Faculty Bios

Directory





Eric Trupin, Ph.D. Eric Trupin, Ph.D., is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington.  He is a child psychologist.  He directed the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center for twelve years.

Dr. Trupin is currently the Director of the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy. This Division maintains a wide range of clinical, research and training programs primarily focused on implementing evidence based behavioral health practices to improve outcomes for children and adults. In 2007 the Washington State Legislature established an Evidence Based Institute within his Division.
He directs clinical and systems research programs supported by NIDA, The MacArthur Foundation and Paul Allen Foundation.

In 1989, in collaboration with the Washington State Legislature and Governor, he established the Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training. The Institute has been recognized nationally as a highly successful public/academic collaboration. It has had a major impact on improving professional training, clinical care and health services research for individuals served in the public sector who have behavioral health needs.  

During 1993-94, Dr. Trupin was a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow, working for the U.S. Congress, House Ways and Means Committee.  The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill recognized him for his work promoting legislation to serve individuals with mental illness.
Dr. Trupin has been a consultant to numerous state and federal agencies on issues related to child and adolescent mental health.  He currently consults with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in a number of jurisdictions as an expert on conditions of confinement for incarcerated juveniles.

Dr. Trupin serves on the Advisory Board for the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice funded by the MacArthur Foundation and on the Steering Committee for the Center for the Promotion of Mental Health in Juvenile Justice at Columbia University.
 
Eric J. Bruns, Ph.D. Eric J. Bruns, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy, University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Bruns spends most of his time researching the impact of community-based services and supports for children with complex needs, and asking how we can make these services better. Much of his research has focused on developing the wraparound process, a widely-implemented care coordination model for children and youth with complex mental health needs. He is also recognized for his research on school mental health services, services for youth in foster care, and family peer-to-peer support services.

Dr. Bruns directs the National Wraparound Initiative, as well as the Wraparound Evaluation and Research Team, which develops and disseminates fidelity measures for the wraparound process. He currently is the lead evaluator of Washington State’s federally-funded Mental Health Transformation Grant. Dr. Bruns is the Chair of the Board of Advisors of the Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health at the University of South Florida and with Eric Trupin, Ph.D., he serves as Editor of the journal Report on Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Youth. He has served as Principal Investigator for several NIMH-funded studies in children’s mental health and authored over 30 refereed journal articles and book chapters. (To view Dr. Bruns’s Curriculum Vitae, click here.)
 
Maria Monroe-DeVita, Ph.D. Maria Monroe-DeVita, Ph.D., is currently the Director of the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training (WIMHRT), a state-university collaboration affiliated with the University of Washington. She is also an Acting Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry's Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy (PBHJP) and has been a member of the WIMHRT leadership team since August 2006. While at the Institute, she has served as the Principal Investigator on several projects with the Washington State Mental Health Division and the Mental Health Transformation Project, including the development, implementation, and fidelity assessment of 10 new Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams statewide as well as the development of a consumer- and family-driven grant-writing and evaluation program. Dr. Monroe-DeVita’s expertise is in implementation and services research related to evidence-based practices for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, particularly the ACT program. Most recently, she worked collaboratively on the development and pilot-testing of an enhanced ACT fidelity measure for ACT programs nationally (ACTA presentation). Prior to her work with WIMHRT, she was a Research Scientist with Behavioral Tech Research, Inc, where she was awarded a NIDA Phase I Small Business Innovations Research (SBIR) grant to develop and pilot-test a web-based training program which teaches PACT providers various strategies used in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Dr. Monroe-DeVita received her undergraduate degree from Boston University, graduating with Distinction in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, and Phi Beta Kappa. She worked as a community mental health provider in Colorado for several years, before pursuing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Certificate in Program Evaluation and Public Policy Analysis from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL). While in Nebraska, she received clinical and research training in psychiatric rehabilitation approaches and worked within the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on implementation and evaluation of their ACT teams, as well as several key statewide mental health policy projects (e.g., integrated health, Medicaid managed care performance measurement). She completed her Residency in Clinical Psychology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2001 and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Administration and Evaluation Psychology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 2002.

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Shannon Dorsey, Ph.D

Shannon Dorsey, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington, School of Medicine.  Dr. Dorsey is a clinical psychologist by training and her research interests and clinical expertise are in evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents, particularly those with a significant parenting/caregiver component. Within this broad area, she has focused on interventions for youth impacted by trauma and on how to apply interventions to youth in out-of-home placements such as foster care and therapeutic foster care. Dr. Dorsey is an expert in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and conducts trainings nationwide on this model, with a particular focus on its application to youth in foster care. In addition to TF-CBT, Dr. Dorsey also has expertise in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. 

Dr. Dorsey is currently working on a number of state and foundation-funded projects with the goals of improving functioning of youth by improving their access to and receipt of evidence-based treatments for mental health disorders.  In July 2008, Dr. Dorsey started an NIMH-funded trial of TF-CBT with youth in foster care, with a focus on testing engagement strategies to better involve foster parents in their youth’s mental health treatment (MH079910, PI: Dorsey, S.) Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Washington, Dr. Dorsey was an Assistant Professor at Duke University, School of Medicine where she worked on both NIMH and SAMHSA-funded projects and initiatives, including the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

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Elizabeth Feldman, Ph.D., is a Research Coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington, School of Medicine. Dr. Feldman is a licensed psychologist whose research interests and clinical expertise are in the evidence-based treatment of children and adolescents. Within the area of child and adolescent psychology, Dr. Feldman has focused on interventions for youth and families impacted by trauma. Dr. Feldman is skilled in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and serves as a regional and national consultant and trainer in this model. Dr. Feldman has a particular interest in the adaptation of Evidence Based Practices with diverse populations, particularly Spanish-speaking clients who may be first or second generation immigrants to the United States.
 
Suzanne Kerns, Ph.D. Suzanne Kerns, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy. Clinical and research interests focus on translation of evidence based practices to real-world settings, their acquisition, adoption, and sustainability. She currently collaborates with agencies, communities and Tribes to develop strategic planning to increase effective utilization of evidence-based practices. She is a program consultant and involved in research of Family Integrated Transitions, an intervention targeting youth returning to their communities after being incarcerated, and Project Focus, an experimental study of strategies designed to increase access to evidence-based services for youth in foster care through caseworker and clinician training and consultation. She is also a certified trainer for Triple P Positive Parenting Program.

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Michele Kulbel, DNP, ARNP, is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy, University of Washington School of Medicine and Center on Infant Mental Health and Development, University of Washington School of Nursing.  Her interest is in early childhood mental health intervention and health policy.  This includes evidence based interventions for postpartum depression, the promotion of healthy brain development in birth to 5 year olds, and the prevention of mental illness.  She is a family psychiatric nurse practitioner and received a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Washington.  Her doctoral capstone project focused on implementing evidence-based postpartum depression screening, increasing awareness and referrals for treatment of maternal mood disorders in a primary care setting.  Her work experience includes treating children, adolescents, and adults with psychiatric illnesses at Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic (PEHC) in Everett, WA and in private practice. She is also a clinical faculty member at the University of Washington School of Nursing in the department of Psychosocial and Community Mental Health.

 
Joshua Leblang, Ed.S. LMHC Joshua Leblang, Ed.S. LMHC, is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences of the University of Washington’s School of Medicine. He joined the department after spending 2 years as the clinical director of the Multisystemic Therapy Program running throughout New Zealand. Joshua’s clinical training was in Marriage & Family Therapy at the University of Florida, where he obtained a Masters & Specialist degree. He has spent over 15 years working with adolescents & their families across a wide range of milieus. His current focus is on implementation of Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs), focusing on Multisystemic Therapy as well as adapting the model to meet the needs of youth returning from corrections with aftercare needs through the Family Integrated Transitions (FIT) program.  His role is program implementation, site readiness, training, and on-going consultations regarding fidelity and adherence.

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Terry Lee, M.D. Terry Lee, M.D., is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and Assistant Professor in the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy, in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.  His interests include the development and dissemination of evidence-based practices, and mental health treatment for high needs youth, including youth involved with the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems.  He currently provides psychiatric services for youth in King County Juvenile Detention, Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration and the Prime Time Project, a modified Multisystemic Treatment program serving African-American youth with co-occurring mental health and substance youth disorder involved with the juvenile court system.  He chairs the Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration Psychiatry Quality Improvement Committee, and supervises trainees in the University of Washington Residency Program rotating at Echo Glen Children’s Center.  He is also a consultant to the Harborview Foster Care Assessment Program and the Family Integrated Transitions Program, and is involved with the Partnership Access Line, a Washington State Legislature-funded clinical and evaluation project providing child psychiatry consultation to primary care providers.

Previously, Dr. Lee was an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii (UH) John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Department of Psychiatry; and was Director of the Child Psychiatry Residency Program and Co-Director of the “Triple Board” (combined Pediatrics/Psychiatry/Child Psychiatry) Program.  He was also involved in a MST mental health adaption research trial in Hawaii.  He was also previously a UW faculty attending psychiatrist at Child Study and Treatment Center, and the Clinical Director of the Continuum Healthcare Adolescent Psychiatry Programs at Overlake Hospital.

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Michael McDonell, Ph.D. Michael McDonell, Ph.D., is an Acting Assistant Professor in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences UW SOM and conducts research and clinical activities at both Harborview Medical Center (CHAMMP) and at the Division of Public Behavior and Justice Policy (PBHJP). Dr. McDonell’s clinical and research training has focused on youth and adults served in the public mental health system. His current research focuses on evaluation of treatment strategies (contingency management) to improved treatment engagement and reduce substance use in persons suffering from serious mental illness and stimulant disorders (NIDA R01 DA022476-01, PI: Ries) and evaluation of child psychiatry consultation in primary care settings (Partnership Access Line; PI: Trupin). He is also an attending psychologist in the Center for Foster Care Health, Department of Pediatrics, Harborview Medical Center. In this primary care setting, he conducts psychological consultation and short term treatment for youth in foster care. He has previously authored research regarding family treatments for adults with schizophrenia and adaptation of this treatment for youth. His current interests focus on investigating the adaptation of current empirically supported psychosocial interventions and engagement strategies for youth (e.g., youth with early onset serious mental illness, youth in foster care) who are transitioning from the adolescence to adulthood, with a focus on preventing long term disability in these populations.

Prior to his current position, Dr. McDonell was an attending psychologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He received his post-doctoral training at the Child and Study and Treatment Center (the State psychiatric hospital for children) through the University of Washington and received his doctorate in clinical psychology at Washington State University, where he received research and public policy training at the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training (WIMHRT).

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Michael Pullmann, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. His primary research interest focuses on community-based participatory research approaches in children’s mental health and juvenile justice, especially family involvement in guiding policy and practice. His secondary interests include studying approaches to cross-system collaboration for serving families of youth who have serious emotional or behavioral health needs, longitudinal approaches to data analysis, innovations in the graphical display of research findings, and the utilization of large management information databases for research. He is currently involved in several projects at PBHJP, including the King County Family Treatment Court evaluation, the Yakima System of Care, Models for Change, and various wraparound projects. Prior to joining PBHJP, he was a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University, studying the delivery of children’s behavioral health services in rural areas. Before commencing his doctoral studies he was a faculty member at Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute for Human Services and the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health.

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Wayne Smith, Ph.D. Wayne R. Smith, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences of the University of Washington School of Medicine and attending psychologist at Harborview Medical Center’s Mental Health Services providing dialectical behavior therapy and other evidenced-based interventions. In addition, within the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy, he provides consultation and training in evidenced-based interventions such as Family Integrated Transitions for families of adolescents who manifest both mental illness and substance abuse and are involved with the justice system through the Prime Time Program.

Dr. Smith’s research interests include chronic medical conditions entailing chronic wide-spread pain and chronic fatigue, skills-training interventions with chronically suicidal individuals, and effectiveness of evidenced-based multisystemic and skills-training interventions with families of multiproblem adolescents.

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Sarah Cusworth Walker, Ph.D. Sarah Cusworth Walker, Ph.D., is a Research Scientist in the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine. Her research interests focus on measurement and evaluation in the area of juvenile corrections and mental health.  She is currently a co-investigator on a MacArthur Foundation project as part of the national Models for Change initiative, looking at cultural competence in evidence-based practice for justice-involved youth. She is also a primary investigator on a project in collaboration with the Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration to examine the predictive validity of the Administration’s current screening and assessment tools. Dr. Walker’s published work has appeared in the Journal of Personality Assessment, Journal of the American Academy of Psychology and the Law, Violence and Victims and Psychiatric Services.
 
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Naoko Yura Yasui, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. Within the Division, she is involved in implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practices for adults with serious mental illnesses. Her research and clinical interests focus on promoting community integration of people with psychiatric disabilities, which she considers to be a product of both individual and environmental factors such as community characteristics and public policies.  Yura has provided a variety of clinical services, including counseling and psychotherapy for consumers with developmental disabilities, and technical assistance for their support-providers in their approaches geared toward advancing community inclusion in the developmental disabilities service system in Dane County, Wisconsin, and recovery-focused interdisciplinary services for consumers with psychiatric disabilities in the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) in Madison, Wisconsin.