CDI Staff
Mark McGovern, PhD
Dr. Mark McGovern is a Professor of Psychiatry and of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. In 2017, he founded the Center for Dissemination and Implementation (CDI). After 20 years as a practicing clinician, Dr. McGovern is now focused on scaling up equitable access to evidence-based health care, improving the science of implementation and sustainment of evidence-based care in public and private health care organizations and systems, and training and mentoring the next generation of implementation scientists. Within the hub of CDI, he is a Senior Advisor for the National Coordinating Office of the SAMHSA Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (H79SM081726) and the Principal Investigator of two federally funded national centers: the Center for Dissemination and Implementation At Stanford (C-DIAS)(P50DA05402) and Research Adoption Support Center (RASC)(U2CDA057717).
Heather Gotham, PhD
Dr. Heather Gotham is a Clinical Associate Professor and clinical psychologist who joined Stanford in August 2018. Her work focuses on increasing the capability of behavioral health and health care providers to implement evidence-based practices that more effectively help people with mental health and substance use disorders. Dr. Gotham directs the SAMHSA-funded Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office and is Co-Director of the Administrative Core of the NIDA-funded HEAL Data2Action Research Adoption Support Center. She is also a co-investigator on NIH-funded projects studying the implementation of substance use disorder screening and treatment approaches in HIV care settings and in women’s health settings.
Hélène Chokron Garneau, PhD, MPH
Dr. Hélène Chokron Garneau joined the Center for Dissemination and Implementation in 2019 as a Senior Research Scientist. Dr. Chokron Garneau has extensive research experience in public health and substance use, with an emphasis on co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. Her current efforts at CDI focus on advancing implementation science by disentangling mechanisms through which implementation strategies operate. She is particularly interested in applying this knowledge to eliminate disparities in health services for mental health and addiction treatment. Dr. Chokron Garneau obtained both her PhD and MPH in Public Health from UCLA where she concurrently worked to assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral interventions for substance users with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses.
Fernanda S. Rossi, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Fernanda Rossi is a Clinical Assistant Professor and licensed clinical psychologist who joined Stanford in August 2023. Her research focuses on developing, evaluating, and implementing assessment tools and interventions to improve the safety and mental health of individuals at risk of intimate partner violence, suicide, and drug overdose. She is particularly interested in using technology and clinical decision support tools to enhance the quality and implementation of intimate partner violence-, suicide-, and substance use-related care. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Indiana University and completed her clinical psychology predoctoral internship at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). She also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in medical informatics and health services research at VAPAHCS and Stanford.
Elena Rosenberg-Carlson, MPH
Research Scientist, Project Director
Elena Rosenberg-Carlson, MPH, is a Research Scientist and Project Director for the Stagewise Implementation to Target – Medications for Addiction Treatment (SITT-MAT) study at CDI. She has significant experience managing and supporting implementation research and capacity-building initiatives in collaboration with academic, public health, and community partners, most recently as part of the UCLA Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services (CHIPTS). Elena received her BA from Carleton College and her MPH from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in public health with a concentration in implementation science at Johns Hopkins University.
Jessica Gonzalez, MSW
Associate Director
Jessica Gonzalez, MSW is the Associate Director for the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office (NCO) at CDI. Through the MHTTC School Mental Health Initiative, Jessica is coordinating the work of 10 centers that provide training and technical assistance to the mental health and school mental health workforce to increase the use of evidence-based mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for students across the United States. Jessica previously worked in the community as a social worker providing mental health services in school and outpatient clinic settings to children and adolescents from diverse backgrounds.
Hannah Cheng, MS
Research Scientist
Hannah Cheng, MS, joined CDI in 2019. Her work at CDI primarily focuses on implementing addiction treatments in primary care and specialty care settings. She is dedicated to understanding how to optimize implementation efforts and applying implementation science to improve equity and access to mental health services. Hannah received her BS in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh and her MS in Epidemiology and Clinical Research from Stanford University.
Ricardo Canelo, MPH
Project Coordinator
Ricardo Canelo, MPH, is the Project Coordinator for the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office (NCO). The MHTTC NCO is part of the Center for Dissemination and Implementation in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Ricardo assists coordinating the work of 10 centers that provide training and technical assistance to the mental health workforce to increase the use of evidence-based mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery support services across the United States.
Lia Chin-Purcell, MS
Data Analyst
Lia Chin-Purcell, MS is a research data analyst at CDI supporting C-DIAS and the RASC. She holds a Master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied Information Management and Systems with a focus on data science. At CDI, she applies her expertise in machine learning and data analysis to help researchers and clinicians effectively implement evidence-based practices and interventions that improve healthcare outcomes.
Mia Navarro, MS
Project Coordinator
Mia Navarro, MS, joined the Center for Dissemination and Implementation (CDI) in 2023 as a Project Coordinator for the Center for Dissemination and Implementation at Stanford (C-DIAS). Mia's research at CDI aims to standardize implementation science methodology and to employ accessible addiction treatment programs throughout the US. Mia received her MS in Epidemiology and Clinical Research from Stanford University and her BS in Computational and Systems Biology from UCLA.
Praise Olatunde, MSPH
Project Coordinator
Praise Olatunde, MSPH (they/she) is the Project Coordinator for the Health Data2Action Research Adoption Support Center (RASC) at the Center for Dissemination and Implementation. Praise received their BA in Global Development Studies and BS in Biology from Calvin University and their Masters of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Through their role they manage technical assistance and implementation support for several projects to improve service delivery to prevent or treat opioid use disorder and pain.
Shubhi Sharma, MPH
Project Coordinator
Shubhi Sharma, MPH is the Project Coordinator for the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science at Stanford (C-DIAS). Her role for C-DIAS primarily focuses on providing critical research and data analysis support for the Financing and Policy Research Core and Research Project 2. She pursued her MPH from Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), specializing in Global Health Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation. Prior to joining CDI, she led the patient recruitment and retention for NIH's Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative at Boston Medical Center. Shubhi is curious to learn more ways to mitigate accessibility to basic healthcare needs through the decolonization of public health.
Margot Heron
Marketing Coordinator
Margot Heron joined the Center for Dissemination and Implementation team in June 2024 as a communications specialist. With a BA from Occidental College, she possesses a strong foundation in communications and a deep commitment to impactful messaging. Prior to this role, Margot honed her skills in social media strategy at Lean In, where she developed campaigns that effectively engaged diverse audiences. Her ability to craft compelling narratives and execute strategic initiatives positions her well to promote CDI's vital work. In her current role, Margot aims to bridge the gap between complex research and public understanding, fostering greater engagement with implementation science. She collaborates with various teams, including MHTTC, C-DIAS, and RASC, to create innovative communication strategies that enhance the team's mission and outreach efforts.
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Angie Kwong
Finance Manager
Angie Kwong joined the Center for Dissemination and Implementation team at Stanford School of Medicine in 2023 as the Finance Manager. Her work focuses on supporting the center’s main research on the SAMHSA-funded Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office (NCO), Center for Dissemination and Implementation at Stanford (C-DIAS), HEAL Data2Action (HD2A) Research Adoption Support Center (RASC), and other D&I projects. Angie is dedicated in the mission behind CDI’s work in developing and implementing strategies that close the gaps for a more equitable access to health care.
Student Interns
Marzan Hamid
- Marzan Hamid, from Toronto, Canada, is a second-year medical student at Stanford. She graduated summa cum laude from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada with a degree in Health Sciences. Marzan is the recipient of the National TD Scholarship in Community Leadership for her work reducing health disparities in low-income, immigrant-concentrated neighborhoods in Toronto and has been recently named a Stanford Graduate Public Service Fellow. Her current research focuses on the landscape of services available for individuals who use opioids in Santa Clara County. Marzan looks forward to a career rooted in public service and hopes that she will be a champion for public health and health equity as a practicing physician.
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Samuel Jaros, BS, BA
Sam Jaros joined CDI in January 2022 as a part of the SITT-MAT implementation project to expand the use of medication for opioid use disorder. He received his bachelor’s degrees in Bioinformatics and Sociology from Loyola University Chicago. Sam is currently a PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health. His other projects include the Public Health Data Ecosystem and a statewide mapping of opioid overdose hotspots and opioid treatment deserts.
Wayne Kepner, PhD
Wayne Kepner, PhD, is a public health researcher whose scholarship focuses on health disparities and substance use among vulnerable populations. Dr. Kepner received his doctoral degree from the Joint Doctoral Program in Interdisciplinary Research on Substance Use at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. He has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from cannabis use trends to emergency department utilization for substance-related diagnoses. Dr. Kepner is currently a T-32 Post-doctoral Fellowship in Pain and Substance Use at Stanford University's School of Medicine, where he will continue his research under the mentorship of Dr. Keith Humphreys and Dr. Mark McGovern.
Shamsi Soltani, MPH
Shamsi Soltani is a PhD candidate in the Department of Epidemiology in Stanford's School of Medicine. She studies LGBTQ+ health disparities with a focus on behavioral health. Prior to Stanford, she spent nearly 10 years working in a diversity of public health pursuits, including evaluation and clinical trials, community HIV prevention, transportation injury prevention, and COVID-19 emergency response at the county level. Shamsi enjoys teas, dance classes and distance cycling. She is training for her second AIDS/Lifecycle, a seven-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for community HIV services.
Anika Wahl
- Anika Wahi, from Sunnyvale, California, is currently an undergraduate student at Barnard College, Columbia University pursuing a B.A. in Neuroscience & Behavior. Anika is interested in improving addiction prevention and treatment services and is passionate about health and wellness. Specifically, Anika is interested in pursuing research on the correlation between adolescent brain development and increased susceptibility to addiction and impulsive decision-making. In the past, Anika has volunteered with Columbia University’s Brain Exercise Initiative by practicing math and reading exercises with seniors with dementia to improve their cognitive functional health and addictions clinician in a rural Canadian healthcare setting.
Former Interns
Rakima Parson
Rakima Parson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master of Science in Counseling and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center. With most of her professional counseling experience in educational settings, she has gained a unique understanding of school mental health and the intersection of trauma, culture, and mental health. Additionally, she is a mental health help-seeking and burnout prevention researcher. She is constantly seeking ways to advocate for increased access to mental health and wellness services. Rakima embraces the responsibility of advocating, providing outreach, and training in the community.
Maryam Abdel Magid
Maryam Abdel Magid graduated from Santa Clara University (SCU), with a degree in Biology and Public Health. At SCU, Maryam was a part of Dr. Jamie Chang’s lab on social policy towards Santa Clara County’s unhoused population and opioid implementation on SCU’s campus. Maryam recently concluded an internship at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) team. At CDPH, Maryam worked with Dr. John Openshaw on clinical data surveillance and analysis - closely utilizing the states EHR database CalREDIE. She is currently working with Stanford’s CDI to expand her insight on implementation science for graduate studies and future career. Maryam uses mixed methods, as well as R, on projects spanning addiction treatment and clinical technical assistance (ATSH, SITT-MAT, C-DIAS, MHTTC).
Gwendolyne Aguilar
Gwendolyne Aguilar, from Fresno, California, is currently an undergraduate student at Stanford University and joined CDI in April 2023. Pursuing the pre-medicine track and a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, Gwendolyne aims to contribute to Addiction Medicine in the future by ensuring equitable treatment for all and by helping destigmatize addiction. Her other interests include health disparities in marginalized communities, finding solutions to homelessness, and mental health disorders. In the past she has worked with LifeMoves, a nonprofit organization with shelter and service sites in the Silicon Valley, and is currently the financial officer for Stanford’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSSDP).
Aditya Narayan
Aditya Narayan, from Fairfax, Virginia, is pursuing an MD at Stanford School of Medicine. He graduated from the University of Virginia with bachelor's degrees in chemistry and biology. Aditya aspires to expand and improve care for marginalized populations with complex mental health issues through policy interventions, novel technologies, and medical education innovation. At UVA, he helped create and guide equitable education reform efforts in the community, led a student-driven learning conference, organized mental health education campaigns, and worked on a digital health startup.
Syeda Maria Yaqoob
Syeda Maria Yaqoob, from Houston, Texas, joined CDI in April 2022. She is a second-year Master in Public Health student with a major in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences and a minor in Epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods from the University of Houston in 2020. Syeda is eager about working in the preventive health care sector by linking nutrition to different diseases including mental health. Over the years she has worked with various not-for-profit organizations to increase Food Security in Texas.
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Hifsa Khan
Hifsa Khan graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Psychology and a double minor in Applied Programming and Public Health. An intern for a year and a half, her accomplishments include contributing to a paper on cormorbidities, where the authors sorted through 2,500 articles for the literature review. This experience helped improve her skills as an academic reader, and gave her insight into what makes a good research paper and team. She will be pursuing cognitive and user experience research positions in the industry and academia.
When asked what she will miss most from her time with us, Hifsa said she would miss the folks at CDI, as they have been welcoming and helpful through her internship. She appreciated getting to know the team during social hours and seeing all the amazing work produced. She also emphasized being thankful to take on many responsibilities during her internship, as it allowed her to become a better researcher.
Fernando Ramirez
Fernando Ramirez joined the Center for Dissemination and Implementation in March 2020, while finishing his bachelor's in Public Health from UC Berkeley. During his time with CDI, he learned a myriad of topics pertaining to implementation research and the importance of changing the narrative surrounding how we address substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions, to one of an open mindset and compassion.
The tools he attained through his time at CDI are now being gratefully implemented through his role of Research Associate at Rady Children’s Hospital. Fernando plans on keeping up the momentum of his professional and academic experiences as he pursues the start of his medical school journey next year. While his time with CDI has come to a close, the diversity, generosity, and mentorship the team extended is what Fernando will miss most.
Mina Yuan
Mina Yuan graduated from Stanford University in 2021, earning a B.A. in Economics. An intern for 3 years, her accomplishments include learning to navigate the research process from initial ideation to final writeup and publication, co-authoring two published papers, and developing an independent research project on clinician-patient communication that won a 2019 Major Grant Award. She will be pursuing a career as a physician and health services researcher and will be starting medical school in Fall 2022.
When asked what she will miss most from her time with us, Mina said she would miss the people within CDI, as they have provided extensive mentorship and resources as she learned the ropes of mixed methods research, encouraged her to explore my personal research interests through an independent project, and been extremely flexible and understanding of her schedule as a full-time undergraduate student.