SPEAKERS

Susan Gingerich, M.S.W. (Keynote Speaker)

Carlos A. Zarate, M.D. - Chief Experimental Therapeutics of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, NIMH

Lucinda Miner, Ph.D. - Deputy Director, Office of Science Policy and Communications, NIDA

Kevin Martone, L.S.W. - Assistant Commissioner, Division of Mental Health Services

Celina Gray - Executive Director, Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma, NJ Division of Mental Health Services

Eric Arauz - Choices Program, UMDNJ

Sylvia Axelrod, M.A. - Executive Director, NAMI NJ

Lorrie Baumann, M.A. - Coordinator, Educating the Educators & Every Mind Matters, NAMI NJ

Libby Bartholomew, M.Div. - Hearts and Minds, NAMI NJ

Ray Deeney, Esq. - Seton Hall Law School

Steven M. Fishbein, M.S., C.R.C., L.R.C. - Supervisor, Rehabilitation Services, NJ DMHS

Thomas Garrity - Chief of Police, Collingswood Police Department

David C. Henderson, M.D. - Director of the Schizophrenia Diabetes and Weight Reduction Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital

Patti Holland, M.S., C.R.C. - Assistant Director, Office of Housing and Community Development, Division of Mental Health Services

Phillip Lubitz, M.S.W. - Director of Advocacy Programs, NAMI New Jersey

Barbara Neary, M.S.A. - Assistant Director, Office of Community Services, NJ DMHS

Maureen O’Brien, Esq. - Union County Prosecutors Office

Joanne Patalano, A.P.N. - Clinical & Community Services Administrator, Division of Children's Behavioral Health Services

Mark Perrin, M.D. - President, NAMI NJ

Aruna Rao, M.A. - Director of Educational Programs, NAMI NJ

Gregory Roberts, M.S.W. - Assistant Director for the Office of Housing and Community Development for NJ DMHS

Anthony Towns, M.H.S. - Program Coordinator, Coming Home project, Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Susan Gingerich, M.S.W.

Susan Gingerich, M.S.W., is an independent trainer and consultant based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has over 25 years of direct clinical experience working with persons with mental illness and their families. Susan and Kim Mueser are the co-authors of Illness Management and Recovery (sometimes referred to as Wellness Management and Recovery), a program for helping individuals identify personally meaningful goals and learn strategies and skills that will help them achieve those goals. Ms. Gingerich has co-authored four books with Dr. Mueser, including Coping with Schizophrenia: A Guide for Families (1994), Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia: A Step-by-Step Guide, 2nd Edition (2004), The Coping Skills Group: A Session-by-Session Guide (2005), and The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia: Helping Your Loved One Get the Most Out of Life ( 2006), which received the 2007 Ken Book Award from the New York Metro Chapter of NAMI. 

Carlos A. Zarate, M.D.

Carlos A. Zarate, M.D. is Chief Experimental Therapeutics of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University.

Dr. Zarate completed a Fellowship in Clinical Psychopharmacology at McLean Hospital from 1992-1993, after which he remained as a staff member until 1998. At McLean Hospital of the Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Zarate was the Director of the Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Outpatient Services, Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, and Director of the New and Experimental Clinic. From 1998 to 2000 Dr. Zarate was the Chief of the Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Chair of the Grand Rounds Committee at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In January 2001, he joined the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Dr. Zarate has published extensively on the pathophysiology and treatment of major depressive disorders and bipolar disorder. His research interests include the investigation of the pathophysiology of mood disorders and the development of novel therapeutics for patients with mood disorders.

Lucinda Miner, Ph.D.

Cindy Miner is the Deputy Director of the Office of Science Policy and Communications (OSPC) at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). OSPC coordinates NIDA’s legislative, constituent, and press outreach activities as well as oversees the institutes’ research planning evaluation efforts. She received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Colorado in 1986. Following research work at the Universities of Minnesota and Pittsburgh, Cindy joined NIDA in 1992 to establish the Molecular Genetics Section which focused on using state of the art genetic approaches to develop new animal models of addiction. In 1996, Cindy joined the Science Policy Branch of OSPC to help coordinate NIDA’ s research training program and was promoted to Chief of the Science Policy Branch in 2000. During her career, Cindy has published numerous papers and book chapters on the genetic and biochemical bases of addiction.

Kevin Martone, L.S.W.

Kevin Martone is the Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services in the Department of Human Services. The Division contracts with more than 120 private non-profit agencies that provide mental health services throughout New Jersey, and is responsible for the operations of five State-run psychiatric hospitals. Prior to this, Kevin served as the President/CEO for Advance Housing, a non-profit supportive housing provider in northern New Jersey, as Vice President of the Supportive Housing Association (SHA) of New Jersey. Kevin also served on Governor Codey’s Task Force on Mental Health as the Housing Advisory Committee Chairperson. Kevin is a Licensed Social Worker and has a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University.

Celina Gray

Celina Gray is the Executive Director of the Governor’s Council on Mental Health, and has done most of her work in non-profit. She started her non-profit career at a theater company. She went on to do public relations, marketing, and fund development for the March of Dimes, and then to the North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC), where she spent six years focused on bringing quality health care to the underserved and underinsured. Most recently, Celina did the marketing and media for VNA of Central Jersey. Her passion for creating healthy communities is reflected in her work as a member of the NJ Primary Care Association State Marketing Board, the Home Care Association of NJ Marketing Task Force, as Health Center Advocacy Coordinator for the National Association of Community Health Centers, and in her participation in the American Cancer Society Jersey City Initiative and the Monmouth Cancer Coalition. Celina presently sits on the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs PTSD Task Force, and the Monmouth County Education Initiative Committee. She is grateful for the opportunity to join the effort to combat stigma and looks forward with great anticipation to making an impact on an issue whose time has come.

Eric Arauz

Eric Arauz is a nationally renowned inspirational speaker. This fall, he will begin a doctoral program in the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education at Rutgers University, focusing on preventing suicide in US colleges. Eric is President of Arauz Inspirational Enterprises, and also works for the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. program through UMDNJ, a consumer Tobacco Advocate program. He is a state trainer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness In Our Own Voice Program and serves as a consultant to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency on Mental Illness and Chemical Dependency. Eric recently appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America on a six segment special on Mind, Mood, and Mental Illness. Eric also appeared with NAMI Medical Director, Dr. Ken Duckworth on a national radio media tour for NAMI National for Bipolar Awareness day. Eric is a disabled Veteran who served in Operation Dessert Storm.

Sylvia Axelrod, M.A.

Sylvia Axelrod has been Executive Director of NAMI NEW JERSEY since 1992 and has worked in mental health field for over twenty five years. She served as a member of Governor Codey’s Task Force on Mental Health and Chaired Task Force’s Parity and Stigma Advisory Committee. She is currently Vice Chair of the Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma. She is the recipient of numerous honors including the NJ Community Health Law Project Ann Klein Advocacy Award for outstanding contribution to mental health advocacy and the 2007 Eli Lilly “Welcome Back” Award for De-stigmatization. Sylvia received her BA Degree from Brooklyn College and her MA Degree from Keane University.

Lorrie Baumann, M.A.

Lorrie Baumann is the coordinator of three of NAMI NJ’s educational programs: Educating the Educator for education professionals, Every Mind Matters for students, and Mental Health Wellness for educators and the general public. She is an educator with 28 years experience. Lorrie received the nation's highest honor for science teachers, the Presidential Award of Excellence. She was selected Somerset County Teacher of the Year and studied education in Japan as part of the Fullbright Memorial Fund Program. She has a BA in Biology from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and holds over 80 graduate credits in science and education.

Libby Bartholomew, M.Div.

Libby is from Lawrenceville, NJ. She graduated from Duke University with a BA in Religion, and also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She first became ill at the age of 26, while working for the Church as a Director of their Youth Ministries Program. She has held several jobs since being out of the hospital. Currently, she is the coordinator for NAMI NJ’ s Hearts and Minds program. She has just finished volunteering as a Deacon for her local church and she also enjoys volunteering as a team leader for NAMI Mercer’s social group,” Just Friends”. She first became involved with NAMI in 1997. Her parents are also active in NAMI and live nearby Pennington, NJ. She enjoys getting together with them for dinner, and social events. She believes in recovery and overcoming the stigma against mental illness.

Ray Deeney, Esq.

For 25 years, Mr Deeney worked for the NJ Division of Mental Health Services at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital an as a Legal Office and Special Assistant to the Division Director. His extensive experience involves all aspects of psychiatric civil commitment as well as the experience of individuals with mental illness within the criminal justice system. He is a licensed attorney who has taught a Law and Mental Disability class for the past ten years at Seton Hall Law School.

Steven M. Fishbein, MS, CRC, LRC

Steve has over 33 years of experience as a practitioner, supervisor, administrator and trainer in vocational and psychiatric rehabilitation. He is currently Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services, Office of Housing and Community Development, DMHS, where he oversees all the division's employment programs, is the liaison to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and responsible for Social Security work incentive issues. He provides training and technical assistance to community provider organizations, consumers and families on vocational and psychiatric rehabilitation. Steve also co-chaired the community workforce development committee of the Wellness and Recovery Implementation Committee. Steve has a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling, is a certified and licensed Rehabilitation Counselor, and an Adjunct Clinical Instructor at UMDNJ-SHRP. He has received a Deans Citation from that school, is a Mary Switzer Fellow of the National Rehabilitation Association, the first recipient of the annual Rebecca McDonald Memorial Leadership Award from the NJ Association of Persons in Supported Employment, and the 2004 recipient of the Mort Gati Ward from the NJ Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. He has authored a number of articles and publication.

Thomas Garrity

Chief Garrity has been with the Collingswood Police Department for over 23 years, serving as the Chief of Police for the past 12 years. Chief Garrity is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and is currently working on his Masters Degree with Farleigh Dickinson University. Chief Garrity was part of creating the very first Mental Health CIT Unit in New Jersey, certifying 21 CIT Officers within the Collingswood Police Department, Camden County, based on a National CIT model of the Memphis Police Department. Chief Garrity was trained and certified in CIT by the Memphis Police Department and became the first CIT Certified Police Officer in the State of New Jersey.

David C. Henderson, M.D.

David C. Henderson, MD, is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Associate Psychiatrist at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He serves as the Medical Director for the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma at MGH and the Associate Director of the MGH International Psychiatry Division. He is also the Director of the MGH Schizophrenia Diabetes and Weight Reduction Research and Associate Director of the MGH Schizophrenia Program. Dr. Henderson’s main research interests focus on psychopharmacological and antipsychotic agents in the treatment of schizophrenia, impacts of antipsychotic agents on metabolic anomalies and glucose metabolism, and ethnic and cultural impacts on psychiatry. He also studies the impact of trauma in areas of mass violence and develops programs to assist vulnerable populations which include projects in Rwanda, Cambodia, East Timor, Bosnia, Peru, New Orleans, and New York City. Dr. Henderson has published in journals such as the Archives of General Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry and Biological Psychiatry. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States and internationally on schizophrenia, treatment-resistant schizophrenia, metabolic disorders and schizophrenia, psychopharmacology, ethnopsychopharmacology, trauma, and cultural psychiatry.

Patti Holland, M.S., C.R.C.

Patti Holland is an Assistant Director for the Division of Mental Health Services, Office of Housing, Policy and Program Development. She is the co-chair of the DMHS Wellness and Recovery Transformation Implementation Committee, responsible for overseeing the planning and implementation efforts to align the mental health system with principles and practices of wellness and recovery. Within her office at the division sit the various evidence based, best and promising practices currently funded and implemented throughout the state, including: Supportive Housing, Supported Employment and Education, Assertive Community Treatment, Family Psycho-education and interventions for co-occurring disorders.

Patti received her Masters degree in Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Boston University, and has worked in community mental health for over 26 years, primarily with organizations providing housing and residential services in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts.

Phillip Lubitz, M.S.W.

Phillip Lubitz is the Director of Advocacy Programs for NAMI NJ. He has more than 30 years of experience in the public mental health system as a therapist, administrator and family advocate. He has served as the New Jersey Family Support Coordinator for 10 years and coordinates planning groups of family members affected by a mental illness in each region. He is responsible for adopting the State Family Support Plan for Persons with a Serious Mental Illness. He is currently Vice Chair of the New Jersey Mental Health Planning Council. He was awarded the Senator Paul Wellstone award for Mental Health Advocacy by the NJAMHA. He received a BA from the George Washington University and his M.S.W. from the Rutgers School of Social Work.

Barbara Neary, M.S.A.

Barbara Neary, Assistant Director, Division of Mental Health Services (DMHS) is responsible for the oversight of adult community mental health services in the southern and central region funded and/or licensed by the Department of Human Services. Program and Policy development and ongoing monitoring of community mental health services fall under her responsibilities. She has been actively involved in developing programs and policy for special populations including the aging out/aging in youth to ensure access to quality services.

Maureen O’Brien, Esq.

Asst. Prosecutor O’Brien has been with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office for 25 years and has been the supervisor of the Special Offender Unit since its inception in 2004. This unit deals exclusively with criminal defendants who have a mental illness. In 2005, the Prosecutor’s office partnered with Trinitas Hospital and Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services, Inc. to create a Jail Diversion Program. A.P. O’Brien and her staff strive to divert those with mental illness from county jail and state prison and into treatment programs whenever appropriate to do so. She is also responsible for handling civil commitment hearings at the state psychiatric facilities when individuals are committed after completing a state prison sentence on a Union County conviction. In 2007 she received the Outstanding Police Work Award from the New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officers Association as well as a Joint Resolution from the Senate and the General Assembly of New Jersey and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the United States Congress for her invaluable efforts in implementing the Special Offender Unit within the Union County Prosecutors Office and the Jail Diversion Pilot Program in Union County. She is a graduate of Villanova University and Seton Hall University School of Law.

Joanne Patalano, A.P.N.

Joanne Patalano, A.P.N. is the Community Service Coordinator for the Division of Child Behavioral Health Services. She is responsible for the oversight of the community Service lines including Care Management organizations, Youth Case Management Services, Behavioral Assistance and Intensive In- Community, Children’s Crisis Intervention Services, Mobile Response and Stabilization Services, Partial Care and Outpatient Services and County Interagency Coordinating Councils. She transferred to DCBHS from Medicaid where she was involved in the development of mental health policy and regulations. She is a graduate of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey with a Masters of Science Degree in Nursing.

Mark Perrin, M.D.

Mark Perrin received his M.D. degree from New York University College of Medicine. In his post-graduate residency programs, he chose to focus on the specialties of internal medicine and neurology. As a practicing internist with The Summit Medical Group, Dr. Perrin developed a particular interest in the biological connections between physical and emotional states. His continuing interest in neurology has led to an active membership in the American Neuropsychiatric Association. Currently, Dr. Perrin serves as the president of NAMI NEW JERSEY. He has served on Governor Codey’s Mental Health Taskforce Children’s Committee. For several years, he chaired the State Mental Health Advisory Board and is currently the chairman of the Warren County Mental Health Board.

Aruna Rao, M.A.

Aruna Rao is the Director of Educational Programs for NAMI NJ. She coordinates NAMI NJ educational programs, including the annual conference, publications, website and other special events. Aruna initiated NAMI NJ’s multicultural outreach programs, and helped develop the award winning documentary “Documenting Our Presence.” She was awarded the Human Services Leadership Award from the NJ Asian American Association for Human Services, and a program she initiated, SAMHAJ was awarded the 2002 NAMI Multicultural Outreach Award. She received her MA from Temple University and a B.A. from Bangalore University.

Gregory Roberts, M.S.W.

Greg Roberts is currently an Assistant Director in the Division of Mental Health Services, in charge of the Office of State Hospital Management. In this role, he is responsible for Greystone, Trenton, Hagedorn, and Ancora Psychiatric Hospital. Since December 2007, he has also served as the Acting CEO at Ancora, following a series of negative incidents there. Mr. Roberts has worked in NJ's Department of Human Services since 1973, and has, beginning in 1990, been CEO of five of NJ's hospitals, including Brisbane, Marlboro, Ancora, Greystone, and Trenton Psych. He has an MSW in Administration, from Rutgers University.

Anthony Towns, M.H.S.

Anthony is currently the Program Coordinator for Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare’s Coming Home project. The Coming Home Project provides direct case management support to persons with a serious and persistent mental illness and/or co-occurring disorder who are in the Mercer County Corrections Center or a New Jersey state prison. They assist inmates in establishing positive ties with their families and their communities. The project also has a jail diversion component that works to get the mentally ill consumer diverted into treatment instead of incarceration. The project assists with housing, entitlements, medication, employment and therapy. Anthony has been working in the human service field for 15 years with a special focus on substance abuse and the prison population. He received his Master of Human Services degree from Lincoln University.