Members of the Behavioral Health Resources and Technical Assistance (BHRT) Program welcome your questions and comments.
Core Faculty and Staff:
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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. |
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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. |
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Michelle N. Taylor, PhD, MBA, MS, CPP 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. |
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Zelalem Abate, MPH 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. |
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Rana Karslioglu 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Farideh Sistani, PharmD Postdoctoral Fellow fsistani@umaryland.edu |
Post-Graduate Team Members and Program Affiliates:
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Atsue Sawai Third-Year Student Pharmacist asawai@umaryland.edu |
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Autumn Williams |
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Mehek Yousaf |
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.