Alex studied Philosophy at Clark University before earning his Master's in Business Administration from the University at Albany (SUNY Albany). He joined Column Health in order to help make a difference in the lives of patients struggling with mental illness and to help educate and raise awareness on the many misconceptions surrounding substance use disorders.
Dr. Schlaff is the Director of the Public Health Program and Professor in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. He received a BA in History from Yale University, an MD from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. He trained in Internal Medicine at Boston City Hospital and in Preventive Medicine at Carney Hospital in Boston and is board certified in both specialties. His clinic practice now focuses on addiction medicine and he works at Column Health in Arlington and Brighton. Prior to assuming his current position at Tufts, he has worked as a medical director and director of quality improvement in several community health center networks and has directed several community health initiatives in Boston and New York. He is a past president of the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research.
Dr. Barbara Herbert is an expert in the field of Addiction Medicine with over thirty years of caring for patients, teaching and mentoring physicians, and leading policy and regulatory organizations. She has a passion for treating new mothers with Substance Use Disorder and has been an outspoken advocate for the reduction of stigma associated with Mental Illness. Dr. Barbara Herbert is the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine (MSAM). She graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook, School of Medicine and completed her residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a post doc fellowship at Harvard University.
Biruh Mezgebu studied at Bridgewater State University, where he majored in Economics and Business. Biruh is deeply passionate about mental health which led him to work as a counselor for two years and later as a program director for Vinfen. He played a very important role by supervising counselors to ensure that contract specifications, and program regulations were followed. He currently enjoys making a difference with Column Health which facilitates full recovery for mental illness, and substance abuse.
Colin is a seasoned healthcare strategy and startup consultant with experience driving startups to success; he is the founding partner of Triple Canopy Advisors LLC healthcare strategy consulting firm as well as the founder of Petri Dish, a medical software development company. He holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, a Masters from Stanford University, and received his emergency medical training at UCLA medical.
Dr. Craig Smith is an American media artist and theorist whose art and research focuses on the process, aesthetics, and ethics of human‐to‐human interactivity and contemporary visual culture. Craig has held teaching, research, and global fellowship positions at numerous universities and colleges and joined the University of Florida as a senior faculty member. His exhibitions of photography, live sound performances, lectures, and other art media have been featured at an international range of museums, galleries, art fairs, athletic facilities, and financial organizations including the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., PS1MOMA Contemporary Art Institute in New York, The Tate Modern in London, The George Eastman House in Rochester, the Hudson River Museum, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center.
Gurteg studied Neuroscience and Psychology at Boston University. He took his passion for mental health, coupled it with his growing interest in business operations, and began working at a startup focused on measuring and managing stress through wearable devices. Now, he joins the Column Health team with the purpose of disrupting the delivery of behavioral treatment and expanding its impact.
James earned his Masters in Social Work from Simmons College. Throughout his career, he has provided community-based support to adults experiencing mental illness and has lead both individual and group psychotherapy with patients recovering from substance use disorder. James believes that all people have a unique and valuable story to tell, and that telling these stories can help accelerate the path to recovery.
Jessica joined Column Health in a community outreach role and as a clinic experience representative. She graduated from Curry College's Nursing School and has been in the healthcare field for over 10 years. Jessica has diverse experience with patients from the emergency room to primary care and cardiology practices and most recently at Walden Behavioral Care as an admissions intake coordinator for mental health. She is extremely passionate about substance abuse and finding ways to help address the current opioid epidemic. When not working, she is taking care of her two young, energetic sons! She also loves going to the beach, reading, and her daily dose of milk and cookies.
Jim is a passionate brand builder and marketing executive who has helped grow several household name brands during his career. Jim applies strategic frameworks to drive results through best-in-class marketing, disciplined product innovation, operations excellence, and strong customer relationships. Jim’s diverse career includes working for Kraft Heinz, the Olympics and the World Cup as well as entrepreneurial experience with developing multiple startup businesses, where he managed the development process for a multi-site, multi-state company. Jim has created a non-profit organization, has an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and lives with his wife Laura and their two dogs Taz and Max.
Matt is a software, cybersecurity, and IT professional with over 20 years of technology experience. He has lead complex and healthcare focused engagements in both the private sector and within government agencies. Matt has provided technical management and strategic planning on a several large scale, software and systems development projects.
Rachelle is a part of the Column Health team as a Clinical Experience Supervisor. She studied Psychology and Biology at Roger Williams University where she focused on positive behavioral therapy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and studied abroad in Jamaica to help spread Autism awareness. After graduation, Rachelle interned at Beverly Hospital in the Partial Hospitalization Program where she learned about addiction treatment and substance use disorder treatment. She hopes to continue her education in the mental health and research field. Rachelle is excited and passionate about working with others to achieve goals of wellness and understanding.
Aimee joined the Column Health team after relocating to the Boston area from Kansas City. She studied Communication at Marquette University and then transitioned to the canine care industry following graduate school. Aimee’s passion is contributing to a team which fosters a culture of organizational and operational excellence. In addition, Aimee is thrilled to be part of a team committed to well-being of others. Outside of Column Health, Aimee is an avid sports fan (Kansas City Royals and Chiefs) who also enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Edwin Raffi is a board certified psychiatrist at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Women’s Mental Health, and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Harvard Medical School’s South Shore Adult Psychiatry Residency Program and his fellowship in Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry at the MGH Center for Woman’s Mental Health. Dr. Raffi’s areas of interest include: Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry, Addiction and Substance Use Disorders, Geriatric Psychiatry, Trauma, Mind Body Medicine, Health and Technology. He is a recipient of the Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry 2016 Harry C. and Maida Solomon Award for his work related to substance use disorder in veterans.
Dani is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a Masters degree from Boston College and Bachelors degree from Florida State University. Throughout her career she has provided care in a variety of settings including outpatient, residential, court systems and schools. Dani enjoys facilitating group therapy and she specializes in the treatment of complex trauma. Dani recognizes that every individual is the expert of their own life and she collaborates with patients to identify individualized treatment goals. Dani is passionate about mental health and helping people overcome challenges to live a life of meaning and purpose. In her free time, Dani enjoys watching college football, exploring Boston, and listening to live music.
Dusty is more than Column Health's mascot, he's our most valuable team member. He might be small, but he's feisty and just getting started!
Christopher J. Mulvey is a family nurse practitioner specializing in addiction treatment. Prior to his work at Column Health, Chris worked in family practice and correctional healthcare. Chris prides himself on providing empathetic, judgment-free, patient-centered care. He is a graduate of the MGH Institute of Health Professions and serves as a preceptor for MGH IHP nurse practitioner candidates.
Christopher is a board certified physician assistant. He received his Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of New England in 2015 and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from the University of Arizona. Previous to obtaining his Master's Degree Christopher worked in pre-hospital medicine as a paramedic providing emergent, life-saving interventions in communities based both in the South Shore and North Shore. In addition to cultivating meaningful relationships with patients, Christopher aims to provide care that is evidenced-based and patient centered to facilitate positive outcomes. Outside of Column Health Christopher enjoys the outdoors, running, and spending quality time with his family.
Meghan received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Elon University and plans to dedicate her career to the field of mental health and addiction. She currently studies at Northeastern University, working towards her Master’s in Public Administration. Prior to beginning her Master’s degree, she interned in Connecticut working on legislation regarding drug policy and sober house regulation. Meghan is involved with addiction education nonprofits and also serves on the Board of Directors for an organization that provides alternative housing to children in DCF.
Stephanie is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist and recent transplant from Portland, Oregon. Stephanie graduated from Lewis & Clark College and has practiced dual diagnosis therapy in an array of treatment settings including outpatient and intensive community based services, private practice, as well as worked internationally providing therapy and teaching. As a family therapist she believes it is integral to explore both the shared and individual human experiences that influence who we are when working with her clients. Stephanie specializes in trauma and substance use disorders, and her work with clients is strongly influenced by Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. When she's not at Column Health Stephanie enjoys attempting to learn ceramics, hanging out with her dog and learning more about the greater Boston area!
Kate joined Column Health after relocating from Connecticut, where she spent the past few years as the Deputy Director of a dual-diagnosis treatment program for adults struggling with both substance abuse and severe mental illness. Kate completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut. She's excited to join a unique team at Column where she can help stigmatized populations, especially those struggling with addiction, receive the best treatment possible. She is currently working towards her Masters of Public Health in Behavioral Sciences through New York Medical College and in her free time enjoys exploring Boston, spending time with friends, and listening to true crime podcasts.
Rebecca joins the the Column Health team as a Clinic Experience Representative. She studied Psychology at Roger Williams and hopes to continue her education in the mental health and research field. In her free time she enjoys eating snacks, watching Netflix, and walking dogs.
Jimmy graduated from Boston College where he majored in Biology. He worked as a technologist with a national diagnostic company and has spent the last three years at Boston Heart Diagnostics quantifying heart disease risk. Jimmy is excited to join the Column Health team and make a difference in the lives of out patients.
Dr. Gunther is a locally raised board-certified family physician with a long history of caring for vulnerable populations in the Boston area. He completed his residency at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, MA. He has served as medical director of community health centers in Somerville, MA and has maintained a clinical practice at Boston Medical Center. He has taught medical students and residents for many years, in part as an assistant clinical professor at Boston University. Dr. Gunther’s work has focused on survivors of trauma and the treatment of behavioral conditions that can arise from such experiences, particularly depression and substance use disorders. His philosophy of care is holistic in nature, acknowledging the multitude of factors that impact recovery and healing.
Jess Romeo is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner student at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, graduating in May 2019. She brings over 6 years of experience in addiction and mental health treatment as a social worker and psychotherapist, and a passion for working with people in recovery to make meaningful life changes. Jess believes the people she's honored to serve are both the experts and architects of their own journeys. As such, she works to provide services that are both evidence-based and flexible, meeting people where they are and helping guide them towards where they'd like to be.
Rylan was born and raised in beautiful Sonoma County, California. He has a natural curiosity for human behavior and interactions and earned a bachelors degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University. Rylan likes to consider himself a sports fanatic/guru and loves to support any and all Bay Area teams. He recently relocated to Boston to enjoy the warm winter months. Rylan believes there is truly a better way for society to deal with mental illness and he's excited to join Column Health to address the negative stigma associated with the disease of addiction.
Kristina is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and she holds a bachelors degree in social work. She has experience working in outpatient substance use disorder programs, residential treatment programs, inpatient detoxification, as well as, maternal-child health. Kristina is excited to join the Column Health team in their mission to reduce stigma and provide individuals with the treatment they need and deserve.
Barbara joined Column Health after graduating from Southern New Hampshire University with a Justice Studies degree and a minor in Psychology and Sociology. She is an amazing addition to the Column Health team and in her free time Barbara enjoys riding horses, hiking and napping in a hammock.
Billy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a Masters in Counseling from Boston College as well as a Masters from UMass Boston in Gerontology. Throughout his career, he has provided care in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, senior residential housing, and schools. Billy enjoys facilitating group therapy, focusing in substance abuse recovery as well as geriatric care issues. In his down time (when exactly is that Billy?) he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, visiting Cape Cod, and studying genealogy.
Brian Patel, MD is the Chief of Emergency & Occupational Health Service & Associate Chief Quality Officer at Sturdy Memorial Hospital. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed his post graduate training at Brown University’s Rhode Island Hospital. Brian is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine and is a key member of the Column-Sturdy partnership in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Christine joins Column Health with a true passion for helping people in need. She is a graduate of UMass Boston, and is excited about joining a team creating solutions and providing aid for those who want it, where and when they need it.
Jen Moore joined Column Heath as a Patient Experience Representative after receiving her Bachelor's degree in Public Health from Rivier University in Nashua, New Hampshire. Her interest in mental health and addiction treatment was sparked during an internship and is excited about continuing her education and growth by helping those in need. When Jen is not working, she enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, and playing with her dog.
Kellie is currently attending Salem State University, majoring in Healthcare Studies with a minor in Human Biology. She joins Column Health as a Patient Experience Representative. When not at work she enjoys trying new restaurants, watching Netflix shows and Spinning!
Marquise is studying Psychology at UMass Amherst. Prior to joining Column Health as a Clinic Experience Coordinator, she worked as a Resident Assistant, Cafe Supervisor, and Social Justice & Diversity Peer Educator. Marquise is passionate about being a positive influence in the world.
Patricia is an Addiction Medicine Board certified pediatrician. Since 2006, she have been practicing medication assisted treatment for teenagers and young adults with opioid use disorders. Patricia is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. She completed her residency at NYU’s Bellevue Hospital and Fellowships at Cornell Medical Center and Boston Children's Hospital.
Ray is a graduate of Miami University and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. He joined Column Health after investment banking positions with Bank of America and Wachovia, and corporate strategy positions with Walmart and LKQ. While Ray enjoys working with numbers, his true love is watching Law & Order.
Rebecca, a former high school English teacher, is transitioning from a career in education to a career in healthcare because of her deep interest in helping people who live with mental illness and reducing stigma associated with mental illness and addiction. Rebecca has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition from Hamilton College and a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English. She is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California. Rebecca spends her free time chasing after her sons, playing chess, and training for marathons, although she vows she has run her last!
Tiara is studying to become a certified personal trainer and nutritionist. She joined Column Health as a Patient Experience Representative to help those in need. Tiara enjoys volunteering her time, especially with organizations like the Best Buddies program and The Food Project.
Vicki holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University and a Trauma Studies Certificate from Cambridge College. Vicki is a licensed School Guidance Counselor who throughout her career has provided therapy in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and schools and has experience serving people of all ages. In her free time, Vicki can be found at the beach, kayaking, hiking, spending time with family and friends, listening to live music, or cheering for the New England Patriots. Go Pats!
Jonell joins the Column Health team as a Clinic Experience Coordinator with a BA in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University. Through her 10+ years of experience in both non-profit and corporate environments she discovered her passion for helping others through building relationships and fostering environments for learning, development and growth. Jonell enjoys finding adventures in every day experiences, traveling, all things skin care and beauty, and she's a self-proclaimed foodie and burger aficionado.
Katelin is a licensed mental health counselor with a Master’s degree from Cambridge College and a Bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College. Katelin has a variety of experience in the mental health field from outpatient, hospital and school settings where she has been able to help bring awareness to the stigmas around mental health and addiction. When she is not hiking and spending time in nature, she is finding creative outlets to highlight things she is passionate about such as dance, music, and education.
Teresa is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience caring for patients in multiple hospital settings and specialties. She has focused her expertise on clinical documentation and compliance, bridging the gap between clinical language and coding. Teresa has developed clinical documentation curriculum, training and implementation services for hospitals across the country.
Rebecca studied Business Administration at Salem State University and joined Column Health as a Clinic Experience Supervisor. She enjoys helping others find their path to recovery. When Rebecca is not at work, she can be found spending time with her family.
Rob received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester and completed his medical school training at Washington University in St Louis. He did a medical internship at Northwestern, Evanston Hospital and completed his residency and two fellowships at Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital. Rob is the Director of Medical Education at Good Samaritan Medical Center and joins Column Health as a staff physician.
Jess is a CPC licensed medical coder with a background in behavioral health, gastroenterology, cardiology, and family practice coding. She joined Column Health as a Medical Coder and Biller. As an original resident of Pennsylvania, Jess studies at Temple University for coding and worked as a medical coder for a multi-specialty practice before moving to Massachusetts. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach, volunteering with Salem Sound Coastwatch, and spending time with her two cats Zephyre and Maya.
Kitty joins Column Health as a Medical Assistant. She received her Medical Assistant training at the Health Training Center in Cambridge, MA. Prior to Column Health, Kitty worked at Vinfen and Cambridge Hospital.
Deus joined Column Health as a Medical Assistant after working with Quest Diagnostics. He immigrated from Uganda when he was a teenager and finished high school at North Andover High School. Deus is pursuing a degree in Medical Lab Technology at Bunker Hill Community College and he enjoys applying his training in a workplace that provides accessible and affordable healthcare to anyone who wants it. When he's not at Column Health, he loves playing pickup soccer.
Jessiqua earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from UMass Boston. Throughout her career, she has worked in a range of settings including youth and family services, community outreach, and research ethics. She recently joined Column Health to be part of a more innovative, client-focused clinical team. Jessiqua is passionate about advocating for marginalized and underserved communities and strives to offer care that is both inclusive and empowering. When she’s not at work, Jessiqua enjoys cooking, watching trashy reality shows, and continuing her search for the best pizza in Boston.
Yan was born in Brazil and prior to joining the Column Health team, was a Portuguese Interpreter and Medical Assistant. Yan believes everyone deserves a second chance to be happy and free of addiction to live the life they wish and deserve. Yan is currently working towards an Associate's Degree in Social Science. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, studying history and listening to music.
Laurine Thornton, better known as Laurie or LT, has been a physician for over thirty years. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine with a focus is in pre-hospital medicine. She was horrified by the number of opiate overdoses that paramedics were treating every week and decided to be a part of the solution. In early 2019, she was trained in addiction medicine and is excited to join the joint Sturdy Memorial - Column Health team. (And we’re thrilled to have her on the team!)
Scott studied business at California State University, Fullerton and has worked in operations, communications and marketing for such client centric companies as Trek Bicycle and Bose. He served as Vice President of Client Services for Protocol Boston, leading a team of over 150 communications staff supporting healthcare clients. Scott values thoughtful, smart, ethical, and kind interactions within organizations and their key constituents. He is passionate about the impact an approach toward patient connections can make on social change. Outside of his role at Column Health, Scott enjoys playing and listening to music, kayaking, home remodeling and design, and anything on two wheels.
Emily joins Column Health as a Clinic Experience Coordinator at our Somerville clinic. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Theatre from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prior to joining Column Health, she was a Clinical Coordinator at Cambridge Biotherapies and a Patient Resource Specialist at Wellist. Emily is a Certified Yoga instructor and is fluent in both Swedish and French.
Kelly graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Bridgewater State University. Prior to Column Health, she has worked in customer service and administrative assistant roles and is very excited to be entering the mental health field. In her free time Kelly enjoys baking, running, and time with her family
Meaghan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Marketing. Prior to joining Column Health, she managed multiple women's sober living residences. Meaghan is a dedicated marathon runner and is the Program Coordinator for The Boston Bulldogs Running Club, a non-profit for people in recovery. She has a special interest in helping people globally and is an active volunteer with The Haiti International Alliance where she does work in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Meaghan joins Column Health as a Community Engagement Coordinator.
Leanna joins the Column Health team as a Clinic Experience Coordinator. Leanna studied Communications at Worcester State University and has a background in marketing and special events. Leanna is pursuing a Master's of Education in Mental Health (LMHC) and School Counseling and looks forward to building upon her valuable work experience as she transitions into a field of counseling, community relations and mental health wellbeing. When not at work or school you can find Leanna teaching or taking a Barre class or, when in season, glued to a beach chair.
Danny was born and raised in the great city of Somerville, Massachusetts. He has a passion for understanding the human psyche and received a Bachelor's degree in Social Work with a minor in Philosophy from Wheelock College. He believes people seeking mental health treatment should be able to find it in an easy, accessible, and stigma-free way. In his free time, he loves playing ultimate frisbee, eating his mom's delicious cooking, and meeting new people.
Clinical Experience Supervisor
Operations Manager
Staff Physician
Executive Director of Clinical Education & Strategy
Patient Experience Representative
Psychotherapist
Operations VP
Physician
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Director of Culture
Nurse Practitioner
Director of Clinics
Patient Experience Coordinator
Lead Psychotherapist
Patient Experience Representative
Director of TMS Services
Medical Assistant
The Dog
Chief Medical Officer
Clinic Experience Coordinator
Strategic Development VP
Psychotherapist
Patient Experience Representative
Billing & Coding Associate
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Community Engagement Coordinator
Psychotherapist
Chief Operating Officer
Lab Technologist
Clinic Experience Coordinator
Community Engagement Manager
Regional Manager
Clinic Experience Representative
Clinic Experience Coordinator
Medical Assistant
Nurse Practioner
Physician
Clinic Experience Coordinator
Clinic Experience Coordinator
Chief Technology Officer
Community Engagement Coordinator
Operations Specialist
Physician
Clinic Experience Supervisor
Chief Financial Officer
Clinic Experience Supervisor
Clinic Experience Coordinator
Senior Patient Experience Representative
Physician
Clinic Experience Supervisor
Communications & Insights Director
Psychotherapy Director
Compliance & Clinical Documentation Improvement VP
Patient Experience Representative
Psychotherapist
Clinic Experience Supervisor
