Our Leadership

Board of Directors

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Angela Babaev

D.N.P., C.N.S., M.S.N.

Chair
Queens, NY

Currently serving as the Assistant Vice President for Education and Nursing Recruitment at SBH Bronx Health System, Dr. Babaev is dedicated to promoting excellence in patient care through the development of nursing staff, evidence-based nursing practices, and an environment that continually redefines quality patient care. In her 30+ years of experience, Dr. Babaev has overseen the educational, managerial, and financial operations for a nursing staff of 1,500, created an innovative nurse recruitment and retention program, led workshops locally and internationally, served as a Lecturer of Program for International Nurses, and served as an advocate and board member for NAMI-QN. Today, she serves as 2021 president-elect of the Greater New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders.

Currently serving as the Assistant Vice President for Education and Nursing Recruitment at SBH Bronx Health System, Dr. Babaev is dedicated to promoting excellence in patient care through the development of nursing staff, evidence-based nursing practices, and an environment that continually redefines quality patient care. In her 30+ years of experience, Dr. Babaev has overseen the educational, managerial, and financial operations for a nursing staff of 1,500, created an innovative nurse recruitment and retention program, led workshops locally and internationally, served as a Lecturer of Program for International Nurses, and served as an advocate and board member for NAMI-QN. Today, she serves as 2021 president-elect of the Greater New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders.

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Linda L. Mimms

M.A.

Vice Chair
San Diego, CA

Linda has been an advocate for reform in public policy, law, insurance and treatment protocols for people living with serious neurobiological brain disorders for more than 12 years. She began her career as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for Xerox Corporation, moved on to working for the U.S. State Department in Boston and then as U.S. Sen. Alan J. Dixon’s Government Affairs/Legislative Analyst Assistant in Chicago and Washington, D.C. As the creator and manager of the Public Relations and Employee Communications Department for Quill Corporation, Linda authored and edited seven informational books and manuals on business productivity, with more than 100 articles and business tips published nationally in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and catalogs. She has been a featured speaker at several national meetings, including the Capitol Hill briefing “People With Schizophrenia Face Severe Treatment Barriers: Regulatory, Policy Solutions Urgently Needed To Address Inequity,” in May 2023; the Public Policy Panel at the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance 2020 symposium; The Hill 2021 national event “The New Role of Telehealth;” and Center Forward’s 2022 Capitol Hill Healthcare Summit. Linda’s podcasts, commentaries and editorials addressing the lack of a continuum of care and criminalization of those with serious brain disorders, one of the greatest injustices of our time, have been published nationally and locally.

Linda earned an M.A. in Public Policy from Duke University and a B.A. in Anthropology from Lawrence University. She is Vice Chair of S&PAA and a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the California Coalition for CARE/Grave Disability Workgroup and the National Shattering Silence Coalition (NSSC). She serves on Lawrence University’s President’s Advisory Council. In 2020, she established the Lawrence Fund for Serious Mental Illness Advocacy Internships to give students the opportunity to learn about serious brain diseases, their criminalization and how to build solutions for better access to medical treatment with supportive care and housing.

Linda has been an advocate for reform in public policy, law, insurance and treatment protocols for people living with serious neurobiological brain disorders for more than 12 years. She began her career as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for Xerox Corporation, moved on to working for the U.S. State Department in Boston and then as U.S. Sen. Alan J. Dixon’s Government Affairs/Legislative Analyst Assistant in Chicago and Washington, D.C. As the creator and manager of the Public Relations and Employee Communications Department for Quill Corporation, Linda authored and edited seven informational books and manuals on business productivity, with more than 100 articles and business tips published nationally in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and catalogs. She has been a featured speaker at several national meetings, including the Capitol Hill briefing “People With Schizophrenia Face Severe Treatment Barriers: Regulatory, Policy Solutions Urgently Needed To Address Inequity,” in May 2023; the Public Policy Panel at the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance 2020 symposium; The Hill 2021 national event “The New Role of Telehealth;” and Center Forward’s 2022 Capitol Hill Healthcare Summit. Linda’s podcasts, commentaries and editorials addressing the lack of a continuum of care and criminalization of those with serious brain disorders, one of the greatest injustices of our time, have been published nationally and locally.

Linda earned an M.A. in Public Policy from Duke University and a B.A. in Anthropology from Lawrence University. She is Vice Chair of S&PAA and a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the California Coalition for CARE/Grave Disability Workgroup and the National Shattering Silence Coalition (NSSC). She serves on Lawrence University’s President’s Advisory Council. In 2020, she established the Lawrence Fund for Serious Mental Illness Advocacy Internships to give students the opportunity to learn about serious brain diseases, their criminalization and how to build solutions for better access to medical treatment with supportive care and housing.

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Holly Krasa

M.Sc.

Treasurer
Washington, DC

Holly is CEO and Managing Director of Blue Persimmon Group — a non-profit advocacy and life sciences consulting firm. Holly is a global medical product development leader and health outcomes researcher working to incorporate lived experience in new treatment approvals, system change and access to evidence-based care. She has successfully developed clinical outcome measures, biomarkers, first-in-disease and first-of-kind treatments across brain, heart, kidney and rare diseases. Holly received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Neurobiology and Physiology from Northwestern University.

Holly is CEO and Managing Director of Blue Persimmon Group — a non-profit advocacy and life sciences consulting firm. Holly is a global medical product development leader and health outcomes researcher working to incorporate lived experience in new treatment approvals, system change and access to evidence-based care. She has successfully developed clinical outcome measures, biomarkers, first-in-disease and first-of-kind treatments across brain, heart, kidney and rare diseases. Holly received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Neurobiology and Physiology from Northwestern University.

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Theresa Frangiosa

M.B.A.

Secretary
Royersford, PA

Terry held executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry over a 25-year career before establishing Frangiosa and Associates, LLC in 2013, where she serves as Principal and Chief Executive Officer. In this role, she provides guidance on a broad range of strategic decisions, integrating expertise into product and disease strategies, medical and scientific communications, and patient and caregiver advocacy efforts. She currently serves as Board Secretary for Cohen Veterans Bioscience. She obtained her Bachelor of Administration, Accounting Concentration from Ursinus College and her Master of Business Administration, Pharmaceutical Marketing from St. Joseph’s University.

Terry held executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry over a 25-year career before establishing Frangiosa and Associates, LLC in 2013, where she serves as Principal and Chief Executive Officer. In this role, she provides guidance on a broad range of strategic decisions, integrating expertise into product and disease strategies, medical and scientific communications, and patient and caregiver advocacy efforts. She currently serves as Board Secretary for Cohen Veterans Bioscience. She obtained her Bachelor of Administration, Accounting Concentration from Ursinus College and her Master of Business Administration, Pharmaceutical Marketing from St. Joseph’s University.

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Anthony Brown

B.S.N., P.H.N., R.N.

Board Member
Anaheim, CA

Anthony is the founder and director of Coordinating & Assisting Recovery Environments located in Anaheim, CA. Since 1999, Anthony’s passion has been focused on providing specialized treatment for individuals who suffer with a mental illness combined with a substance use disorder. After graduation in 2004, Anthony launched his career in Southern California where he began to specialize in co-occurring disorders. This eventually led him into a four-year partnership with a prominent treatment center where he developed and directed a long-term residential treatment model for this specialized population. In 2013, Anthony introduced Coordinating & Assisting Recovery Environments (C.A.R.E.) as a community-based recovery program. He is the author of the life changing book “From Park Bench to Park Avenue.” Anthony is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton, where he received his B.S. in Nursing. Anthony has received numerous awards and certificates in the field of Addiction Counseling, Anger Management, and Dual Diagnoses.

Anthony is the founder and director of Coordinating & Assisting Recovery Environments located in Anaheim, CA. Since 1999, Anthony’s passion has been focused on providing specialized treatment for individuals who suffer with a mental illness combined with a substance use disorder. After graduation in 2004, Anthony launched his career in Southern California where he began to specialize in co-occurring disorders. This eventually led him into a four-year partnership with a prominent treatment center where he developed and directed a long-term residential treatment model for this specialized population. In 2013, Anthony introduced Coordinating & Assisting Recovery Environments (C.A.R.E.) as a community-based recovery program. He is the author of the life changing book “From Park Bench to Park Avenue.” Anthony is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton, where he received his B.S. in Nursing. Anthony has received numerous awards and certificates in the field of Addiction Counseling, Anger Management, and Dual Diagnoses.

Marina Dorotheo

Marina Dorotheo, M.S.​

M.Ed.

Board Member
Arlington, VA

Marina has extensive experience in bringing novel digital solutions to the market, specific to brain health and cardiometabolic conditions. Marina currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Welldoc, a digital health company, focused on integrating AI driven digital chronic care into health care models.   Previously Marina served in commercial leadership roles at Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Inc., where she ran several innovation programs focused on schizophrenia and other brain disorders.  There, she led the commercialization of the first digital medicine approved by the FDA, as well as a digital health care coordination program in collaboration with IBM Watson, Judge Steve Leifman, and the Miami-Dade County Behavioral Health ecosystem.   She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.

Mindy Greiling served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, where she initiated the first state bipartisan mental health caucus after her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She served on state and national NAMI boards and is the immediate past president of NAMI Ramsey County. She co-chairs NAMI Ramsey County’s advocacy for Clubhouse International and is leading advocacy for more affordable housing that fits people with serious mental illnesses. Greiling’s memoir, Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son, was published in 2020, and she co-hosts the podcast Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches.

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Mindy Greiling

M.Ed.

Board Member
Roseville, MN

Mindy Greiling served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, where she initiated the first state bipartisan mental health caucus after her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She served on state and national NAMI boards and is the immediate past president of NAMI Ramsey County. She co-chairs NAMI Ramsey County’s advocacy for Clubhouse International and is leading advocacy for more affordable housing that fits people with serious mental illnesses. Greiling’s memoir, Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son, was published in 2020, and she co-hosts the podcast Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches.

Mindy Greiling served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, where she initiated the first state bipartisan mental health caucus after her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She served on state and national NAMI boards and is the immediate past president of NAMI Ramsey County. She co-chairs NAMI Ramsey County’s advocacy for Clubhouse International and is leading advocacy for more affordable housing that fits people with serious mental illnesses. Greiling’s memoir, Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son, was published in 2020, and she co-hosts the podcast Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches.

Matcheri Keshavan

Matcheri Keshavan

M.D.

Board Member
Boston, MA

Dr. Keshavan is the Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, where he is the Academic Head of Psychiatry at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He joined the faculty of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and the Massachusetts Mental Health Center in 2008. His work focuses on neurobiological models of schizophrenia and on the development and implementation of early interventions with biopsychosocial treatment strategies. He is the editor of Schizophrenia Research, the official journal of the Schizophrenia International Research Society.

Dr. Keshavan is the Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, where he is the Academic Head of Psychiatry at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He joined the faculty of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and the Massachusetts Mental Health Center in 2008. His work focuses on neurobiological models of schizophrenia and on the development and implementation of early interventions with biopsychosocial treatment strategies. He is the editor of Schizophrenia Research, the official journal of the Schizophrenia International Research Society.

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Robert Laitman

M.D.

Board Member
Bedford, NY

Dr. Laitman is a private practice physician in Bronx, New York. He specializes in internal medicine, nephrology, geriatrics, and the optimal management of clozapine. He loves being a physician and involves himself in the total care of his patients. When his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2006, Robert expanded his practice and became an expert on the treatment of psychosis spectrum disorders and began to specialize in the optimal management of clozapine.

Dr. Laitman is a private practice physician in Bronx, New York. He specializes in internal medicine, nephrology, geriatrics, and the optimal management of clozapine. He loves being a physician and involves himself in the total care of his patients. When his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2006, Robert expanded his practice and became an expert on the treatment of psychosis spectrum disorders and began to specialize in the optimal management of clozapine.

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Tim Murphy

Ph.D.

Board Member
Mt. Lebanon, PA

Dr. Murphy’s professional work includes over 40 years in healthcare, government service, military, education, and media. He was the only mental health professional in the U.S. House of Representatives with this unique background. Recognized as the national leader in mental health reform, his multi-year investigation into federal problems with mental health policy culminated with a comprehensive bill, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, praised as the most substantial mental health reform in over half a century. The bill passed the House of Representatives 422-2 and was amended into the 21st Century Cures Act signed into law by President Obama in December 2016.

Dr. Murphy’s professional work includes over 40 years in healthcare, government service, military, education, and media. He was the only mental health professional in the U.S. House of Representatives with this unique background. Recognized as the national leader in mental health reform, his multi-year investigation into federal problems with mental health policy culminated with a comprehensive bill, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, praised as the most substantial mental health reform in over half a century. The bill passed the House of Representatives 422-2 and was amended into the 21st Century Cures Act signed into law by President Obama in December 2016.

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Mary Palafox

R.N.

Board Member
Orange County, CA

Mary is a registered nurse of 35 years with experience in nursing administration, supervision, and patient care coordination for inpatient and ambulatory care services. She’s known for her innovative and creative abilities in developing systems of practice that are easily managed by a wide variety of medical personnel. Her journey into the mental health system began when her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Since then, Mary has remained a devoted advocate on the local, state, and national levels for healthcare integration, crisis intervention, and the classification of schizophrenia as a neurological brain disorder.

Mary is a registered nurse of 35 years with experience in nursing administration, supervision, and patient care coordination for inpatient and ambulatory care services. She’s known for her innovative and creative abilities in developing systems of practice that are easily managed by a wide variety of medical personnel. Her journey into the mental health system began when her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Since then, Mary has remained a devoted advocate on the local, state, and national levels for healthcare integration, crisis intervention, and the classification of schizophrenia as a neurological brain disorder.

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Kurt A. Talbot

M.B.A.

Board Member
Boerne, TX

Kurt is an experienced investor with deep expertise in problem-solving and investment prioritization for companies and private energy projects globally. He is the co-founder of EIG Global Energy Partners and served as the Chief Investment Officer and Chair of the Environmental Social Governance Committee. While at Goldman Sachs, he founded its oil and gas direct investment team in Houston. He has a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University and holds an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University.

Kurt is an experienced investor with deep expertise in problem-solving and investment prioritization for companies and private energy projects globally. He is the co-founder of EIG Global Energy Partners and served as the Chief Investment Officer and Chair of the Environmental Social Governance Committee. While at Goldman Sachs, he founded its oil and gas direct investment team in Houston. He has a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University and holds an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University.

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Joel White

B.S.

Board Member
McLean, VA

Joel founded Horizon Government Affairs in 2007 and is a veteran of Capitol Hill who served as staff director for the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. He also is president of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, whose mission is to lower health costs for all Americans. He founded a service organization called Arlington Bridge Builders, which serves 20,000 low income food- and housing-insecure people in his community. He is on the board of directors of the Samaritan Inns, one of the largest homeless treatment and housing shelters in Washington, D.C. Joel spent 12 years on Capitol Hill as professional staff, where he helped enact nine laws, including the 2002 Trade Act, the 2003 law that established the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Health Savings Accounts, the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act and the 2006 Tax Reform and Health Care Act. Joel is co-author of the book Facts and Figures on Government Finance and holds a B.S. in Economics from the American University.

Joel founded Horizon Government Affairs in 2007 and is a veteran of Capitol Hill who served as staff director for the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. He also is president of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, whose mission is to lower health costs for all Americans. He founded a service organization called Arlington Bridge Builders, which serves 20,000 low income food- and housing-insecure people in his community. He is on the board of directors of the Samaritan Inns, one of the largest homeless treatment and housing shelters in Washington, D.C. Joel spent 12 years on Capitol Hill as professional staff, where he helped enact nine laws, including the 2002 Trade Act, the 2003 law that established the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Health Savings Accounts, the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act and the 2006 Tax Reform and Health Care Act. Joel is co-author of the book Facts and Figures on Government Finance and holds a B.S. in Economics from the American University.

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Michael Wolfe

B.B.A.

Board Member
Doylestown, PA

Mike spent nearly 37 years at Johnson & Johnson in executive management positions with a strong focus on patient advocacy leadership responsibilities across brain health and neuroscience.  He held leadership roles in sales, sales management, marketing, payer, policy and advocacy (advocacy group types: patient, professional and trade organizations), and built and led several innovative and successful internal and external coalitions.  He also held commercial, Medicaid and state mental healthcare system responsibilities across New York and New England. Mike obtained his BBA in Marketing from East Tennessee State University.

Mike spent nearly 37 years at Johnson & Johnson in executive management positions with a strong focus on patient advocacy leadership responsibilities across brain health and neuroscience.  He held leadership roles in sales, sales management, marketing, payer, policy and advocacy (advocacy group types: patient, professional and trade organizations), and built and led several innovative and successful internal and external coalitions.  He also held commercial, Medicaid and state mental healthcare system responsibilities across New York and New England. Mike obtained his BBA in Marketing from East Tennessee State University.

CEO

Gordon Lavigne

M.Ed.

Alexandria, VA

Gordon joined Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance as CEO in November 2020. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Operations since September 2018.

Before joining the organization, Gordon held executive management positions with leading nonprofits including the Alzheimer’s Association, the ALS Association, and Autism Society of America coordinating and executing strategies to accelerate organizational growth. 

Gordon earned a B.S. in Psychology from Lewis & Clark College and a Master of Education degree from the University of Vermont.

Director of Operations

Marissa Shepherd

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Marissa joined the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance in March 2023. Previously, she was the founding Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Medical University Health Care clinic and Center for Integrated Primary and Mental Health Care. She has a LEAN/Six-Sigma Green Belt and more than a decade of experience in management, operations, finance and grant accountancy for nonprofit organizations. Her career and interests are focused on reducing healthcare disparities and advancement of marginalized individuals and groups.

Marissa is a Certified Public Accountant, and earned a Master’s degree in Professional Accountancy and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas.   

Director of Research and Scientific Affairs

Arundati (Arun) Nagendra

Ph.D.

Boston, MA

Arun joined the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance in May 2023. She is spearheading the development and execution of a scientific strategic plan that will leverage research projects and science communication to better serve the needs of those with lived experience of schizophrenia and related disorders.

Arun earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her clinical fellowship at Yale University’s School of Medicine, and her postdoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Science Advisor

Eva Velthorst

Ph.D.

New York City, NY

As our organization’s Science Advisor, Dr. Velthorst leads efforts to accelerate our scientific agenda by managing initiatives, including our participation in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership in Schizophrenia Steering Committee. Launched by the National Institute of Health, this committee unites researchers and clinicians with leaders of industry, regulatory agencies, and government entities on topics related to biomarker testing, potential new investigational treatments, and use of innovative approaches for studying schizophrenia and psychosis spectrum disorders.

Dr. Velthorst is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Training Faculty of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2011.

Before receiving the NARSAD Young Investigator award, Eva completed two grants awarded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research that allowed her to examine a potential intervention for as well as determinants of social disengagement in schizophrenia. In 2019, she became an Associate Member of American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Director of Community Engagement

Sandy Dimiterchik

Lafayette, LA

Sandy engages with and supports the schizophrenia community on S&PAA’s behalf on a number of fronts, including coordinating support group resources and helping with training leaders and coleaders of the Schizophrenia Alliance: Psychosis Support & Acceptance groups and Families for Care groups. She has worked for S&PAA since 2017, starting as the Schizophrenia Alliance Staff Supporter in 2017. Sandy also is a certified career coach and peer support specialist. Awarded SARDAA Volunteer of the Year in 2015, she also volunteers as a group leader for the free support groups for people with schizophrenia or related disorders.

Sandy earned her Bachelor of Science at Louisiana State University and a Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising from Kansas State University.

Schizophrenics Anonymous Founder and Inaugural Board Member

Joanne Verbanic

Farmington, MI

Joanne retired from the Ford Motor Credit Union. In her own words, “I committed to devote the rest of my life to helping other people with mental illness and believe this is God’s plan for my life. I receive so much support from the members of SA and have met the most caring, compassionate people. It was my goal to make SA a national group, and I will continue the endeavor as long as I live.” Joanne fulfilled her life’s commitment until the day she died on May 7, 2015.

Medical Advisory Committee

Matcheri Keshavan, MD

Committee Chair
Boston, MA

As part of a major research initiative, Dr. Keshavan joined the faculty of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Psychiatry in 2008. His work focuses on neurobiological models of Schizophrenia and on the development and implementation of early interventions with biopsychosocial treatment strategies. He also serves as the Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School’s Vice Chair of Public Psychiatry.

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