The Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA), in collaboration with the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), hosts a comprehensive training series to support safe, confident, and effective clozapine prescribing in the post-REMS era.
Earn continuing education credit with seven expert-led modules that will help you:
Participants may complete any or all modules at their own pace. Each course is fully accredited and available at no cost through AAPP.
Built By Experts, Designed to Improve Care
MODULE 1
John Kane MD
Explore why clozapine remains underutilized despite strong evidence of its efficacy and learn how policy shifts and landmark trials are shaping its future in psychiatric care.
About John Kane, MD
John M. Kane, MD served as chair of psychiatry for 34 years at the Zucker Hillside Hospital and is currently the Co-Director of the Institute of Behavioral Research at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. He also served as the inaugural chair of Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell for 12 years.
He is the recipient of many awards, including the Lieber Prize, the APA’s Kempf Award and Foundations Prize, the New York State Office of Mental Health Lifetime Achievement Award, The Dean Award from the American College of Psychiatrists. He has served as President of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, the Psychiatry Research Society and the Schizophrenia International Research Society.
Dr. Kane has been the principal investigator on 24 U.S. National Institutes of Health grants focusing on schizophrenia, psychobiology and treatment, recovery, and improving the quality and cost of care. He is the author of over 930 peer-reviewed papers and serves on the editorial boards of numerous journals.
MODULE 2
Jonathan Meyer MD
Gain step-by-step guidance on starting, adjusting, and monitoring clozapine treatment, including drug interactions and dose optimization using plasma levels.
About Jonathan Meyer, MD
Dr. Jonathan Meyer is a Voluntary Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Meyer is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School, and finished psychiatry residency and fellowships at LA General Medical Center. Dr. Meyer has teaching duties at UC San Diego, is a Senior Academic Advisor to the California Department of State Hospitals, and is a psychopharmacology consultant to the first episode psychosis program at the Balboa Naval Medical Center.
Dr. Meyer has lectured and published extensively on psychopharmacology. Along with Dr. Stephen Stahl he is co-author of the Clozapine Handbook published in 2019, The Clinical Use of Antipsychotic Plasma Levels released in 2021, and The Lithium Handbook published in 2023, all three by Cambridge University Press.
MODULE 3
Deanna Kelly PharmD, BCPP
Learn how to manage absolute neutrophil (ANC) monitoring and neutropenia in the evolving post-REMS landscape, with practical strategies for safe and confident prescribing.
About Deanna Kelly, PharmD, BCPP
Dr. Deanna L. Kelly is an internationally recognized expert, researcher and clinician specializing in new treatments for people with severe mental health conditions. With 28 years of experience in clinical trials, particularly in people with psychotic disorders and schizophrenia, Dr. Kelly has led the field of psychiatry with studying more holistic science-based approaches with dietary interventions and supplemental treatments.
She is one of the leading experts in understanding the role of gluten and mental health, studies the gut microbiome in connection to brain function and behavior, has tested anti-inflammatory dietary interventions for improving psychiatric symptoms such as luteolin, prebiotics, ashwagandha, and gluten free diets and is helping to advance the field of metabolic psychiatry with advocating and studying ketogenic diets for mental health conditions. She strongly believes that diet has the potential to help improve mental health conditions and has NIH funded science demonstrating her results.
She is also an expert in the use of an underused medication clozapine with over 50 publications, national advocacy and has briefed both Congress and the Food and Drug Administration on this topic.
Dr. Kelly is the Dr. William and Carol Carpenter Professor of Psychiatry for Mental Illness Research at University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine. She is also the Director of the prestigious Maryland Psychiatric Research Center located in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Pharmacy where she earned both her Bachelor’s degree and doctorate. She is currently board certified in psychiatric pharmacy practice.
With over 250 published peer reviewed scientific papers, 20 books and chapters and over 200 invited lectures under her belt, she has helped to shape treatment guidelines and evidence-based care in schizophrenia. She has been awarded the Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award by the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) and named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. Additionally, she has been given several other honors such as the G. Van Greene Distinguished Lecturer at Mercer University, fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) and designated a prominent MPower Professor in Maryland.
Additionally, her work and scientific expertise has been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic, National Public Radio (NPR) online, Women’s Day Magazine, Gluten-Free Living, MedPage Today, the Daily News, Vice Media, Clinical Psychiatry News, Psychiatric News, Metabolic Mind, and Medscape Medical News.
She is an author on the soon to be released book on gluten and mental health, Get Your Brain off Grain.
MODULE 4
Dan Siskind MBBS, MPH, PhD, FRANZCP
Master strategies to prevent and manage clozapine’s most common and burdensome non-ANC side effects—from metabolic risks to sedation and constipation.
About Dan Siskind, MBBS, MPH, PhD, FRANZCP
Prof Siskind trained as a psychiatrist in Australia and the United States. He works clinically as a psychiatrist in Brisbane, Australia with people with treatment refractory schizophrenia. His research interests include treatment refractory schizophrenia, clozapine and the physical health comorbidities associated with schizophrenia. He has over 250 publications and AU$60million in competitive research grants, with over AU$7 million as CIA.
MODULE 5
Jonathan Leung PharmD, BCPS BCPP, FAAPP
This module addresses the unique challenges of prescribing clozapine in special populations—including medically complex, pediatric, elderly, and pregnant patients.
About Jonathan Leung, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, FAAPP
Jonathan G. Leung, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, FAAPP, is a pharmacist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he holds dual academic appointments as Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University in 2008, followed by completion of a PGY1 residency at Akron General Medical Center and a PGY2 residency in psychiatric pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. Since joining Mayo Clinic in 2012, Dr. Leung’s clinical practice has centered on ambulatory psychiatric care, including dedicated services in a clozapine clinic and long-acting injectable antipsychotic clinic. He also contributes to multidisciplinary care within the John E. Herman Home Treatment Facility, a residential psychiatric setting.
Dr. Leung’s primary professional interests focus on the safe and effective use of clozapine, advanced through patient care, research, and education. His work includes the development of institutional protocols for clozapine prescribing and monitoring, research on inflammation-related adverse effects, and advocacy for broader, evidence-based use of the medication. He has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and is a frequent educator on psychopharmacology topics across multiple disciplines and training levels.
MODULE 6
Robert Cotes MD
Examine the risks of discontinuation and discover when and how to safely taper, stop, or rechallenge clozapine in patients with serious adverse events.
About Robert Cotes, MD
Robert O. Cotes, MD, is a Professor at Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Dr. Cotes is Chief of Psychiatry at Grady Health System. He is the founder and Co-Director of the Clinical & Research Program for Psychosis at Grady Health System, which comprises of three clinical programs: 1) PSTAR, which provides evidence-based, recovery-oriented care for individuals with persistent symptoms of psychosis, specializing in the use of clozapine, and 2) Project ARROW, a coordinated specialty care team for people experiencing prodromal and early psychosis, and 3) Youth and Family TREE, a program for youth and young adults with co-occurring disorders.
His research focuses on clozapine, pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions for people with schizophrenia, cardiometabolic side effects of antipsychotic medication, and understanding the potential for digital biomarkers in mental health. He is Editor-In-Chief of Community Mental Health Journal.
MODULE 7
Raymond Love PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, FAAPP
Bethany Yeiser BS
Michael Brisbin Jr. BS
Angela Brisbin BSN, RN
Hear directly from patients and caregivers about clozapine’s impact on daily life and discover ways to improve shared decision-making and trust in treatment.
About Raymond Love PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, FAAPP
Raymond C. Love is Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland (UM) School of Pharmacy and consultant to the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors NASMHPD). He has also served as Professor of Psychiatry, UM School of Medicine (secondary appointment), Director of the School of Pharmacy Mental Health Program and a vice-chair and associate dean at the UM School of Pharmacy. Dr. Love is a graduate of the University of Maryland and went on to establish the first psychiatric clinical pharmacy services in the state of Maryland. In 1985, he established the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Mental Health Program. Since 1989, he has been involved in clozapine research and advocated for increased use of clozapine and the removal of barriers to its use.
Dr. Love is a past president of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (formerly CPNP, now the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. AAPP). He chaired the USP Expert Panel on Allergies and Intolerances, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Mental Health Workgroup, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Ethics SIG and a national interprofessional meeting on pharmacist administration of LAIs. He also serve as a commissioner on the Maryland Board of Pharmacy and chaired the board’s Pharmacy Practice Committee. Dr. Love has been a principal or co-investigator for over $175 million in grants and contracts. His contributions have been honored by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP), the Maryland Pharmacists Association, the Maryland Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, USP and CPNP/AAPP. He was honored to deliver the 68th Melendy Lecture at the University of Minnesota, was recognized for his leadership of the Maryland Medicaid Peer Review Program by the University’s Taghi Modaressi Center for Infant Study and is a recipient of the AAPP Judith Saklad Award. He is a Fellow of AAPP, ASHP and the National Academies of Practice.
About Bethany Yeiser, BS
Bethany Yeiser is president of the CURESZ Foundation which she established in 2016 with Dr. Henry Nasrallah. Before her gradual descent into schizophrenia, Bethany was a promising university honors student. By her third year at the university, she had published three articles in biochemistry, and was working as a violinist. In 2002, following her junior year of college, she spent three months as a volunteer in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya and Lagos, Nigeria, living in poverty. After her return from Africa, she had her first psychotic break. Because of undiagnosed and untreated mental illness, she was no longer able to focus on her studies. The insidious emergence of schizophrenia led her on a path away from the university and into a life of delusion and isolation. In 2003, Bethany left college, only to become homeless for four years. Eventually, a series of events led her to reclaim her life. In 2008, she made a full recovery. Bethany finished her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology with honor from the University of Cincinnati in 2011.
Today, Bethany is a sought–after motivational speaker with a passion to educate and inspire change in the way schizophrenia is perceived and treated, and in the stigma so negatively attached to this diagnosis. She has shared her story at numerous conferences and events for physicians and health care providers around the country. Her memoir Mind Estranged: My Journey from Schizophrenia and Homelessness to Recovery is her first book, published in the summer of 2014. In March of 2020, Bethany was awarded the Dr. Frederick Frese Award from the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America for her advocacy. Bethany’s second book, Awakenings: Stories of Recovery and Emergence from Schizophrenia, came out on February 9, 2024.
Bethany maintains a blog called “Recovery Road” on PsychologyToday.com. Her other interests include performing classical and popular music on violin, and studying ancient Hebrew and Mandarin Chinese.
About Michael Brisbin Jr., BS
Michael Brisbin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Social Work and is currently pursuing his Master of Social Work at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. He plans to become a licensed clinical social worker focused on supporting individuals with serious mental illness. Michael works as a librarian at Mid-Continent Public Library, where he serves his community through public service and education.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young adult, Michael has been treated with clozapine for several years and has experienced a remarkable recovery. He is a strong advocate for improving access to care and expanding education for both providers and families. He serves as a Special Government Employee and Patient Representative for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and participated on the FDA Clozapine advisory panel. Michael is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Greater Kansas City. He leads a NAMI peer support group for young adults living with mental illness, connecting with members across the country. Michael regularly shares his story to inspire others and to show that people with serious mental illness can live lives filled with purpose, connection, and hope. He most recently shared his perspective at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.
About Angela Brisbin, BSN, RN
Angela Brisbin is a critical care nurse at Lee’s Summit Medical Center in Missouri and a PMHNP student at the University of Missouri. She is the mother and primary caregiver of an adult son with schizophrenia who has experienced meaningful recovery with clozapine. Angela also grew up with a father who had schizophrenia, which shaped her lifelong commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by serious mental illness. She brings both professional and lived experience to her advocacy, with a focus on evidence-based treatment, early intervention, and caregiver involvement.
Angela is actively involved in national mental health advocacy. She manages a large peer support group called Team Daniel and the Clozapine Community and serves as an administrator for the nonprofit Team Daniel Running for Recovery from Mental Illness. She is also an assistant producer of the documentary Into the Light: Meaningful Recovery from Psychosis. Angela spoke at the FDA’s 2024 public joint advisory committee meeting on the Clozapine REMS program, calling for the removal of access barriers, and shared her caregiver perspective at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Through her advocacy, clinical experience, and education, Angela promotes recovery-oriented care that includes and empowers families.
The Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA), in collaboration with the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), hosts a comprehensive training series to support safe, confident, and effective clozapine prescribing in the post-REMS era.
Earn continuing education credit with seven expert-led modules that will help you:
Participants may complete any or all modules at their own pace. Each course is fully accredited and available at no cost through AAPP.
Built By Experts, Designed to Improve Care
Explore why clozapine remains underutilized despite strong evidence of its efficacy and learn how policy shifts and landmark trials are shaping its future in psychiatric care.
About John Kane, MD
John M. Kane, MD served as chair of psychiatry for 34 years at the Zucker Hillside Hospital and is currently the Co-Director of the Institute of Behavioral Research at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. He also served as the inaugural chair of Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell for 12 years.
He is the recipient of many awards, including the Lieber Prize, the APA’s Kempf Award and Foundations Prize, the New York State Office of Mental Health Lifetime Achievement Award, The Dean Award from the American College of Psychiatrists. He has served as President of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, the Psychiatry Research Society and the Schizophrenia International Research Society.
Dr. Kane has been the principal investigator on 24 U.S. National Institutes of Health grants focusing on schizophrenia, psychobiology and treatment, recovery, and improving the quality and cost of care. He is the author of over 930 peer-reviewed papers and serves on the editorial boards of numerous journals.
Gain step-by-step guidance on starting, adjusting, and monitoring clozapine treatment, including drug interactions and dose optimization using plasma levels.
About Jonathan Meyer, MD
Dr. Jonathan Meyer is a Voluntary Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Meyer is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School, and finished psychiatry residency and fellowships at LA General Medical Center. Dr. Meyer has teaching duties at UC San Diego, is a Senior Academic Advisor to the California Department of State Hospitals, and is a psychopharmacology consultant to the first episode psychosis program at the Balboa Naval Medical Center.
Dr. Meyer has lectured and published extensively on psychopharmacology. Along with Dr. Stephen Stahl he is co-author of the Clozapine Handbook published in 2019, The Clinical Use of Antipsychotic Plasma Levels released in 2021, and The Lithium Handbook published in 2023, all three by Cambridge University Press.
MODULE 3
Deanna Kelly PharmD, BCPP
Learn how to manage absolute neutrophil (ANC) monitoring and neutropenia in the evolving post-REMS landscape, with practical strategies for safe and confident prescribing.
About Deanna Kelly, PharmD, BCPP
Dr. Deanna L. Kelly is an internationally recognized expert, researcher and clinician specializing in new treatments for people with severe mental health conditions. With 28 years of experience in clinical trials, particularly in people with psychotic disorders and schizophrenia, Dr. Kelly has led the field of psychiatry with studying more holistic science-based approaches with dietary interventions and supplemental treatments.
She is one of the leading experts in understanding the role of gluten and mental health, studies the gut microbiome in connection to brain function and behavior, has tested anti-inflammatory dietary interventions for improving psychiatric symptoms such as luteolin, prebiotics, ashwagandha, and gluten free diets and is helping to advance the field of metabolic psychiatry with advocating and studying ketogenic diets for mental health conditions. She strongly believes that diet has the potential to help improve mental health conditions and has NIH funded science demonstrating her results.
She is also an expert in the use of an underused medication clozapine with over 50 publications, national advocacy and has briefed both Congress and the Food and Drug Administration on this topic.
Dr. Kelly is the Dr. William and Carol Carpenter Professor of Psychiatry for Mental Illness Research at University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine. She is also the Director of the prestigious Maryland Psychiatric Research Center located in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Pharmacy where she earned both her Bachelor’s degree and doctorate. She is currently board certified in psychiatric pharmacy practice.
With over 250 published peer reviewed scientific papers, 20 books and chapters and over 200 invited lectures under her belt, she has helped to shape treatment guidelines and evidence-based care in schizophrenia. She has been awarded the Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award by the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) and named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. Additionally, she has been given several other honors such as the G. Van Greene Distinguished Lecturer at Mercer University, fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) and designated a prominent MPower Professor in Maryland.
Additionally, her work and scientific expertise has been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic, National Public Radio (NPR) online, Women’s Day Magazine, Gluten-Free Living, MedPage Today, the Daily News, Vice Media, Clinical Psychiatry News, Psychiatric News, Metabolic Mind, and Medscape Medical News.
She is an author on the soon to be released book on gluten and mental health, Get Your Brain off Grain.
Master strategies to prevent and manage clozapine’s most common and burdensome non-ANC side effects—from metabolic risks to sedation and constipation.
About Dan Siskind, MBBS, MPH, PhD, FRANZCP
Prof Siskind trained as a psychiatrist in Australia and the United States. He works clinically as a psychiatrist in Brisbane, Australia with people with treatment refractory schizophrenia. His research interests include treatment refractory schizophrenia, clozapine and the physical health comorbidities associated with schizophrenia. He has over 250 publications and AU$60million in competitive research grants, with over AU$7 million as CIA.
This module addresses the unique challenges of prescribing clozapine in special populations—including medically complex, pediatric, elderly, and pregnant patients.
About Jonathan Leung, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, FAAPP
Jonathan G. Leung, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, FAAPP, is a pharmacist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he holds dual academic appointments as Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University in 2008, followed by completion of a PGY1 residency at Akron General Medical Center and a PGY2 residency in psychiatric pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. Since joining Mayo Clinic in 2012, Dr. Leung’s clinical practice has centered on ambulatory psychiatric care, including dedicated services in a clozapine clinic and long-acting injectable antipsychotic clinic. He also contributes to multidisciplinary care within the John E. Herman Home Treatment Facility, a residential psychiatric setting.
Dr. Leung’s primary professional interests focus on the safe and effective use of clozapine, advanced through patient care, research, and education. His work includes the development of institutional protocols for clozapine prescribing and monitoring, research on inflammation-related adverse effects, and advocacy for broader, evidence-based use of the medication. He has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and is a frequent educator on psychopharmacology topics across multiple disciplines and training levels.
Examine the risks of discontinuation and discover when and how to safely taper, stop, or rechallenge clozapine in patients with serious adverse events.
About Robert Cotes, MD
Robert O. Cotes, MD, is a Professor at Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Dr. Cotes is Chief of Psychiatry at Grady Health System. He is the founder and Co-Director of the Clinical & Research Program for Psychosis at Grady Health System, which comprises of three clinical programs: 1) PSTAR, which provides evidence-based, recovery-oriented care for individuals with persistent symptoms of psychosis, specializing in the use of clozapine, and 2) Project ARROW, a coordinated specialty care team for people experiencing prodromal and early psychosis, and 3) Youth and Family TREE, a program for youth and young adults with co-occurring disorders.
His research focuses on clozapine, pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions for people with schizophrenia, cardiometabolic side effects of antipsychotic medication, and understanding the potential for digital biomarkers in mental health. He is Editor-In-Chief of Community Mental Health Journal.
MODULE 7
Raymond Love PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, FAAPP
Bethany Yeiser BS
Michael Brisbin Jr. BS
Angela Brisbin BSN, RN
Hear directly from patients and caregivers about clozapine’s impact on daily life and discover ways to improve shared decision-making and trust in treatment.
About Raymond Love PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, FAAPP
Raymond C. Love is Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland (UM) School of Pharmacy and consultant to the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors NASMHPD). He has also served as Professor of Psychiatry, UM School of Medicine (secondary appointment), Director of the School of Pharmacy Mental Health Program and a vice-chair and associate dean at the UM School of Pharmacy. Dr. Love is a graduate of the University of Maryland and went on to establish the first psychiatric clinical pharmacy services in the state of Maryland. In 1985, he established the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Mental Health Program. Since 1989, he has been involved in clozapine research and advocated for increased use of clozapine and the removal of barriers to its use.
Dr. Love is a past president of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (formerly CPNP, now the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. AAPP). He chaired the USP Expert Panel on Allergies and Intolerances, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Mental Health Workgroup, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Ethics SIG and a national interprofessional meeting on pharmacist administration of LAIs. He also serve as a commissioner on the Maryland Board of Pharmacy and chaired the board’s Pharmacy Practice Committee. Dr. Love has been a principal or co-investigator for over $175 million in grants and contracts. His contributions have been honored by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP), the Maryland Pharmacists Association, the Maryland Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, USP and CPNP/AAPP. He was honored to deliver the 68th Melendy Lecture at the University of Minnesota, was recognized for his leadership of the Maryland Medicaid Peer Review Program by the University’s Taghi Modaressi Center for Infant Study and is a recipient of the AAPP Judith Saklad Award. He is a Fellow of AAPP, ASHP and the National Academies of Practice.
About Bethany Yeiser, BS
Bethany Yeiser is president of the CURESZ Foundation which she established in 2016 with Dr. Henry Nasrallah. Before her gradual descent into schizophrenia, Bethany was a promising university honors student. By her third year at the university, she had published three articles in biochemistry, and was working as a violinist. In 2002, following her junior year of college, she spent three months as a volunteer in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya and Lagos, Nigeria, living in poverty. After her return from Africa, she had her first psychotic break. Because of undiagnosed and untreated mental illness, she was no longer able to focus on her studies. The insidious emergence of schizophrenia led her on a path away from the university and into a life of delusion and isolation. In 2003, Bethany left college, only to become homeless for four years. Eventually, a series of events led her to reclaim her life. In 2008, she made a full recovery. Bethany finished her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology with honor from the University of Cincinnati in 2011.
Today, Bethany is a sought–after motivational speaker with a passion to educate and inspire change in the way schizophrenia is perceived and treated, and in the stigma so negatively attached to this diagnosis. She has shared her story at numerous conferences and events for physicians and health care providers around the country. Her memoir Mind Estranged: My Journey from Schizophrenia and Homelessness to Recovery is her first book, published in the summer of 2014. In March of 2020, Bethany was awarded the Dr. Frederick Frese Award from the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America for her advocacy. Bethany’s second book, Awakenings: Stories of Recovery and Emergence from Schizophrenia, came out on February 9, 2024.
Bethany maintains a blog called “Recovery Road” on PsychologyToday.com. Her other interests include performing classical and popular music on violin, and studying ancient Hebrew and Mandarin Chinese.
About Michael Brisbin Jr., BS
Michael Brisbin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Social Work and is currently pursuing his Master of Social Work at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. He plans to become a licensed clinical social worker focused on supporting individuals with serious mental illness. Michael works as a librarian at Mid-Continent Public Library, where he serves his community through public service and education.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young adult, Michael has been treated with clozapine for several years and has experienced a remarkable recovery. He is a strong advocate for improving access to care and expanding education for both providers and families. He serves as a Special Government Employee and Patient Representative for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and participated on the FDA Clozapine advisory panel. Michael is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Greater Kansas City. He leads a NAMI peer support group for young adults living with mental illness, connecting with members across the country. Michael regularly shares his story to inspire others and to show that people with serious mental illness can live lives filled with purpose, connection, and hope. He most recently shared his perspective at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.
About Angela Brisbin, BSN, RN
Angela Brisbin is a critical care nurse at Lee’s Summit Medical Center in Missouri and a PMHNP student at the University of Missouri. She is the mother and primary caregiver of an adult son with schizophrenia who has experienced meaningful recovery with clozapine. Angela also grew up with a father who had schizophrenia, which shaped her lifelong commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by serious mental illness. She brings both professional and lived experience to her advocacy, with a focus on evidence-based treatment, early intervention, and caregiver involvement.
Angela is actively involved in national mental health advocacy. She manages a large peer support group called Team Daniel and the Clozapine Community and serves as an administrator for the nonprofit Team Daniel Running for Recovery from Mental Illness. She is also an assistant producer of the documentary Into the Light: Meaningful Recovery from Psychosis. Angela spoke at the FDA’s 2024 public joint advisory committee meeting on the Clozapine REMS program, calling for the removal of access barriers, and shared her caregiver perspective at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Through her advocacy, clinical experience, and education, Angela promotes recovery-oriented care that includes and empowers families.
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