Our Scholarship Recipients
Meet the Clinicians Bringing Evidence-Based Mental Health Care to the Communities That Need It Most
Apply for a ScholarshipSCHOLARSHIP REACH
From rural Montana to urban Atlanta, REACH scholarship recipients are primary care clinicians who show up every day for the children and families others overlook. Each one trained. Each one ready to change outcomes for thousands of children over their careers.
2026 RECIPIENTS
Ari Zimmer, MD
New York, NY
Ari Zimmer
Ari Zimmer, MD, is a pediatrician in New York, NY, who believes that assessing mental health is an essential part of caring for adolescents. He prioritizes advocacy for patients with ADHD, drawing on his own experiences to help families understand and pursue equitable school accommodations. The PPP will provide Dr. Zimmer with a foundation for integrating psychiatric and pediatric care for children in communities facing significant social and economic barriers.
Han Yu Liou, MD
Gary, IN
Han Yu Liou
Han Yu Liou, MD, is a pediatrician in Gary, IN, serving a diverse community with many first-generation immigrant families. Limited access to psychiatrists who accept Medicaid or speak families’ preferred languages can leave children waiting for care, and she looks forward to taking the PPP and strengthening her ability to manage more complex mental health needs. Throughout her career, Dr. Liou has supported families navigating trauma, self-harm, immigration, and cultural stigma by building trust, involving family members, and tailoring care
Amy Triche, DO
Guilford, CT
Amy Triche
Amy Triche, DO, is a pediatrician at an FQHC in Guilford, CT, where long waitlists and insurance barriers can make behavioral health specialty care difficult to access, particularly for Medicaid patients. This program will give her the tools and confidence to initiate care for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
Tanya Stolper, MD
New York, NY
Tanya Stolper
Tanya Stolper, MD, is the pediatric departmental lead at an FQHC in New York, NY, serving primarily East Harlem and the South Bronx. Although surrounded by specialty resources, her patients often face insurance, language, stigma, and immigration-related barriers that make mental health referrals difficult to complete. PPP training will help her provide faster care within the trusted primary care setting while allowing her to share best practices and develop mental health workflows for her entire department.
Leah Spatafore, MD
Shiprock, NM
Leah Spatafore
Leah Spatafore, MD, is a pediatrician with the Indian Health Service in Shiprock, NM, focused on providing evidence-based, culturally grounded mental health care to Native American adolescents in Northern New Mexico. She is committed to addressing the effects of historical and structural trauma and providing underserved adolescents with culturally responsive support and stability; PPP training will strengthen her skills and support her long-term goal of increasing access to mental health medication management in the state.
Meera Singh, MD
Yakima, WA
Meera Singh
Meera Singh, MD, is a pediatrician in Yakima, WA, where she cares for a growing number of adolescents with mental health needs, including youth in group homes and those experiencing homelessness. The PPP will give her the confidence to initiate behavioral health treatment and fill a critical gap in care. Dr. Singh serves a diverse community that includes migrant farmworkers, undocumented migrants, low-income families, and youth in residential programs, and is committed to welcoming all patients regardless of circumstance.
Karli Silverberg, MD, MD
Austin, TX
Karli Silverberg, MD
Karli Silverberg, MD, is a pediatrician in Austin, TX, where many patients are uninsured or underinsured and have very limited access to mental health services. Families frequently ask her for help with mental health concerns, and she hopes PPP training will provide the formal education and support to meet those needs with greater confidence. Dr. Silverberg is particularly attuned to the barriers faced by families whose transportation or insurance challenges have resulted in being turned away from care elsewhere.
Suzette Scott, NP
Covington, GA
Suzette Scott
Suzette Scott, NP, is a nurse practitioner in Covington, GA, serving families from suburban and rural communities with a high prevalence of pediatric mental health needs. The PPP will strengthen her ability to diagnose and manage common mental health conditions so families can receive prompt, high-quality care. Suzette intentionally uses inclusive language with adolescents and avoids assumptions about gender, sexual identity, parents, or family structure, helping create a welcoming environment for diverse families.
Jennifer Rossignol, NP
Atlanta, GA
Jennifer Rossignol
Jennifer Rossignol, NP, is a nurse practitioner in Atlanta, GA, at a clinic providing comprehensive care to people experiencing homelessness, uninsured families, and others in need. She looks forward to using her PPP knowledge to bring evidence-based mental health care to families who otherwise face months or years of waiting for services. Her organization intentionally removes barriers to care, including unnecessary documentation requirements, and provides bilingual staff and 24/7 interpretation services for patients of all backgrounds.
Deisy Rodriguez Olvera, NP
Silvis, IL
Deisy Rodriguez Olvera
Deisy Rodriguez Olvera, NP, is a nurse practitioner at a school-based clinic in Silvis, IL, serving many Medicaid-insured and uninsured children and adolescents. The PPP will help her provide timely care and reduce reliance on emergency departments for acute mental health needs. She strives to make care equitable by meeting students where they are, adapting communication to families’ needs, and providing close follow-up within the school setting.
Dea Robinson, LMHC
Indianapolis, IN
Dea Robinson
Dea Robinson, LMHC, is a mental health counselor in primary care in Indianapolis, IN, seeking additional strategies for brief interventions, crisis and safety planning, family engagement, and collaborative care. The PPP will strengthen her ability to support primary care clinicians and connect behavioral health with medical care. She promotes equitable care by providing screening tools and educational materials in languages including Spanish and Haitian Creole, helping families participate more fully in their care.
Erin Pusz, DO
Philadelphia, PA
Erin Pusz
Erin Pusz, DO, is a pediatrician in Philadelphia, PA, serving many patients whose families face long waits, transportation challenges, and financial barriers to mental health services. PPP training will help her provide timely, high-quality care within primary care and reduce delays for children who might otherwise struggle to access specialists. She is committed to compassionate, equitable care, always creating a safe environment for her most vulnerable patients.
Sarah Puffer, MD
Indianapolis, IN
Sarah Puffer
Sarah Puffer, MD, is a pediatrician in Indianapolis, IN, passionate about caring for children experiencing behavioral and emotional challenges, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences. With limited pediatric psychiatry access on the city’s east side, she hopes PPP training will help her provide timely care while also sharing practical approaches with residents and pediatric colleagues across her health system. She believes equitable care must be accessible and hopes to reduce the transportation, scheduling, and emotional barriers families face when referred to
Coretta Pitters, NP
Montgomery, AL
Coretta Pitters
Coretta Pitters, NP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner at an FQHC in Montgomery, AL, where limited pediatric mental health resources create significant barriers for Medicaid and underinsured patients. Coretta serves patients regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status and is a major source of care for immigrant and minority communities. The PPP will help her expand access to mental health care for children in her community and surrounding areas.
Fatima Omer, MD
Ballwin, MO
Fatima Omer
Fatima Omer, MD, is a pediatrician in Ballwin, MO, committed to integrating mental health into compassionate, evidence-based primary care. PPP training will strengthen her ability to recognize concerns early, reduce stigma, and provide timely interventions for patients facing barriers to mental health services. Dr. Omer is particularly focused on equitable care for immigrant and underserved families, using professional interpreters, culturally appropriate communication, and connections to social resources to help families navigate care.
Sarah Mitchell, NP
Chestnut Hill, MA
Sarah Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell, NP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner at a community health center in Chestnut Hill, MA, where she cares for children and adolescents whose mental health needs are often first identified in primary care. She looks forward to strengthening her ability to assess and treat anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, ADHD, and behavioral concerns, reserving referrals for more complex cases. Sarah is committed to culturally responsive care and routinely uses interpreters and adapts treatment plans to families’ needs, helping make
Aileen Litwin, DO
Signal Mountain, TN
Aileen Litwin
Aileen Litwin, DO, is one of two pediatricians providing care across four counties through an FQHC in Signal Mountain, TN, where many children face months-long waits for child psychiatry. She takes an interactive approach to care that considers children’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, including creating an affirming environment for LGBTQ+ youth, and looks forward to more confidently diagnosing and treating common mental health conditions within primary care.
Tsering Lhewa, MD
Vancouver, WA
Tsering Lhewa
Tsering Lhewa, MD, is a community pediatrician and medical director at a neurodevelopment center in Vancouver, WA, serving a large Medicaid population and many families experiencing socioeconomic challenges and adverse childhood experiences. He will use his PPP training to strengthen mental health care for these patients and share what he learns with colleagues. As a member of his clinic’s Health Equity Committee, Dr. Lhewa has helped expand multilingual resources and access for underserved families, including immigrant and transgender patients.
Saritha Krishnan, MD
Mechanicsburg, PA
Saritha Krishnan
Saritha Krishnan, MD, is a pediatrician at an FQHC in Mechanicsburg, PA, where many patients from diverse backgrounds face long waits and insurance barriers, but she is committed to ensuring children from all backgrounds receive effective care. With mental health needs affecting a substantial portion of her pediatric population, the PPP program will allow her to provide more timely diagnosis and treatment within primary care.
Natalie King, MD
Birmingham, AL
Natalie King
Natalie King, MD, is a pediatrician at Christ Health Pediatrics in Birmingham, AL, where she emphasizes whole-person, trauma-informed care and uses extended visits to build trust with families experiencing adversity, including uninsured patients and children affected by adverse childhood experiences. The PPP will help Dr. King provide earlier, more comprehensive support for children’s emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs while building local capacity in her community.
Grace Kim, MD
Warren, NJ
Grace Kim
Grace Kim, MD, is a pediatrician in Warren, NJ, caring for a highly diverse population facing challenges including poverty, housing and food instability, trauma, and other adversity. The PPP will help her provide more timely evaluation and treatment amid a critical shortage of mental health specialists. She also leads early childhood programs that support nurturing parent-child relationships, developmental health, and access to services, helping reduce barriers and promote health equity from an early age.
Albert Khait, MD
Corona, CA
Albert Khait
Albert Khait, MD, is a pediatrician in Corona, CA, who sees the value of the trusted, continuous relationship primary care clinicians have with children and families. With specialist wait times of up to four months, the PPP will help him identify and treat anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other common concerns earlier and keep care within the medical home. He approaches each family with humility, listening to their values and lived experiences so that care can reflect what matters most to
Mary Keith, MD
Henderson, TX
Mary Keith
Mary Keith, MD, is a pediatrician in Henderson, TX, a rural community of about 13,000 where there are no local psychiatrists and counseling options are very limited. With waits of eight months or more for services and significant needs related to ADHD, anxiety, and depression, the PPP training will help her initiate evidence-based care locally and reduce delays for families.
Sukhwinder Kaur, NP
Perth Amboy, NJ
Sukhwinder Kaur
Sukhwinder Kaur, NP, is a nurse practitioner in Perth Amboy, NJ, serving a diverse community at an FQHC, where many families face language and insurance barriers to mental health care. PPP training will strengthen her confidence in developing treatment plans and managing common mental health conditions within primary care. She routinely uses translation services and helps families navigate the healthcare system, including connecting patients with social work and counseling resources.
Amee Kapoor, MD
Farmingdale, NJ
Amee Kapoor
Amee Kapoor, DO, is a pediatrician in Farmingdale, NJ, serving an under-resourced community where many families face transportation, work, financial, and cultural barriers to mental health care. The PPP will sharpen her assessment and treatment skills so she can provide timely support in a setting where families already have trust in their primary care clinician. She is especially committed to helping families who may be hesitant to discuss mental health concerns or face fears related to immigration and economic insecurity.
Viktoria Kane, MD
Louisville, KY
Viktoria Kane
Viktoria Kane, MD, is completing her pediatric residency in Louisville, KY, with six months of psychiatry training after plans for a combined triple-board program were delayed. She knows the PPP will strengthen her mental health skills so she can provide more comprehensive care in an underserved community facing a severe shortage of pediatric mental health specialists. She is committed to ensuring children have timely access to effective physical and mental health care, regardless of where they live.
Jill Humphrey, MD
Las Vegas, NV
Jill Humphrey
Jill Humphrey, MD, is a pediatrician in Las Vegas, NV, with more than 20 years of experience who recently transitioned to an urban academic pediatric clinic serving many families with complex psychosocial needs and adverse childhood experiences. The PPP will strengthen her ability to integrate mental health support into the pediatric medical home and teach future pediatricians to do the same. She also works in free and school-based clinics and participates in programs that expand care and education for families
Xin Huang, MD
Granger, IN
Xin Huang
Xin Huang, MD, is a pediatrician in Granger, IN, where many Medicaid patients face waits of more than six months for mental health diagnosis and treatment. She knows PPP training will strengthen her ability to provide holistic mental health care and reduce delays that can affect children’s family lives and academic success.
Sierra Howell, MD, MPH
Bethesda, MD
Sierra Howell
Sierra Howell, NP, is an active-duty pediatric nurse practitioner in Bethesda, MD, caring for children of military and foreign military families from a wide range of backgrounds. She hopes PPP training will broaden her mental health knowledge and enable her to care for her patients with unique needs from a variety of backgrounds.
Erin Hernandez, NP
Urbandale, IA
Erin Hernandez
Erin Hernandez, NP, is a primary care clinician who hopes the PPP will expand her ability to diagnose and manage mental health conditions for her community in Urbandale, IA. She values providing care in a familiar primary care setting and speaking to her patients and their families in their native Spanish language. She also takes time to understand patients’ experiences with trauma, discrimination, and other barriers so she can tailor care to their individual needs.
Yolandra Hancock, MD
Upper Marlboro, MD
Yolandra Hancock
Yolandra Hancock, MD, is a pediatrician in Upper Marlboro, MD, committed to improving access, continuity, and quality of mental health care for the families she serves. PPP training will help her implement evidence-based practices, strengthen care coordination, and address the social factors that shape children’s health. She intentionally provides affirming care to diverse family structures and adapts care plans around barriers such as transportation, work schedules, and access to resources.
Regina George, MD
Cockeysville, MD
Regina George
Regina George, MD, is a pediatrician in Cockeysville, MD, where about 90% of her patients are Hispanic or from other minority backgrounds and cultural stigma can make families reluctant to pursue specialty mental health care. The PPP will help her provide more comprehensive mental health care within the primary care setting. She is committed to creating an affirming environment for the children and families she serves.
Kristine Garcia, MD
Fresno, CA
Kristine Garcia
Kristine Garcia, MD, is a pediatrician in Fresno, CA, who looks forward to the PPP training improving timely access to mental health care and strengthening her confidence in using current treatment recommendations. She also looks forward to bringing what she learns to the medical students and residents she teaches. In a highly religious community, she values cultural competence and works to provide individualized support and guidance to patients of all identities.
Jacqueline Garavito, MD
Bradenton, FL
Jacqueline Garavito
Jacqueline Garavito, MD, is a pediatrician in Bradenton, FL, where a shortage of mental health services and limited Medicaid acceptance can leave families waiting months for specialty care. PPP training will help her clinic provide faster, more accessible treatment within primary care. She is committed to serving her diverse Hispanic community and recently supported an immigrant family by communicating in Spanish and helping identify the services they needed.
Jessica Francois, NP
Commerce City, CO
Jessica Francois
Jessica Francois, NP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner in Commerce City, CO, with more than a decade of experience as a pediatric nurse and school nurse and a particular passion for adolescent behavioral health. Her clinic serves many refugee and migrant families who view it as a trusted, welcoming space, and she knows the PPP will allow her to provide much-needed mental health care.
DeAngela Francis-Johnson, NP
Bossier City, LA
DeAngela Francis-Johnson
DeAngela Francis-Johnson, NP, is a nurse practitioner in Bossier City, LA, serving largely underserved, rural, and culturally diverse pediatric and maternal populations. The PPP will help her provide earlier, evidence-based care for ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other common needs while reducing reliance on specialty referrals. She is especially focused on inclusive care for neurodiverse children, adapting communication and accommodations while helping families navigate barriers such as transportation, stigma, and limited health literacy.
Charlyn Emmanuel, MD
Coconut Creek, FL
Charlyn Emmanuel
Charlyn Emmanuel, MD, is a pediatrician in Coconut Creek, FL, where many mental health clinicians do not accept Medicaid or insurance, leaving underserved families to compete for limited public services. PPP training will allow her to provide more comprehensive mental health care within the trusted primary care setting. She serves an open, diverse community and has made a concerted effort to improve her Spanish so she can communicate more effectively with the many Spanish-speaking families in her practice.
Birju Desai, MD
Reno, NV
Birju Desai
Birju Desai, MD, is a pediatrician in Reno, NV, working to address significant gaps in children’s mental health care across the state, particularly in rural and Hispanic communities. He looks forward to his PPP experience strengthening local pediatric capacity, improving care integration, and reducing unnecessary referrals and long waits. As a pediatric resident planning to serve rural Nevada, he sees the training as an opportunity to bring greater mental health expertise to communities where access is limited.
Jennifer Chu-Smith, MD
Vancouver, WA
Jennifer Chu-Smith
Jennifer Chu-Smith, MD, is a pediatrician in Vancouver, WA, where 70–80% of her patients are on Medicaid and access to mental health specialists can be challenging. She looks forward to the PPP program, which will allow her to build on her knowledge of her patients’ medical histories, school performance, and family dynamics to provide more comprehensive mental health care within the primary care setting. With many families facing language, transportation, and referral barriers, she sees keeping care in a familiar
Keyana Cardoza, PA
Lilburn, GA
Keyana Cardoza
Keyana Cardoza, PA, is a physician assistant in Lilburn, GA, serving primarily Medicaid-insured Black and Latino children and families. With mental health specialist wait times often exceeding six months, she knows PPP training will strengthen her confidence in assessing and treating common pediatric mental health conditions in primary care. She is committed to addressing the transportation, financial, and access barriers that affect many of her families and believes equitable care requires treating the whole person, not just the condition.
Jessica Blanding Hooper, MD
Sunset, LA
Jessica Blanding Hooper
Jessica Blanding Hooper, MD, is a pediatrician preparing to open a practice in a rural Louisiana community where most patients are on Medicaid and timely mental health services are difficult to access. The PPP program will strengthen her skills in assessment and pharmacotherapy, allowing her to provide more appropriate care and potentially create a referral pipeline for other pediatricians in the area. She is committed to serving families who have historically lacked access to high-quality healthcare and approaches every patient
Shelby Bell, NP
Forest, MS
Shelby Bell
Shelby Bell, NP, is a primary care clinician in Forest, MS, where patients often wait about six months to see the nearest psychiatrist, located an hour away. The PPP program will strengthen her ability to understand, diagnose, and manage common mental health conditions and provide a much-needed local resource for children and families. She is committed to culturally responsive care and has built relationships with local translators to better understand and serve her Hispanic and Latino patients.
Baynazier Ansari, MD
Gilbert, AZ
Baynazier Ansari
Baynazier Ansari, MD, is a pediatrician in Gilbert, AZ, who knows PPP training will help close gaps in mental health care and give patients more timely access to treatment, including medication when appropriate. She believes care delivered by a trusted primary care clinician can strengthen rapport and continuity for families. At her FQHC, she works to make care accessible through extended hours and professional language interpretation, informed in part by her own family’s experience with language barriers in healthcare.
Kimberly Amedee, NP
Conyers, GA
Kimberly Amedee
Kimberly Amedee, NP, is a nurse practitioner in Conyers, GA, pursuing a doctoral degree with a psychiatric concentration. PPP training will reinforce her education and provide a stronger foundation for addressing mental health needs in her community. She has advocated for individualized care by helping a pediatric patient and family find a mental health clinician with expertise in LGBTQ+ care rather than relying on a standard referral, ensuring their specific needs were heard and addressed.
Osama Aloudat, MD, NP
St. Louis, MO
Osama Aloudat
Osama Aloudat, MD, NP, is a primary care clinician in St. Louis, MO, where long waits for psychiatric services and a high proportion of Medicaid-insured patients can make timely mental health care difficult to access. PPP training will help him manage common pediatric mental health conditions within primary care while reserving specialty referrals for more complex needs. He prioritizes culturally and linguistically responsive care, using interpreters and adapting treatment plans to patients’ circumstances, including transportation, insurance, and family barriers.
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