Ana Radovic, Project Director

Educational Background: I have a BA in Biology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and also went to medical school there for my MD. Then I did pediatrics residency and adolescent medicine fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. I also have a Masters in Clinical Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

If I had a magic wand, I would…

• Get rid of all tobacco and drugs forever
• Make healthcare universal and free for everyone
• Mandatory 3 day weekends for everyone

Kayla Odenthal, Research Assistant

Educational Background: I am a current part-time graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. I did my undergraduate work at Carlow University, where I received a BSW, with a concentration in crisis intervention, and another concentration in behavioral health.

If I had a magic wand I would…

• Appear wherever I needed to be on time so that I would never have to spend time commuting.
• Make all basic needs affordable to every person.
• Pay off everyone’s student loans to aid our economy.
• Make sleep unnecessary.
• Eliminate addiction.
• Eliminate abuse of all kinds

Sana Karim, Project Assistant, Website Editor

Educational Background: I’m currently a full-time graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Applied Developmental Psychology, with a concentration in Applied Research Methods for Child and Youth Serving Organizations. I got my B.A. in English with a minor in psychology and writing at Drexel University.

If I had a magic wand, I would…

• Make all types of education and the resources needed for it free
• Give everyone access to basic and livable housing and food
• Stop climate change

Lizzy Mann, M.S.W. Intern, Moderator

Educational Background: I received a BA in Psychology from Chatham University, and am currently a first-year Master’s student in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work.

If I had a magic wand, I would…

• Eliminate all student debt and make higher education accessible to anyone and everyone
• End the opioid epidemic
• Remove the stigma in our society surrounding mental health

Samantha Yule, M.S.W. Intern, Moderator

Educational Background: I am currently a full-time graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing my MSW with a concentration on mental health. I earned my B.A. in psychology at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a minor in sociology of human services.

If I had a magic wand, I would…

• Raise awareness and end the negative stigma associated with mental health
• Become fluent in another language
• Travel the world

Alyssa Davidson, Web Developer

Educational Background: I’m an Information Science major at the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Human-Computer Interaction and minors in Computer Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.

If I had a magic wand, I would…

• Eliminate extreme income inequality and make sure that everyone’s basic needs were met through free healthcare, housing, education, etc.!
• Stop/Reverse climate change #SaveTheEarth!

STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY BOARD:

Amy Philips-Haller, Parent Advocate

Educational & Professional Background: A long-time graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, I hold a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts degree in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Mass Media.

I am a student and narrator of the human experience.   Over the years, I have documented stories for television in Atlanta, as well as produced Everyday Science, a show that aired worldwide on public radio.  Now a reporter, I generate headlines for local publications, including the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette.

Recently, I scripted It Pains Me to Discuss, a novel documenting the difficult journey of a child with a chronic health condition.  I share the draft with physicians, in hopes of expanding patient care conversation to include the parent component.  I also serve on two advisory panels for ongoing research projects at Children’s Hospital.

If I had a magic wand, I would… have purchased it at Ollivanders.   Inside the carved mahogany would reside the feather of a phoenix.  Why?   Every day is an opportunity to rise from the ashes and begin again.

Rachel Whitman, Youth Advocate

Educational Background:  I have my BA in psychology (minor in anthropology) from the University of Virginia, my M.S.Ed. with a focus on Community Mental Health and Special Education Support from Duquesne University, and I am currently working on my EdD in Educational Leadership with a focus on disability studies at Duquesne University.

If I had a magic wand, I would… 

• Make our world accessible in every way! Our understanding of “disability” is really just a social construct. We give someone a disability label because this person interacts with our world differently. Our default “normal person” is an able-bodied, neurotypical person – but there is so much beautiful diversity out there! We have to reconstruct our physical world and re-conceptualize our definition of humankind to reflect all types of people and thus respect all experiences, provide everyone equitable access to opportunities, and cultivate truly inclusive communities.
• Provide all individuals with mental illnesses effective treatments that they can customize based on their needs. Some examples: psychiatric medications with no side effects, free health care, a medical system that really listens and truly honors stakeholder experience, and a cure for eating disorders (a category of mental illness that is so devastating and difficult to treat).
• Body positivity and feminism for everyone!!!
• Have a pet sloth who I would wear around the office so we could snuggle each other all day. Top three names: Humphrey, Agnes, or KaleChip