Leadership

Emily Treichler, Ph.D. (etreichler@health.ucsd.edu)
Leader

Emily Treichler, PhD [she/her] is a licensed clinical psychologist. She leads the Collab Lab, a team of researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience working to improve quality of care and quality of life for adults with psychosis and serious mental illness. Her work prioritizes increasing patient power and participation in treatment, research, and community. In her research, she works with communities in usual care settings using mixed methods and implementation science. In her clinical work, she combines evidence-based practice with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally-humble framework, empowering people to live meaningful and enjoyable lives on their own terms.

Emily works as a Research Psychologist in the Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VA San Diego, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She also provides clinical services in private practice. Emily completed her Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016, along with an internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center/VA Maryland Consortium in the serious mental illness track. She completed a fellowship in psychosis research at the Desert Pacific MIRECC/UCSD in 2019 and a fellowship in aging and positive psychiatry in 2020 at the UCSD Stein Institute for Healthy Aging. 

Charlie Davidson, Ph.D. (SMIResearchGroup@gmail.com)
Leader Emeritus

Charlie A. Davidson, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in Atlanta currently working in private practice and part time for Good Samaritan Health Center, where he provides evidence-based therapy and assessment for uninsured and unhoused individuals. He was trained at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Dr. William Spaulding’s SMI Research Group. He completed internship at the V.A. in West Haven, CT, primarily mentored by Dr. Joanna Fiszdon, then completed a T32 fellowship directed by Dr. Morris Bell, with Dr. Fiszdon, Dr. Jason Johannesen, and Dr. Scott Woods as co-mentors, then completed a one-year clinical fellowship with Dr. Elaine Walker at Emory University. He has since worked as a private practitioner, professor for PsyD trainees, scientist at a digital therapeutics company, and as the Clinical Lead at a start-up focused on providing family support for SMI.

Charlie’s clinical/theoretical orientation is rooted in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery, evidence-based practice, and practice-based evidence. 2025 is his 16th year as a member of ABCT’s PASS SIG. He is also on the Research & Practice Committee of the SMI Specialty Council and a member of APA Division 18’s SMI/SED section, ISPS-US, and North American CBTp, and he has trained as a Hearing Voices Network – USA facilitator. Professionally and personally, Charlie is working to advocate for and amplify the voices of discriminated or disadvantaged people, especially those with and for whom he has focused his research – people with lived experience of SMI, psychosis, and extreme states, and their communities. His primary role in life is “Dad” and “husband.” He is also not a bad bass player, loves being bad at competitive sports, and loves cooking, being outdoors, and connecting with anyone who will talk to him.

Genesis Saenz Escalante, B.A. (gms207@miami.edu)
Treasurer

Genesis Saenz Escalante, B.A., is the treasurer for the Psychosis and Schizophrenia Spectrum Special Interests Group. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Miami under the supervision of Dr. Amy Weisman de Mamani.

Julia M. Longenecker, Ph.D. (longenecker.julia@gmail.com)
Administrative Officer

Julia M. Longenecker, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Pittsburgh, PA. She provides telehealth clinical care to people with SMI across the country via her private practice. She also works to expand digital therapeutics for SMI as a scientific manager at Click Therapeutics. Dr. Longenecker received her PhD from University of Minnesota. She completed clinical internship/residency and postdoctoral training at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. She holds a PSYPACT certification, which allows her to practice telehealth therapy with clients in over 30 U.S. states. Across both her professional roles, she aims to expand high quality, culturally informed care for people with SMI. 

Jared Bernard, Ph.D. (jared.bernard3@va.gov)
VA Liaison

Jared Bernard, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist working at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX.

Bryan Stiles, M.A. (stilesb@unc.edu)
Community Outreach Coordinator

Bryan Stiles, M.A., is a fifth-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the mentorship of Dr. David Penn. He is particularly interested in the development and implementation of recovery-oriented best practices for persons experiencing early psychosis and their caregivers – particularly in underserved communities. 

Lauren McBride, B.A. (lemcbride@health.ucsd.edu)
Community Outreach Coordinator

Lauren McBride, B.A., is a first-year PhD student at the San Diego State/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology under the mentorship of Dr. Colin Depp. She is interested in social functioning and loneliness across contexts among people with psychotic disorders.

Merranda McLaughlin, Ph.D. (merrandamclaughlin@gmail.com)
Website/Newsletter Moderator

Merranda McLaughlin, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral clinical fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. 

Jessica Badawi, Ph.D. (jessica.c.badawi@uth.tmc.edu)
Faculty Representative to the SMI Specialty Council

Jessica Badawi, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UT Health Houston McGovern Medical School. She also is the director of the recovery-oriented treatment program, which is a 90-day inpatient program providing intensive interventions for individuals with SMI.

Calvary Fielden, B.S. (cfielden@ku.edu)
Student Organizer

Calvary Fielden, B.S., is  first-year graduate student in the clinical psychology PhD program at the University of Kansas under the mentorship of Dr. Melisa Rempfer.

Katrina Rbeiz, M.S. (katrina.rbeiz@vanderbilt.edu)
Student Organizer

Katrina Rbeiz, M.S., is a PhD student in the Clinical Science program at Vanderbilt University. Her ultimate goal is to pursue a career in research and clinical science that helps to address disparities in measurement, diagnosis, and treatment across racial/ethnic groups with clinical high-risk disorders. She also hopes to increase the representation and visibility of Middle Eastern and North African populations in clinical research.