trauma, and she is a funded community-engaged researcher providing mental health expertise and training to healthcare providers and community organizations.

Kateryna Bikir, MS Psychology 

Psychology Instructor CVTC, Eau Claire, WI, Licensed School Counselor and ESL teacher, member of APA, Psy Chi, Phi Theta Phi, NPA of Ukraine, Education Coordinator of NPA Ukraine, refugee from Ukraine. Kateryna Bikir is a Ukrainian psychologist, school counselor, and psychology instructor at Chippewa Valley Technical College. She specializes in resilience, adaptation, and equity-focused practices, drawing on her experience supporting individuals and communities navigating displacement and integration. Her work bridges clinical practice, teaching, and social justice leadership to shape more resilient and inclusive futures.

Henry Boeh, PhD

Henry Boeh is a Licensed Psychologist and a Certified Clinician through the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification at the Center for Behavioral Medicine. He co-leads the DBT for Adolescents team, offers individual therapy and DBT skills training groups, and is active in DBT consultation and training.

Chris Daood, PhD, LP

Dr. Daood is a Licensed Psychologist and Registered Yoga Teacher. As cofounder of A Moment of Retreat - a wellness organization guided by a commitment to self-reflection and loving action - he takes a holistic approach that integrates body, mind, and spirit into the services he offers. He has provided psychotherapy and administrative leadership for over 2 decades at higher education institutions including Marquette University, Waukesha Technical College, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Terri DeWalt, PhD, LP, LPC

Dr. DeWalt is a Licensed Psychologist, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Carroll University. Before joining Carroll University, she served as a Staff Psychologist and the Training Director at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Terri's professional background centers on the training and supervision of doctoral and master's-level psychology students, with a clinical specialization in working with survivors of sexual trauma.

Robert J Dixon, PhD, LP

Robert J. Dixon has been practicing school psychology for over 35 years and recently retired from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse after being a graduate director, department chair, and program innovator with the School Psychology Online Program. He served the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) as a Delegate (WI), Board of Director (Central Region), and Program Chair (Summer Conferences).

Steven A Elkind, PhD

Dr. Steven A. Elkind received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology-Los Angeles in 1976. He trained at the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles from 1973 through 1976, and completed certification in January 1977. His Gestalt Therapy Center of Madison has been up and running for close to eight years. The Center trains therapists and students, both domestically and internationally, in the theory and practice of Gestalt Therapy.

Bruce R Erdmann, PhD

Dr. Erdmann earned his doctorate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville was licensed in Wisconsin in 1989, has worked in multiple settings ranging from private practice to prisons. He was the Internship Training Director for the Department of Corrections. He served on the Psychology Examining Board April 2007 – June 2014 and was Chair 2010-2014. He joined WPA in 1989 and in 2022 he received the Karl F. Heiser APA Presidential Award for Advocacy.

Megan Farley, PhD

Megan Farley, PhD, is a clinician in private practice at Different Minds in Madison, Wisconsin. She is also a scientist on a study of healthy aging in autism at the Waisman Center and affiliate faculty in Pediatrics and Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Her 20-year career as a psychologist has been focused on adults with autism. She is an expert autism diagnostician and has conducted research across several domains of adult outcome with autism. 

Leah Featherstone, PsyD

Dr. Featherstone received her PsyD from the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology and is currently the Vice President of Clinical Operations at Professional Services Group. She has spent her career specializing in trauma and attachment and feels passionately about helping other students and professionals learn to approach diagnosis, assessment, and intervention through a trauma and attachment informed lens.

Leanna Fortunato, PhD

Leanna Fortunato, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Director of Quality and Health Care Innovation at the American Psychological Association. Dr. Fortunato’s work centers on harnessing technology to expand access to high-quality mental health care, with a focus on advancing psychological practice innovation in digital mental health and measurement-based care. Prior to her role at APA, she has worked as a clinical administrator, practitioner, and consultant across a variety of settings including university-based mental health care, private practice, and digital mental health. 

Jeffrey Gross, ThD, MS, SAC-IT

Jeffrey Gross, ThD, MS, SAC-IT, is a fourth-year doctoral student at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology and currently serves as a practicum student with the MCW BRAVE Program. He is the founder of a faith-based nonprofit organization in Green Bay, Wisconsin, dedicated to integrative, ethically grounded human services and education. His work bridges psychology, theology, and community-based care, with a focus on trauma-informed practice, recovery, and community leadership development.

Sieanna Haakenson, PsyD

Dr. Sieanna Haakenson has worked with eating disorders for over a year under the supervision of Dr. Amy Sosa, and is pursuing her CEDS. She currently provides treatment for eating disorders and other psychiatric diagnoses at Lake Geneva Psychology.

Abigale Hartwig, BS

Abigale graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. Currently, she works as a Behavioral Health Specialist at Inpatient Behavioral Health at Emplify Health. Abigale's research interests include adolescent, LGBTQIA+, and multicultural mental health as well as eating disorders, grief, and social media. She has published work related to the influence of competitiveness in friendships, disordered eating tendencies, and misinformation on TikTok.

Katinka Hooyer, PhD

Katinka Hooyer, PhD is a medical anthropologist and associate professor in Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She designs and tests interventions for veterans with moral injury and post-traumatic stress, in the community and at the BRAVE clinic, Wisconsin Institute for Neuroscience.

Jennifer Katele, PsyD

Dr. Katele is a Core Faculty Member of the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology (Milwaukee, WI) and teaches courses in clinical supervision and assessment. Dr. Katele also maintains a private practice with North Shore Psychotherapy Associates (Glendale, WI). In both professional settings, she provides supervision in psychotherapy and assessment. 

Justin Kuehl, PsyD

Dr. Justin Kuehl has worked for Milwaukee County since 2006. He initially served as an attending psychologist and then as the Chief Psychologist at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex. Currently, Dr. Kuehl ensures that the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services meets statutory obligations in the delivery of mental health services. This includes oversight of the legal services staff and active collaboration with the judiciary and legal counsel regarding civil commitment proceedings.

Alana McVey, PhD

Alana McVey is a Licensed Psychologist at the Center for Behavioral Medicine. She offers individual therapy and DBT skills groups with a specialized focus on adapting DBT for Autistic clients. She is active in DBT training and research.

Brianna Montano, PsyD

Dr. Montano is a licensed psychologist and consultant who conducts evaluations for incarcerated individuals, including assessments for sex-offense treatment needs and gender-affirming care. She maintains a private practice providing forensic evaluation services. Dr. Montano has extensive experience in comprehensive assessment and therapy across diverse clinical concerns, with particular interests in severe mental illness, LGBTQIA+ support, professional ethics, and mentoring graduate trainees.

Gabriela Nagy, PhD

Dr. Gabriela Nagy is a clinician-scientist bridging psychology and public health to improve mental health care access for underserved communities. Her lab studies social and structural determinants, develops psychosocial interventions, and advances implementation strategies using community-based, mixed-methods, and human-centered approaches. She is an Assistant Professor at UWM, with NIH-funded research, and serves as Associate Editor for two psychology journals.

Flavia Pantoja

Flavia Pantoja is a third-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin with a growing interest in psychiatry, community health, and adolescent wellbeing. She has experience in youth mentorship and health education, including delivering culturally tailored programs for Latine high-school students. Her work focuses on improving health knowledge, empowering underserved communities, and reducing disparities in access to care.

Jacquelyn M. Paykel, MD, MBA

Dr. Jacquelyn Paykel was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated summa cum laude graduate from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a BA in Anthropology.  She obtained her medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin.  She completed residency training at the University of Wisconsin in obstetrics & gynecology, and fellowship training at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She completed her master’s degree in business administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jacquelyn M. Paykel, MD, MBA is a board-certified OB/GYN and Integrative Medicine physician with more than 25 years of clinical, academic, and national health system leadership experience. She serves as Whole Health Leader and Curriculum Architect at the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, where she is helping integrate Whole Health across all four years of medical education, and is the Founder and CEO of S.H.E. Medical, LLC, a consulting practice focused on Whole Health transformation and clinician sustainability. Dr. Paykel is a Navy Veteran and former Chief Well-Being Officer and Chief of Whole Health Service for the Veterans Health Administration, where she led the nationally recognized THRIVE Whole Health Program. Her work spans clinical medicine, organizational transformation, and professional identity development, with particular interest in clinician flourishing, ethical judgment, and sustainable care delivery in rapidly changing systems. Dr. Paykel is a member of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine.  She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the American Board of Integrative Medicine and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.  Dr. Paykel resides in Richfield, WI with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys painting, hiking, and especially spending time with her growing family.

Benjamin Rader, PsyD

Ben is a graduate of Adler University in Chicago Illinois and has established himself in the Milwaukee area since acquiring his doctorate in 2008. He is the current director of the psychology center and institute of training at Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology and tjhe President-Elect of North American Society for Adlerian Psychology. Ben's approach to working with clients is founded in the Adlerian tradition which views humans as creative and active beings who define themselves and find purpose relative to their past and current social contexts. Ben's brand of psychology seeks to align the individual's private and personal ambitions with basic principles of healthy social living. Ben has been active with the Wisconsin Psycholocial Association since joining in 2008, has served twice on the Board of Directors and was a long-standing chair of the WPA’s Public Education Campaign from 2011 until 2021. 

Laya Reddy, PsyD

Dr. Reddy is an early-career licensed psychologist at Taycheedah Correctional Institution and is the founder of her recent private practice, The Sanctum Psychotherapy. Across both settings, Dr. Reddy provides therapy and assessment services along with clinical supervision of doctoral students.

Alexandria C. Robers, PhD, BCBA, NCSP

Dr. Alexandria C. Robers is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin whose work focuses on supporting youth who engage in complex or disruptive behavior. She specializes in developing coordinated systems of care across home, school, and community settings. Dr. Robers’ research explores how interprofessional collaboration and compassionate behavioral interventions can advance equity, inclusion, and belonging for neurodiverse children.

Callista Rochon-Baker, MS

Callista Rochon-Baker is an advanced doctoral student at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology's (WSPP) Clinical Psychology program. She recently received her MS in Clinical Psychology from WSPP, where she will eventually earn her doctoral (PsyD) degree. While she has experience working with adults, she predominantly works with children and adolescent populations, processing concerns involving self-esteem, identity development, anxiety, depression, and performative setbacks. 

Erich Anthony Roush, PsyD

Erich A. Roush is an assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is the Director of Clinical Services for the BRAVE Program. He is responsible for overseeing all clinical services with an emphasis on group and trauma therapy. Dr. Roush earned his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology in 2017, is a certified Brainspotting Consultant, and is board certified in group therapy. 

Megan Schiferl, LPC

Megan Schiferl is a licensed professional counselor at the Center for Behavioral Medicine. She co-leads the DBT for Adolescents team in addition to offering individual therapy for teen and adult clients and DBT skills training groups. She is active in DBT training and consultation in addition to supervising trainees and early-career therapists. 

Jenjee Sengkhammee, PhD

Jenjee Sengkhammee, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist. She identifies as a Hmong refugee and came to the U.S. with her family in the late 1970’s. Her Madison, WI based private practice focuses on culturally-informed psychotherapy, training, supervision, and immigration psychological evaluations. She works with IMPACT, a non-profit that provides immigration psychological evaluations, where she provides clinical supervision, evaluation, and leads their national consultation group.

Kim Skerven, PhD, ABPP

Kim Skerven is a Licensed Psychologist and a Certified Clinician through the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification at the Center for Behavioral Medicine. She is a co-owner of CBM and offers individual therapy and DBT skills training groups. She is also active in DBT training and consultation, clinical research, and advocacy work serving as Wisconsin Representative to APA's Council of Representatives and Chair of WPA's Advocacy Cabinet.

Amy Sosa, PsyD, CEDS

Dr. Amy Sosa, a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS), has worked with eating disorders for over 10 years, and has given presentations on the topic in multiple states. She currently provides treatment for eating disorders and other psychiatric diagnoses at Lake Geneva Psychology.

Jia Jian Tin, PhD, LP, ABPP

Jia Jian Tin, Ph.D.., LP., ABPP, is a licensed psychologist with board certification in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Tin conducts research on ADHD with a focus on behavioral treatment and information dissemination. He has published peer reviewed paper presented research on this topic at various state and national level conferences.

Marina Valdez, PhD

Marina Valdez, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in Portland, OR, was born and raised in El Paso, TX with roots on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. She has experience in college mental health, physician wellness, and somatic-based trauma therapy. She specializes in immigration psychological evaluations. She owns a private practice and is the Director of Learning & Development with IMPACT, a non-profit providing immigration psychological evaluations, where she leads nationwide trainings

Breya L Whitefield, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Breya Whitefield is an Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin who specializes in working with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. She provides consultation and intervention for challenging behaviors that may not respond to traditional parenting strategies or outpatient mental health services. Her work focuses on helping families manage issues such as tantrums, aggression, noncompliance, sleep problems, toileting difficulties, and disruptive behaviors.

Alyssa Zajdel, PhD

Dr. Alyssa Zajdel is a licensed psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant. She owns Inside Edge Counseling & Consulting, where she helps athletes and high performers manage anxiety, boost confidence, and reach peak performance. She also serves as an assistant professor at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology.