2011 Behavioral Science/Family Systems Educator Fellows

Congratulations to our 2011 BFEF Fellows:

 
Dana Brandenburg, PsyD

Dana works as the behavioral science education coordinator at the University of Minnesota, Smiley's Clinic FMR. The completion of a primary care psychology rotation during her internship sparked her interest in pursuing a fellowship in primary care psychology through Michigan State University. Dana, her husband, Steve, and daughter, Aubrey, recently welcomed baby Ella into their family. Dana's goals for the fellowship include strengthening their behavioral science curriculum so that it is woven into the clinic's day-to-day patient care and to improve her skills as an educator.

Julie Brennan, PhD

Julie is currently the director of behavioral sciences at the St. Luke's Hospital/University of Toledo FMR. She completed her PhD in counseling psychology from The Ohio State University and psychology internship at the Medical College of Ohio. Julie's "past" includes community, college, and behavioral medicine counseling as well as working as a licensed dietician at The Ohio State University Hospitals. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their three young sons. She is ecstatic and honored to be accepted for the BFEF, especially for the opportunity to network and be mentored by exceptional colleagues.

April Brownell, PsyD

April is a visiting research instructor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. She also serves as Interim Director of Behavioral Sciences as a researcher, educator, and therapist. Dr Brownell specializes in the treatment of children and families. She has worked with both individuals and groups in day treatment, residential substance abuse, school, mental health clinic, and primary care settings. In her spare time, she and her husband, Johnny, enjoy playing with their 1 year old English bulldog named Cali.

Bonnie Cole, JD, MFT

Bonnie is on faculty at the Medical Center of Central Georgia and Mercer University School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program, Macon, GA. Her path to behavioral science educator is an interesting one - English teacher to trial lawyer to adjunct law professor to marriage and family therapist to FMR educator. She knows that the education, knowledge, insight, wisdom, and experience provided by this fellowship and those teaching and participating in it will enable and empower her to perform her job in such a way as to benefit the program and the residents and to better utilize her cross-vocational skills to make a valuable contribution to the profession.  Bonnie is especially proud of her three children, two sons and a daughter.

Sarah Dewane, PhD

Sarah serves as a behavioral scientist at the Alaska Family Medicine Residency (AFMR) in Anchorage. Sarah received her PhD from University of Alaska (UAA), Doctoral Program in Clinical-Community Psychology with a rural, indigenous emphasis. She has more than 13 years of clinical experience working with adults, children, adolescents, and families in outpatient, residential, and primary care settings. She specializes in health behavior change and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. She is overjoyed by this fellowship opportunity and sees the BFEF as critical in teaching her how to more effectively serve the family medicine residency as an educator, practitioner, and researcher. Sarah has lived in Alaska for more 17 years and spends her spare time enjoying the beautiful outdoors with her husband and their faithful dog.

Juliana Ee, PhD

Juliana is a clinical psychologist and a behavioral science educator in the Family Medicine Residency Program at Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) in Fort Bragg, NC. Prior to her appointment at WAMC, she was a tenured professor of psychology at Cascade College in Portland, OR, and associate director of the college's Health and Wellness Center. She completed her doctoral degree at the University of North Texas and postdoctoral training in behavioral medicine and biofeedback at The Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, MA. When not working, Juliana enjoys traveling, reading, and sharing her "wisdom" with her family in Singapore. She looks forward to collaborating with other fellows and mentors to learn and gain experiences that will strengthen her role as a faculty in the residency program.

Allyson Hayward, MSW, LICSW

Allyson is a clinical social worker who joined the Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency, St. Louis Park, MN, as their behavioralist in January 2008. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1994 and has worked primarily as a psychotherapist. While living in Kansas City, she developed and led programs for women with HIV and victims of domestic violence. After moving to Minneapolis she worked for the Park Nicollet Clinic where she specialized in eating disorders. Allyson enjoys cycling, cooking, and discovering new music and art. She is interested in using the fellowship to develop a repertoire of best practices for the teaching of behavioral medicine.

Shelly Henderson, PhD

Shelly has a PhD in clinical psychology from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. After completing her Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Primary Care Psychology at the University of California, Davis, she joined the Family & Community Medicine faculty where she is the director of behavioral medicine. She is a member of the Hospital Committee on Physician Wellness and emphasizes mindfulness in her work with residents, medical students, and patients alike. Shelly maintains her own wellness through modern dance, Inyengar Yoga, and quality time with her partner and their two dogs and two cats. She looks forward to creative collaboration and learning with others in the BFEF Fellowship.

Pebble Kranz, MD

Pebble will begin as a Behavioral Science faculty member in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Rochester in the fall after serving as chief resident for two years at the Rochester FMR. She will be the primary family physician teaching behavioral science in collaboration with the department's non-physician faculty. A graduate of The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, she is completing her residency with an area of concentration in psychosocial medicine. Prior to entering the field of medicine, Pebble had a career as a professional musical theater performer, theater educator, and arts administrator. She is deeply grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this fellowship at this moment in her career and looks forward to developing a network of behavioral science colleagues on a national level.

Wendy Linderholm, PsyD

As a clinical health psychologist, Wendy has continuously been committed to working in the medical community with all its participants; from patients and families, to staff and physicians. The journey has carried her through such specialties as HIV/AIDS, neurology, oncology, and her favorite: family medicine – because it encompasses it all. Wendy is excited about participating in the BFE Fellowship because it will help her gain the skills she needs to continue to grow as the behavioral medicine director at Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine. Not to mention getting in touch with others who share her passion for this field! Outside of work, Wendy takes advantage of sunny California by running on the beach, playing beach volleyball with her residents, and regularly goes camping and hiking in Joshua Tree National Park.

Marisa Menchola, PhD

Marisa completed doctoral studies at the University of Arizona, with an emphasis on clinical neuropsychology. She completed a rotation in behavioral medicine at the University of Arizona FMR and an internship at the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship with the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium (so she's an all-around University of Arizona Wildcat!). Her work has focused on the neuropsychological assessment of individuals with neurological and other medical conditions, pre-surgical evaluations, and psychosocial interventions in medical settings. She is now an assistant professor at the new University of Arizona/UPHK residency program. Marisa is a native of Lima, Perú, and is particularly excited about being part of a program that is devoted to the care of culturally diverse and underserved populations.

Stephanie Caples Moses, PhD

Stephanie attended the University of Texas at Austin where she completed her undergraduate and graduate education. Upon completion of her graduate work she joined the faculty at Texas Tech University Health Science Center and holds a joint appointment in the Departments of Family and Community Medicine, and Psychiatry. Originally from Dallas, TX, she was the only member in her family to attend college outside of the Dallas/Ft.Worth area. She and her husband then moved west to Midland/Odessa. They have a 5 year old son and an 18 month old daughter. She is excited about the opportunity to learn innovative techniques to expand the education of behavioral health in a family and community medicine setting.

José Nino, MD, MA, LCPC

Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, José Rodrigo earned his MD degree from The Colombian School of Medicine in 1992. He earned his graduate degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University in 2002. Between 1993 and 1998, he spent time in India at the Bihar School of Yoga studying yoga and Ayurvedic medicine. He joined the faculty of the family medicine residency program at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in 2007 after 8 years working with families. José and his wife, Rebecca, have a 4-year-old daughter and a newborn son. He is honored by the opportunity to be a BFEF fellow and looks forward to developing collaborative relationships, enhancing his research expertise, and increasing his skills to further implement a comprehensive behavioral medicine curriculum.

Robert Sukolsky, MA

Bob completed his graduate work at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He worked in many clinical and teaching capacities before accepting the director of behavioral science for the Forbes FMR in Monroeville, PA in 2010. He had previously held a similar position at the West Penn FMR in Pittsburgh and is currently an adjunct instructor in the Counselor Education Program at Waynesburg University. He has a strong commitment to marriage and family work. Bob is married and has one son. He enjoys fishing, gardening, and watching his son play soccer. Bob is looking forward to developing relationships with other behavioral scientists and learning more about curriculum development.

Pamela Webber, MD

Pam completed her medical education at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and her residency at RL Thompson Hospital, Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, TX. She joined the faculty of the Fort Collins Family Medicine Residency in 2004. She completed her master's in Marriage and Family Therapy at Colorado State University in 2009. Pam currently has duties as both physician faculty and behaviorist at the residency. Non-work time is spent with two teenage daughters, multiple pets, reading, knitting and enjoying Colorado's outdoor activities. Pam is looking forward to learning from other fellows and mentors as she works to integrate behavioral medicine into all aspects of a resident's education at the Fort Collins program.

Amanda Zavoknik, LCSW

Amanda received her masters degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Amanda joined the faculty at Chestnut Hill Hospital Family Medicine after working in the hospital's cancer center where she provided counseling and resource referrals to patients and their families. When not at work, Amanda loves spending time with her family, spent mostly helping her husband, Ryan, chase around their 2 year old son, Brody, and crazy, blue Weimeraner, Asher. She is very excited to join forces with other behavioral science faculty and discover new ways to inspire a greater appreciation for the biopsychosocial component of family medicine. She is very eager to learn and grow in this position and is confident that she will find her "true north" through the fellowship experience.