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Mariana Edwards, MD

Dr. Edwards earned her Medical Degree from the University of Lisbon Faculty of Medicine in Portugal, where she completed an integrated master’s degree on Bipolar Disorder and Creativity, reflecting an early interest in the intersection of psychiatric illness and human experience.
Since joining UMKC Psychiatry Residency Program in 2022 she has worked across inpatient, outpatient, community, forensic and consultation liaison settings. She earned the honor of Resident of the Year for the 2024-2025 academic year. She has contributed with scholarly work including a case report on clozapine-associated myocarditis and pancreatitis. She strives to understand patients within their personal and cultural contexts and loves to talk about the importance of patient and family centered interventions in psychiatry across all diagnoses, and most specifically in schizophrenia.
She feels honored to provide mental health care to the population of Kansas City and to present on the topic of Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia.

Presentation(s): 

Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: an Updated Review

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Kerri Tesreau, MBA

Kerri Tesreau serves as a Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health, where she helps oversee the strategic direction and daily operations of the agency. Kerri is a dedicated public servant with over two decades of experience in high-impact government operations. With a B.S. in Business Management and Marketing and an M.B.A specializing in Public Administration, she has focused on optimizing processes and implementing effective, data-driven solutions for complex government challenges. Kerri has participated in several large-scale initiatives including the COVID-19 pandemic and currently serves as the Department of Mental Health lead for the Rural Health Transformation Grant.

Presentation(s): 

Understanding the Rural Health Transformation Program

Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP): What’s Included

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Johna Trapani, MEd, LPC

Johna Trapani, a native of Wichita, Kansas who grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, attended the University of Missouri- Columbia. Majoring in Families and Lifespan Development with a Multicultural Studies certificate, she graduated from MU in 2013 and remains a life-long Tigers fan. While attending Stephens College for her Master’s Degree in Education, she joined the state of Missouri as a Probation and Parole Officer with the Department of Corrections in 2015. After graduating in 2018, Johna went on to serve the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Department of Mental Health where she is the Homelessness Services Coordinator for the Division of Behavioral Health. An avid runner, artist, and mother of two, Johna enjoys an active life full of laughter, creativity, and a healthy dose of chaos each day.

Presentation(s): 

A middle-aged man with light skin and long light brown hair tied back, wearing a white checkered shirt, looks toward the camera with a neutral expression against a plain blue background.
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Fred Rottnek, MD, MAHCM

Dr. Rottnek is a Professor and the Director of Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Program Director of the SSM Health Saint Louis University Addiction Medicine Fellowship.. His clinical practices include family medicine, addiction medicine, and correctional healthcare. He teaches in the School of Medicine and the School of Law. Board-Certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, he is the Medical Director for the Assisted Recovery Centers of American (ARCA) and Juvenile Detention in Family Court for the City of St. Louis. He consults with SAMHSA’s Opioid Response Network and the GAINS Center.

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Kritika Chauhan, PsyD

Kritika Rajeev Chauhan, Psy.D., is a Clinical Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Resident at the Center for Behavioral Medicine (CBM) in Kansas City, Missouri. At CBM, she provides competency restoration services, conducts both inpatient and outpatient competency evaluations, and delivers individual and group psychotherapies within a multidisciplinary forensic setting. She will also deliver didactic training and grand rounds. Dr. Chauhan completed her Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree at the Florida Institute of Technology and a full-year forensic internship at Mendota Mental Health Institute, where she gained specialized experience in forensic assessment, risk evaluation, competency restoration, and substance use treatment in maximum- and medium-security settings.
Dr. Chauhan’s research and clinical practice center on understanding psychological concepts within forensic settings. She has contributed to projects examining phenotypic bias in eyewitness identification and psychological influences on plea-bargaining decisions as a graduate student, and her award-winning doctoral research explored fear of crime and somatization among international students. With training in competency assessment, violence risk assessment, and expert testimony preparation, she is deeply committed to strengthening fairness, accuracy, and person-centered values in forensic evaluations and treatment. Her conference presentation highlights practical, evidence-based strategies for recognizing and mitigating bias in forensic practice.

Presentation(s):

Blind Spots in Justice: Recognizing and Reducing Cognitive Bias in Forensic Psychology

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Smith, Chrystala, MEd, LPC

Ms. Chrystala Smith, MEd, LPC, is the Assistant Director of Student Health and Counseling Services at Lincoln University of Missouri. She is currently a PhD student with Grand Canyon University. With her colleague, Dr. James Smith, she began researching the relationship between electronic device use/social media, mental health, and relationship wellness to gain research experience for her doctoral studies. Together, Ms. Smith and Dr. Smith have read over 75 peer reviewed research articles exploring these relationships. Ms. Smith’s own doctoral research interest is in the experiences of African American women receiving mentorship in their careers as mental health professionals.

Presentation(s):

Pings of Power: The Relationship Between Electronic Device Use, Mental Health, and Relationship Wellness 

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Copeland, Jennifer, PsyD

Jenny Copeland, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist with Ozark Center where she leads the Reconnect Eating Disorders treatment team. She is an active member of the Missouri Eating Disorders Council. Dr. Copeland has conducted studies on weight stigma among healthcare providers, and developed programming rooted in weight inclusive frameworks to help people pursue balance within and outside themselves to find freedom in their bodies. Her work has earned awards including the Research and Evaluation Fellowship at The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute and the inaugural NAAFA Health At Every Size Scholar Award.

Presentation(s):

Filtered Realities: Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Eating Disorders 

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Goldin, Gabrielle, MEd

Gabrielle Goldin, MEd, believes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to counseling; each counseling journey is uniquely individual, and Gabrielle is eager to partner with clients on theirs. The goal is to work alongside clients to help them discover and experience the best version of themselves. Gabrielle hopes that counseling provides a safe space for clients to navigate the ups, downs, and challenges of life, reassuring them that they are not alone.
Gabrielle values the inherent worth of each client and finds joy in assisting them in learning more about who they are and who they want to be. Gabrielle strives to create an environment where clients feel seen, heard, understood, and safe, believing that a strong therapeutic relationship is key to achieving personal goals.
Gabrielle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Missouri in 2020, during which time Gabrielle was also a member of the Mizzou Women’s Tennis Team. It was through this athletic experience that Gabrielle discovered a passion for mental health and counseling. Continuing at the University of Missouri, Gabrielle received a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership in 2022 and graduated in May 2024 with a second Master’s, an MEd in Counseling Psychology.
Passionate about the work, Gabrielle truly believes in the healing and transformative power of counseling.

Presentation(s):

A Break from Burnout: A Positive Psychology Approach