Members of the Behavioral Health Resources and Technical Assistance (BHRT) Program welcome your questions and comments.

Core Faculty and Staff:

Fadia T. Shaya, PhD, MPH Fadia T. Shaya, PhD, MPH
Executive Director
fshaya@rx.umaryland.edu

Dr. Fadia Shaya is the executive director of the BHRT Program and professor of pharmaceutical health services research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, and affiliate faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in epidemiology and preventive medicine. Dr. Shaya's work promotes policy, research, and practice that improve access to care, drugs, and medical devices, optimize health care quality for vulnerable populations, and eliminate health disparities.
Nicole Sealfon, MPH  Nicole Sealfon, MPH
Associate Director
nsealfon@rx.umaryland.edu

Nicole is the associate director of the BHRT Program, where she coordinates the program's team and manages various substance use prevention grant programs. In this role, she provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions on assessment, planning, and evaluation for substance use prevention programs. She has also worked on developing and implementing two statewide surveys. Nicole's interests include substance use policy and innovative strategies to reduce drug use and misuse.
Michelle Taylor headshot

Michelle N. Taylor, PhD, MBA, MS, CPP
Associate Director
mtaylor@rx.umaryland.edu

Dr. Michelle Taylor is an associate director with the BHRT Program, where she coordinates the team’s workflow, manages the dissemination of products and materials, as well as works to expand the research and grant opportunities for the team. Dr. Taylor has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare and public health fields with 15 years of facilitation of these subject areas in higher education. Her extensive experience and interest include research and facilitation, as well as community engagement, data management, development and providing training and dissemination.

Zelalem Abate headshot 

Zelalem Abate, MPH
Public Health Research Specialist
zabate@rx.umaryland.edu

Zelalem is a public health research specialist at the BHRT and is involved in planning, overseeing, monitoring, and evaluating a full range of behavioral health programs in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Health, local behavioral health authorities, and other partner agencies. Recently he worked as a behavioral risk manager for the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration and was responsible for data collection, analysis, and preparation of reports on COVID-19 vaccination programs within the Public Behavioral Health System (PBHS). Zelalem’s interests include quality management strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals coping with mental health and substance use conditions.

Rana Karslioglu headshot

Rana Karslioglu
Public Health Research Specialist
akarslioglu@rx.umaryland.edu

Rana is a research specialist with the BHRT Program, where she provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions on substance use prevention programs. She has experience with psychology and mental health, youth engagement, public health, social media, and research. Rana’s interests include reducing health and mental health disparities through research and engagement. 

Vanessa Michel headshot Vanessa Michel
Program Specialist
vmichel@rx.umaryland.edu

Vanessa is a program specialist with the BHRT Program, where she provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions on substance use prevention programs. She has experience with community engagement, health education, program planning and management, public health, social media, and research. Vanessa's interests include health equity and reducing health disparities.

  Paris Barnes
Communications Program Specialist
paris.barnes@rx.umaryland.edu

Paris is a communications program specialist with the BHRT Program, where she provides technical assistance, outreach, and data dissemination to local jurisdictions on substance use prevention programs. She has experience with marketing, advertising, public health, social media, and research. Paris’ interests include reducing health disparities and community engagement.

Farideh Sistani Farideh Sistani, PharmD
Postdoctoral Fellow
fsistani@umaryland.edu

Post-Graduate Team Members and Program Affiliates:

Headshot of Atsue Sawai  Atsue Sawai
Third-Year Student Pharmacist
asawai@umaryland.edu
Headshot of Autumn Williams 

Autumn Williams
Second-Year Student Pharmacist
autumnwilliams@umaryland.edu

Headshot of Mehek Yousaf

Mehek Yousaf
Second-Year Student Pharmacist
mehekyousaf@umaryland.edu

 

Join Our Team

Are you passionate about public health? If so, the BHRT Program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy invites you to explore opportunities available to join and work with our team. Please contact BHRT at BHRT@rx.umaryland.edu for more information.