2010 Behavioral Science/Family Systems Educator Fellows
Congratulations to our 2010 BFEF Fellows:
Jennifer Ayres, PhD, HSP
Jennifer is a clinical psychologist who works as a behavioral science educator at the University of Texas Southwestern Austin Family Medicine Program, Austin TX. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in child abuse and trauma and worked as a child trauma psychologist for seven years in Los Angeles prior to moving to Austin. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, reading, studying American Sign Language, volunteering, and is in the process of becoming a foster parent. She is excited about this opportunity to collaborate with other behavioral science/family systems educators and to expand her residency’s research program.
Samantha Blanchard, MSW
Samantha is a clinical social worker serving in the USAF as a military instructor in a Family Medicine Residency at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, NV. She has been a social worker for 15 years and has served in the Air Force for 23 years.She has held numerous positions in the military including family advocacy officer, exceptional family member officer, alcohol and drug abuse prevention program officer, and family support center director. Samantha and her husband have four teenage children.She sees her participation in the BSFS Educator Fellowship as a unique opportunity to collaborate with the “best minds in the world” in establishing a forum to improve the teaching and practice of behavioral medicine.
Stephanie Curry, MSW
Stephanie completed her graduate work at Washington University. Prior to joining the faculty at the Community Family Medicine Residency Program in Indianapolis 3 years ago, she worked as a child protection case manager in London, England and provided mental health counseling in both home-based and outpatient settings in Indianapolis. A recent medical mission trip to Africa with physician faculty and residents has left Stephanie inspired to make more of these trips. She reports being “extremely excited and honored to be a part of this fellowship and looks forward to learning ways I can improve and expand my role as behavioral faculty.”
Chris Ebberwein, PhD
After 5 years in private practice, Chris joined the Wesley Family Medicine Residency faculty in Wichita, KS in July 2008, relishing the opportunity to teach and practice “under the same roof” with the hope of completing some research and writing. He completed his doctorate degree in counseling psychology at University of Kansas. Chris loves spending time with his family, wife of 15 years, Katie and four “super kids.” His fellowship goals include gaining skills and mentoring around implementing a stronger behavioral curriculum, establishing a structure for research and for integrating cultural competency into the Wesley Family Medicine Residency.
Todd Hill, PhD
After completing his doctoral work in health psychology at the University of Calgary, Todd worked in the Canadian health care system, the Canadian Forces’ health care system, and in private practice. Prior to his recent return to the University of Calgary to be the founding director of Behavioral Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine, he taught at Dalhousie University. Todd, his wife of 20 years, and their two teenaged sons are saying farewell to the Atlantic Coast of Canada to begin their new adventure. Being chosen as one of the inaugural fellows, he looks forward to an “enriched environment” in which to increase his knowledge, explore relevant issues and increase his skill base in the areas of curriculum development and teaching of Behavioral Sciences.
Tom Linde, MSW
Tom received his graduate degree from the University of Washington. Prior to starting his behavioral science faculty position at Group Health Cooperative Family Medicine Residency in Seattle in 2008, Tom worked as a psychotherapist for a non-profit HMO and was also in private practice, devoting much of his clinical time to working with couples. Tom and his wife, a family physician, have a son in college and a daughter in high school. While Tom believes that his clinical background is invaluable to his current position, he looks forward to his participation in the fellowship as a means of gaining experience and mentoring in the area of teaching, both 1:1 and group learning modalities.
Kara McDaniel, PhD
Kara demonstrates a long-standing commitment to “family”, completing a masters MFT degree at University of Louisiana in 1996 and doctoral degree MFT from Kansas State University in 2007. Prior to joining the faculty at Emory University’s Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Family Medicine Residency in Dunwoody, GA, she had the opportunity to work with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of professional, clinical, and educational settings. Originally from Pennsylvania, Kara’s family moved to Louisiana when she was 6, and she reports never missing her winter coat. She and her husband now call Georgia home and have two sweet and beautiful pets. As one of the BSFS Educator Fellows, Kara looks forward to the mentoring component, forming new collegial relationships, and having some dedicated time to focus on her professional development.
Linda Myerholtz, PhD
Linda, currently the director of Behavioral Sciences for the Mercy Family Medicine Residency Program in Toledo, OH, completed her graduate training in clinical psychology at Bowling Green State University and spent her early career working in community mental health. She reports that making the move from community mental health to family medicine has been a challenging and rewarding change with a great deal of on the job training. Greatly anticipating her 20th wedding anniversary to husband Eric, Linda is the mother of three wonderful teenagers. Dr Myerholtz was thrilled to be accepted as a BSFS Educator Fellow in order to continue to develop her knowledge and skills as well as to network with other family medicine residency behavioral scientists.
Jill Schneiderhan, MD
Jill completed her medical education at Southern Illinois University and was a resident/chief resident at West Suburban Family Medicine Residency in River Forest, IL. Since joining the faculty at the Providence Family Medicine Residency Program in Michigan 5 years ago, Jill has served as the behavioral and community medicine curriculum coordinator. In addition, she has focused attention on improving education for residents in caring for patients with chronic pain and developing an elective in Integrative Medicine. When not working, Jill enjoys the company of her husband and 3-year old daughter. She looks forward to the BSFS Educator fellowship and the positive impact it will make on the behavioral science curriculum for the Providence residents.
John “Stanley” Talley, MSW
Stanley spent most of his professional career in the medical and hospital social work field. He is the behavioral science coordinator as well as an instructor of Clinical Family Medicine at a Louisiana State University sponsored rural family medicine residency in Bogalusa, LA, north of New Orleans. He received his Masters Degree from Southern University at New Orleans with a concentration in child, youth, and family. Stanley enjoys his family, landscaping, and kayaking the rivers, lakes, and bayous of south Louisiana. He looks forward to the identification and completion of a scholarly project that will strengthen the behavioral science education at his residency program.
Mary Wassink, EdD
Mary completed her graduate education in Counselor Education and Psychology at Western Michigan University. After working in a private practice for 25 years, she joined the Family Medicine Residency at the MSU/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies in Michigan 4 years ago as their behavioral science coordinator. Her experience as a counseling psychologist and as a university educator in the United Kingdon teaching diversity and multicultural differences has been valuable to Mary in integrating the skills needed in the medical community and culture. In her personal life, she and her husband enjoy their blended family including five married children and seven grandchildren. Mary looks forward to the seasoned guidance and mentorship with the educator team, as well as the group interaction/learning with her fellow BSFS Educator Fellows.
Tanya White-Davis, PsyD
Born in New York as a first generation American, Tanya spent her growing up years in Florida with her family. She earned her doctorate degree in clinical psychology doctoral program at Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Psychological Studies in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Her birthplace called her back to complete the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Primary Care Psychology Program’s 2-year postdoctoral fellowship. Tanya currently works full time, dividing her time between the Pediatric and Family Medicine Residency Programs of the Department of Family and Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. Through the fellowship, Tanya hopes to learn innovative teaching and academic research methods that will improve her skills as an educator as well as helping her to better serve the Bronx community.
