Dr. Hyun is a Professor at Department of Social Welfare in Daegu University in Korea. ‎She was the president of Korean Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (KSTSS) ‎during 2020-2021. She is also a president of Korean Academy of Mental Health Social ‎Work in 2023. She worked as a clinical social worker at US Army Hospital in Korea. ‎Her primary responsibility was to provide psychotherapy for soldiers with PTSD, and ‎victims of sexual assault, family violence, and child abuse. She is the head of the ‎counseling team of Gyeongbuk Fire Service Headquarters. Her research and clinical ‎interests focus on disaster mental health, vicarious trauma, trauma-informed care, ‎and evidence-based practice in trauma fields. She provided resiliency program for ‎mental health professionals and made voice on the mental health policies and ‎systems as a member of advisory committees at central and local governments in ‎Korea.‎

Jun Shigemura, M.D., Ph.D., is a psychiatrist and a professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Mejiro University in Saitama, Japan. His research focuses on the mental health of disaster workers, such as the nuclear plant workers following the Fukushima nuclear plant accident. Dr. Shigemura was a former President and International Committee Chair of the Japanese Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Max Loomes is the current president of ASTSS, starting his term in 2025. He represents the society in various international forums and consortia, including the Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress (GCTS), International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), and the European Network of Traumatic Stress (TENTS). Max is currently a clinical psychologist registrar, PhD candidate, and researcher at various institutions. His clinical and research experience in the field of trauma primarily focuses on occupational trauma and moral injury; however has extended to refugee populations and experiences of iatrogenic harm.

Dr.Sho Takahashi, MD,PhD Postion ・Professor, Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Research Center of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, University of Tsukuba Hospital, University of Tsukuba, Japan. Dr. Takahashi is a Professor of the University of Tsukuba, department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry,University of Tsukuba Hospital, University of Tsukuba. He had been dispatched to the Kumamoto earthquake relief mission in 2016 as a team member of Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team (DPAT) and a chief of the local mental health headquarter. He had an experience as a mental health supervisor at Joso flood in 2015, he supervised the mental health support program for the Joso Flood victims and has continued follow-up mental health support for local municipality staff and the volunteers and community members who had supported the affected area. He has been involved in disaster relief efforts for numerous incidents, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the Diamond Princess in 2020, the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. He is a member of a disaster relief commission member for The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN), Japanese Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (JSTSS) and Japanese Society of General Hospital Psychiatry（JSGHP）. He also belongs to Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Center of Psychiatry as a disaster support manager in Ibaraki prefecture. He is manager and supervisor of Ibaraki prefecture’s DPAT. His specialties include disaster psychiatry, dementia, geriatric psychiatry, consultation/liaison psychiatry, occupational mental health, public mental health, psychosomatic medicine, and oriental medicine(herbal medicine, Kampo).

Michelle Lonergan holds a Ph.D. from McGill University’s Department of Psychiatry and completed postdoctoral training in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She is currently the Scientific Assistant to the Directorate of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute Research Center, a Research Associate in the Department of Psychiatry and Addictology at Université de Montréal, and an Academic Affiliate in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Her research interests concern the neurobiological, psychological, and relational processes underlying adjustment to trauma and stressors experienced within couple relationships. She also studies the etiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorder.

Richard Bryant is Scientia Professor of UNSW Sydney and Director of the Traumatic Stress Clinic. He is a world authority in PTSD. He has developed novel assessment and treatment programs for people with PTSD These protocols are used globally for early interventions after psychological trauma, been translated into over 15 languages, and are used in many countries. Professor Bryant has been widely recognised for the innovation and impact of his work. He has written 6 books, 80 book chapters, and 870 journal articles. He is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher.

I completed a Master’s in Clinical Psychology at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and earned my PhD at King’s College London, where my research focused on identifying who is most at risk of developing serious psychological difficulties after trauma and, crucially, predicting this at a very early stage to enable timely, personalized interventions. I am a trained and board-certified CBT therapist, with additional training in Cognitive Therapy for PTSD and Narrative Exposure Therapy. Beyond my research and clinical practice, I direct a certified Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) program in evidence-based trauma treatment, equipping mental health professionals with the latest skills in trauma-focused interventions. Additionally, I head the Medical Faculty’s ethics committee at my university. Currently, I serve as Full Professor and Chair of Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

I am a psychologist and researcher working at the intersection of trauma, technology and child protection. My career has focused on how harm is experienced and amplified in digital spaces, particularly for children, young people and traumatically exposed workforces. I have worked across academia, applied research, policy and practice, supporting government, law enforcement, NGOs and the technology sector on online harms, child sexual exploitation and abuse and trauma-informed responses. My current work includes a strong focus on the wellbeing of content moderators and Trust and Safety professionals exposed to harmful online material. I support evidence-informed approaches to psychological safety, safer workflows, leadership culture, exposure management and organisational responsibility. I also lead and contribute to Save the Children’s partnership with Vodafone Foundation, including the SMILE framework, which helps children build digital resilience through data security, information management, digital identity, digital literacy and digital empathy.

Jane Kim is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She applies her training in statistics to examine data-driven approaches to address ethical questions in AI for mental health applications.

Dr. Debra Kaysen is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor whose work has significantly advanced the understanding and treatment of trauma-related mental health conditions. She serves as Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Chief of the Division of Public Mental Health and Population Sciences at Stanford Medicine. hose work has focused on advancing evidence-based care for individuals affected by trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and co-occurring behavioral health concerns. Her research centers on understanding the impact of trauma across diverse populations and developing innovative approaches to ensure that effective treatments reach those who need them most, including how best to use new and old technologies to increase access to care. A central theme of Dr. Kaysen's work is reducing the gap between what is known to be effective in trauma treatment and what is available in real-world settings. Through collaborations with healthcare systems, community organizations, and international partners, she has led research aimed at adapting, implementing, and scaling evidence-based interventions for trauma survivors across a wide range of cultural and resource contexts. Her work has examined strategies for delivering trauma-focused care in underserved communities, integrating technology to expand access, and supporting sustainable implementation of effective treatments beyond specialty mental health settings. Her work reflects a commitment to translating scientific advances into practical solutions that improve outcomes for trauma survivors and strengthen community capacity to respond to traumatic stress. A former president of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the recipient of the ISTSS Allwood Award for Excellence in Trauma Services for the Underserved, Dr. Kaysen has authored over 200 scholarly publications and received funding from major agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and USAID.

Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona Department of Psychology, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab. She earned a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona in 2004 and following a faculty appointment at UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, she returned to the University of Arizona in 2012. She served for three years as Director of Clinical Training in the Psychology Department. Her research program focuses on the wide-ranging emotional responses to bereavement. In particular, she investigates the neurobiological and psychophysiological aspects that vary between individual grief responses via functional neuroimaging, immune, and endocrine analysis. Exclusively represented by BrightSight Speakers, Dr. O’Connor also researches difficulties adapting following the death of a loved one, termed prolonged grief (newly included in the revised DSM-5). She believes that a clinical science approach toward the experience and physiology of grief can improve psychological treatment. Dr. O’Connor’s book, The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss (2022; HarperOne) has garnered praise from peers and literary critics alike and has led to speaking engagements around the world. She wrote a follow-up called The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing (2025). 

In addition to her outstanding record of scholarship, Dr. O’Connor is a highly proficient and beloved teacher and mentor, honored with the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) “Outstanding Mentor Award” in 2014. In 2020, she organized an international multidisciplinary research group called the Neurobiology of Grief International Network (NOGIN). Under her leadership, the group has held three international conferences supported by the National Institute on Aging.  Dr. O’Connor is a highly sought-after speaker, giving numerous talks and workshops to community organizations around the world, including in-service trainings to healthcare professionals and volunteers at hospices. She has authored research papers published in a wide range of peer-reviewed journals, from American Journal of Psychiatry to NeuroImage to Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Dr. O’Connor’s work has been discussed in the New York Times, The Guardian, Washington Post, and Scientific American.  

Mary-Frances is represented exclusively by the BrightSight Group 

Prof. Dr. Miranda Olff, is professor in the field of psychotrauma. Her research focuses on transdiagnostic responses to traumatic events, and the prevention and treatment of adverse consequences, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), around the world. Miranda Olff is leading the Centre for Psychological Trauma at the department of Psychiatry at the Amsterdam UMC (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam and is Director of Research at the ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre (ARQ). Miranda Olff is chair of the Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress, a collaborative of traumatic stress societies who joined forces to tackle traumatic stress topics of global importance. Miranda Olff is founding Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Psychotraumatology (EJPT), an Open Access journal owned by the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), launched when she was president of ESTSS. Miranda is a past president of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). She has been trained in Corporate Governance and has several committee/advisory board positions (e.g. MH17 disaster foundation). ESTSS awarded her with the Wolter the Loos Life time achievement award. In 2025 she received an Honorary Doctorate from Mid Sweden University. Publications can be found here: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1016-9515, LinkedIn: Miranda Olff

Amy Adler, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and the senior scientist with the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). In her role at WRAIR, Dr. Adler has led the development and evaluation of training material supporting mental health and resilience in military units, resulting in training products that have been implemented in the U.S. and internationally. She has authored more than 200 articles and edited seven books, including Anger at Work (2021) and Deployment Psychology (2011). Dr. Adler’s current research focuses on easily fielded emotion regulation techniques for high-stakes environments. Her emphasis is on adapting these critical mental skills into accessible, user-friendly formats to optimize the mental health and performance of service members.

Dominic Murphy, MA, PhD, (Professor Murphy) is an academic consultant clinical psychologist and has worked within the field of PTSD and military mental health since 2003. He has completed both a PhD in Health Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He is an expert in the field of psychological trauma and has extensive experience of caring for, and conducting research with, traumatised populations. Dominic leads the Combat Stress Centre for Applied Military Health Research, is the President of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, past president of the UK Psychological Trauma Society, co-Director of the KCMHR at King’s College London and a trustee and director of the Forces in Mind Trust. Dominic has focused on translational research to improve the outcomes for those affected by psychological trauma and is widely published with over 250 scientific papers and reports.

David Pedlar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist, University of Ottawa at The Institute for Mental Health Research at the Royal Hospital, Adjunct Professor, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa Professor Emeritus, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University. He was Research Director of the Canadian VA 2002-2017, Scientific Director and Professor of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Health Research at Queens University 2018-2024, and currently a senior researcher and advisor of projects underway in Canada and Ukraine. In 2018, he co-founded and continues to co-lead the Mental Health Research and Innovation Collaboration (MHRIC), an international consortium spanning the Five Eyes nations focused on military and veteran mental health. This collaboration advances mental health research to support evidence-based policies and practices that enhance the wellbeing of military personnel, veterans, and their families. The consortiums work has resulted in policy impacts and publications in leading scientific journals. Since 2024, in response to ongoing threat assessments that foresee a high risk that Canada and ally nations will be engaged in high intensity Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO), he has co led two large scale provincial and national war game tabletop exercises - “Exercise Trillium Cura” and “Exercise Canada Paratus” - to stress test the capacity of the Canadian military and civilian health care systems to co-manage a sustained high flow of physical and mental battle casualties.

Nicole Sadler, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist and Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, and an Enterprise Professor within the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. For over three decades Nicole has worked with military members, veterans, emergency service workers, judiciary and frontline health care professionals, and communities impacted by large scale events. She is an expert in trauma-related mental health and wellbeing, suicide, and disaster mental health. Prior to joining Phoenix Australia in 2017, she served in the full-time Army for over 20 years and completed her career in the senior Army psychology position. She continues to serve in the Army Reserves at the rank of Brigadier as the Principal Consultant - Mental Health.

Paula Schnurr, PhD, is a psychologist who is Executive Director of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Mental Health. She previously served as the Center’s Deputy Executive Director, beginning in 1989 as one of the Center’s founders. She is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and is Editor-in-Chief of the Clinician’s Trauma Update–Online. Dr. Schnurr is Past-President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Traumatic Stress. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Her research focuses PTSD treatment, including psychotherapy and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and on risk and resilience factors associated with the long-term physical and mental health outcomes of traumatic exposure.

Alan L. Peterson, PhD, ABPP, is a Professor and the Chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas at San Antonio Long School of Medicine. He is also the Director of the South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience (STRONG STAR Consortium) and a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. STRONG STAR includes over 150 research collaborators and 50 institutions worldwide. Over the past 18 years, STRONG STAR investigators have collectively secured more than $250 million in research funding to support over 120 projects. Dr. Peterson retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2005 after 21 years of active duty service including deployments in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. He has clinical and research expertise in the areas of behavioral medicine, psychological trauma, and resiliency. He has published 9 books, more than 425 scientific manuscripts, and given over 700 presentations and invited addresses at national and international meetings.

Dr. Steffany Fredman is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology at The Pennsylvania State University and a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Fredman conducts research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions within a couple/family context, including ways that partner involvement in treatment optimizes outcomes for individuals with PTSD and their loved ones. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Fredman is the co-developer of cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD (CBCT for PTSD; Monson & Fredman, 2012), a couple-based treatment for PTSD that has been tested in community, veteran, and active duty military populations. Dr. Fredman is also the lead developer of the Significant Others’ Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS), a widely used measure of partner accommodation of patient PTSD symptoms.

Dr. Marx is the Deputy Director of and Senior Psychologist Clinician Investigator in the Behavioral Science Division of the National Center for PTSD and corresponding PI for the VA CSRD side of the Suicide Prevention Research Impact Network (SPRINT). He is also a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. He is currently the PI/Co-PI/Site PI of three federally funded studies focused on testing the efficacy of treatments for PTSD, PTSD and comorbid suicidal thoughts and behaviors, or examining the course of PTSD, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and other comorbid conditions within the context of a simulated clinical trial. Other ongoing research continues to use data collected other studies previously funded by VA and DoD to examine risk factors for suicidality, development and testing of new measures of psychopathology and functioning, neurocognitive correlates and predictors of PTSD and suicidality, and understanding moderators and predictors of treatment outcomes among Veterans and Service Members. He is the lead author on the Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning and co-author of all the most commonly used measures of PTSD diagnostic status and symptom severity and regularly conduct research on the best methods to assess PTSD and symptom change. Dr. Marx's research program has translated NCPTSD and VA’s national research goals and priorities into specific scientific project activities of significant complexity and sufficient sustainability.

Patricia A. Resick, PhD, ABPP, is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center and Adjunct Professor, Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Resick’s specialty is in understanding and treating the effects of traumatic events, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 1988, she developed Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, a short evidence-based treatment and has overseen multiple clinical trials. The treatment manual for CPT has been translated into 12 languages and has been formally disseminated throughout the VA in the US, Canada and Australia, and now the Democratic Republic of Congo. CPT is considered a first line therapy for PTSD. Dr. Resick’s research was continuously funded for 40 years; she has published almost 400 articles and chapters and 12 books on PTSD including the self-help book “Getting Unstuck from PTSD: Using Cognitive Processing Therapy to Guide Your Recovery” and a second edition of the best-selling treatment manual “Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: A Comprehensive Therapist Manual”. She served as the President of both the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. She has won research and mentoring awards as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Trauma Division (56) of the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.

Terence M. Keane, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry (Clinical Psychology) and Assistant Dean for VA Research at Boston University; for the past twenty-five years Keane has served as the Associate Chief of Staff for Research & Development at VA Boston Healthcare System, the largest research program in all of VA. Since 1989, he’s directed the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-Behavioral Science Division a program with a strong focus on assessment, psychological treatment development, and the genetic underpinnings of this condition. With many colleagues and trainees, Dr. Keane has published some 450 articles, books, and chapters on the assessment and treatment of PTSD. For the past 46 consecutive years his program of trauma research has been supported by federal funding agencies, such as VA, NIH, DoD, and SAMHSA. In 2013, Keane was named the Co-Principal Investigator of the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, an initiative supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to improve the care of both active-duty military and combat veterans with PTSD through the conduct of multi-site clinical trials of psychotherapy and medications in these populations. Over the years, his contributions to the field have been recognized by many national and international honors including the 2013 Distinguished Research Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award from APA’s Society of Clinical Psychology and a similar award from the Canadian Psychological Association in 2015. In 2011, Dr. Keane received two honorary doctorates for “his major role in opening the field of psychological trauma to scientific inquiry”. In 2015 he was named the recipient of the John Blair Barnwell Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the highest national award for those engaged in Clinical Research. In terms of national and international leadership, Keane has served as President of multiple professional societies over the course of his career. His commitment to education and training future generations of investigators is exemplified in his role as Program Director for a NIMH funded T-32 training program for thirty years.

Dr David Forbes, AO, PhD, is the Academic Director, Maudsley Health, UAE, joining in July 2024. Prior to this Dr Forbes was for the Director of Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. Dr Forbes retains an honorary Professorship at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. He is a clinical psychologist and international expert in the area of traumatic stress, with over 30 years’ experience, in the assessment and treatment of mental health problems in trauma survivors, with a specialty in disaster, military, veteran and first responder mental health. He was recently awarded recognition as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to mental health research and practice, to academia and to the prevention and treatment of PTSD”. Dr Forbes has published over 270 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and lead-edited the ISTSS 3rd Edition of the Effective Treatments for PTSD, as is Chair of the current ISTSS PTSD Guidelines Committee. He has also been a longstanding member of many Australian government expert advisory committees for the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defence and Home Affairs, and sat on international panels including NATO panels for Implementing Personalized Psychiatry in Military Personnel. Dr Forbes is committed to improving outcomes for people impacted by adverse events and sychological trauma through advancing the science in the field and the translation of this research into effective and internationally culturally appropriate policy and practice.

Andrea J. Phelps is the Deputy Director of Phoenix Australia, Australia’s national centre of excellence in posttraumatic mental health based at the University of Melbourne. There they combine clinical work, supervision and training with innovative research and consultation to government and industry on trauma related policy and strategy. As the Deputy Director her responsibilities include strategic oversight of the Centre’s activities across research, service development and training; strategic planning and setting future directions; and leadership of flagship projects such as the NHMRC approved Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of PTSD which helped shape the process for the ISTSS PTSD Guidelines. She began her career as a clinician, holding senior clinical leadership positions in general mental health and specialised trauma treatment services. This background has shaped her approach to research and consultancy, ensuring that research is clinically relevant and consultancy advice is situated within an understanding of clinical complexity.

Soraya Seedat serves as vice-chair of the ISTSS Clinical Guidelines Committee. She is Professor of Psychiatry and Executive Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University (Cape Town, South Africa),. and Director of the South African Medical Research Unit on the Genomics of Brain Disorders. Her work on PTSD and anxiety disorders focuses on applying multidisciplinary, multilevel, mechanistic approaches and investigation of risk and resilience, in adolescent and adult populations, as well as evaluating treatments using task-shifting approcahes.

Marit Sijbrandij is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology at VU University [Vrije Universiteit], Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center at VU University. Marit Sijbrandij has completed multiple trials evaluating (early) psychological intervention strategies in the acute aftermath of trauma and adversities for prevention of common mental disorders including depression, anxiety and posttraumatic disorder (PTSD). She has coordinated several consortium projects, that evaluated the effectiveness of scalable task-shifting and digital interventions for people with a refugee and migrant background across countries in Europe and the Middle East. Other research involves the detection, prevalence and predictors of common mental disorders, including PTSD among trauma-affected populations.

Ceren Acartürk is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at Koç University. Her research focuses on the psychological effects of trauma and adversities, common mental health disorders particularly among forcibly displaced individuals, and the effectiveness of scalable psychological interventions. Dr. Acartürk has led randomized controlled trials evaluating WHO-developed psychological interventions in refugee settings and has been actively involved in post-earthquake mental health initiatives in Türkiye.

Sandra Ferreira has been a teacher, manager, and leader in various fields, primarily in Education and Mental Health Advocacy. She holds an Honours Degree in Educational Management and is an expert by experience. Her experience spans 25 years, and she is currently the Global Network Manager for aves Mental Health (formerly GMHPN). Sandra heads up the P2P mentorship, education & empowerment unit of the GMHPN, as well as the Youth Agents for Change (YA4C) & Peer Support (Benchwarmers) units. Sandra is actively involved in various global mental health initiatives ranging from policy, research and community capacity building. Sandra’s particular area of interest and advocacy centres around Human Rights in Mental Health and anti-coercive practices in care.

Dr. Ateka Akbar Contractor is Professor and Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Psychology at University of North Texas. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Texas. She obtained her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from University of Toledo, completed her pre-doctoral internship at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the VA Boston Healthcare System; Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center. In her research, she examines the role and significance of positive memories in PTSD’s symptomatology and treatment, the role of cultural influences on PTSD’s symptomatology, transdiagnostic constructs implicated in PTSD’s comorbidity with well-being indicators, and heterogeneity in PTSD’s symptomatology and traumatic experiences. She has published more than 215 peer-reviewed published articles. Her work on positive memories and PTSD interventions has been funded by NIMH as well as by the Binational Science Foundation. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders and serves on several editorial boards.

Dr. Cameron Pugach is a NIMH T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the mentorship of Dr. Blair Wisco and completed his predoctoral clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium on the Traumatic Stress track. Dr. Pugach’s program of research is dedicated to improving understanding of risk and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Funded by a NIMH F31 National Research Service Award and the ISTSS Frank W. Putnam Award, a central line of his work has aimed to describe how affective processes such as emotional awareness and emotion regulation can go awry and contribute to PTSD. On postdoc, Dr. Pugach is working with mentors Drs. Brian Marx and Michelle Bovin to leverage precision medicine approaches that hold promise for improving PTSD treatment outcomes for recipients of trauma-focused treatments.

Mariel Emrich is a fifth-year Clinical Psychology PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut with clinical and research interests at the intersection of trauma and health psychology. Her research examines how individuals cope with diverse stressors and related psychological and physical health sequelae, particularly in the context of trauma, chronic pain, and serious illness. Mariel was recently awarded an NIH F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Fellowship to examine joint trajectories of PTSD and pain in the early aftermath of trauma with musculoskeletal injury and identify modifiable predictors that can inform clinical intervention targets. She is also passionate about improving the efficacy, accessibility, and implementation of treatments for PTSD and related comorbidities. For instance, she is currently leading the development and pilot study of an integrated treatment for comorbid PTSD and chronic pain at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her research has been recognized with multiple awards from organizations such as the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), the Society for Behavioral Medicine (SBM), the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Gabby Gauthier completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Washington, including a predoctoral psychology internship at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Her research examines how memory processes shape the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder, with a focus on intrusive memories and retrieval dynamics.

Naser Morina, PhD, is Senior Researcher and Lecturer at the University of Zurich and Head of Research and Co-Head of the Outpatient Unit for Victims of Torture and War at the University Hospital Zurich. His research focuses on global mental health, traumatic stress, and the implementation of scalable psychological interventions for populations affected by conflict, displacement, and other adversities. He has extensive experience developing, evaluating, and scaling evidence-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions in humanitarian and routine care settings. He is the principal investigator of several international implementation studies and randomized controlled trials, including the SPIRIT implementation program in Switzerland.

Marit Sijbrandij is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology at VU University [Vrije Universiteit], Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center at VU University. Marit Sijbrandij has completed multiple trials evaluating (early) psychological intervention strategies in the acute aftermath of trauma and adversities for prevention of common mental disorders including depression, anxiety and posttraumatic disorder (PTSD). She has coordinated several consortium projects, that evaluated the effectiveness of scalable task-shifting and digital interventions for people with a refugee and migrant background across countries in Europe and the Middle East. Other research involves the detection, prevalence and predictors of common mental disorders, including PTSD among trauma-affected populations.

Peter Ventevogel is a psychiatrist (MD) and has a PhD in medical anthropology with the thesis ‘Borderlands of mental health: Explorations in medical anthropology, psychiatric epidemiology and health systems research in Afghanistan and Burundi”. He has 24 years of experience in programming for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for populations affected by violence and displacement. Since 2013, Peter has been working with the Public Health Section of UNHCR as Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist. In this role he oversees and provides technical support to UNHCR operations worldwide, including through field support missions to over 35 countries. He has played a pivotal role in fostering interagency consensus and guidance on humanitarian MHPSS. Peter has been involved in operational research on mental health among refugees and conflict-affected populations, participating in several research consortia focussed on scalable psychological interventions. He has (co)authored over 150 academic publications.

Angela Nickerson is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program at UNSW Sydney. She is a clinical psychologist with two decades' experience in working with people from refugee backgrounds. Angela undertakes research investigating the factors influencing refugee wellbeing and developing and evaluating psychological interventions for refugee communities. Her work has been used to inform immigration policy and clinical practice. Angela is Past President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Dr. Iryna Frankova is a Senior Researcher at Centrum’ 45, the ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre in the Netherlands. She is also an Affiliated Researcher at the Educational and Research Institute of Mental Health at Bogomolets National Medical University in Kyiv, Ukraine. With over 15 years of clinical and research experience in clinical psychology, Dr. Frankova specializes in stress-related disorders and the prevention of PTSD. Her research interests include global mental health, traumatic grief, and digital mental health for individuals facing adversity.

Benjamin M. Keizer, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified Clinical Health Psychologist and Supervisory Psychologist who leads Health and Human Performance Psychology at the Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, Texas. He provides interdisciplinary care to military service members recovering from serious injuries, including amputations, limb-salvage procedures, polytrauma, and major surgery. Dr. Keizer completed postdoctoral training in clinical health psychology with a specialization in chronic pain through the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium. His work focuses on the intersection of chronic pain, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and recovery after injury. He serves as both a provider and Program Director for the Functional Restoration Program, including its Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma Track, and as a provider and Program Manager for the Special Operations Performance and Recovery program. Across these programs, Dr. Keizer advances evidence-informed, whole-person approaches that address the psychological, physiological, social, and functional effects of trauma and pain. His teams integrate clinical health psychology, pain medicine, rehabilitation therapies, nutrition, recreation therapy, and emerging treatment modalities to support recovery, resilience, and return to meaningful performance. Dr. Keizer received an Army Systems of Health Innovation Grant for developing novel interdisciplinary programs in a military setting. Under his leadership, the clinic received the Military and Army Health Systems’ Best of the Best Specialty Care Clinic award in 2018 and 2022.

Senior Master Sergeant Robert Alvarado is the Air Education and Training Command Special Missions Aviator Functional Manager, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph, Texas. He is responsible for the development, training, management and effective utilization of over 174 Formal Training Unit instructors assigned to four geographically separated locations. SMSgt Alvarado manages undergraduate and graduate aircrew training pipelines that execute 63 syllabi to produce over 500 career enlisted aviator (CEA) and pilot graduates annually. His aircrew training portfolio includes eight pipelines valued at $1.3 billion. Additionally, SMSgt Alvarado develops enlisted initial skills accession programming for the career field, coordinates with the Air Force Personnel Center to prioritize manpower within the Command and provides strategic guidance to the Career Field Manager. Sergeant Alvarado was born in Houston, Texas and is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School. He entered the Air Force in May 2001 as a Communications & Navigation Systems technician and worked on the MH-53M, MC-130P, and C-17A aircraft. In 2012, he retrained as a Combat Search and Rescue Flight Engineer on the HH-60G and deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, Inhirent Resolve and operations across the Horn of Africa. He crewed one of three rescue helicopters deployed in support of Hurricane Harvey rescue operations, saving 37 lives. Sergeant Alvarado also served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of Air Force Space Command’s Search & Rescue Detachment 45, ensuring the successful launch and recovery coverage of the first commercial space launch and later first human space launch. Prior to his current position, Senior Alvarado was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 512th Rescue Squadron and 58th Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. EDUCATION 2004 Associate of Science in Avionics Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force 2006 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, FL. 2007 Associate of Science in Instructor of Technology and Military Science, Community College of the Air force 2008 Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education, Training & Development, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL. 2011 Master of Science in Human Resource Management, University of Maryland University-College, Adelphi, MD. 2012 Master of Business Administration, University of Maryland University-College, Adelphi, MD. 2015 Associate of Science in Aviation Operations, Community College of the Air Force 2021 United States Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL. 2023 Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, MacDill AFB, FL ASSIGNMENTS 1. April 2002 – May 2005, Communication & Navigation Systems Journeyman, 352d Maintenance Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK. 2. June 2005 – October 2010, C-17 Communication & Navigation Systems AETC Instructor, 373d Training Squadron, Detachment 5, Charleston AFB, SC. 3. November 2010 – February 2012, First-Term Airman Center Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge, 628th Air Base Wing, Charleston AFB, SC. 4. March 2012 – May 2013, Integrated Counter Measure, Communication & Navigation Systems Section Chief, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Charleston, AFB, SC. 5. May 2015 – April 2017, HH-60G Combat Flight Chief, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, GA. 6. May 2017 – October 2019, 23d Wing Plans & Exercises Superintendent, 23d Wing, Moody AFB, GA 8. November 2019 – November 2021, HH-60G Operations Superintendent, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, GA. 9. December 2021 – November 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 58th Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM. 10. December 2022 – March 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM 11. April 2024 – Present, Special Missions Aviator Command Functional Area Manager, JBSA-Randolph, TX

Margaret Costantino, MA, is the co-founder and past Exec. director of Center for Refugee Services in San Antonio, TX, Agency is a 501c3 charitable nonprofit founded in 2010. Mission is to facilitate the successful community integration of legally resettled refugees with focus on health and wellness, educational support, and employment. I retired from UT San Antonio as career counselor/adjunct professor with 20 years experience assisting/teaching undergraduate students. Retired LPC counselor. Currently volunteer at CRS as case manager and case manage liaison with (free) SA Refugee Health Clinic, a collaborative, student run health clinic featuring medical, nursing, and dental students and faculty from UT Health.

Tiffany Wang, MD, is a 4th year psychiatry resident at UT Health San Antonio. She served as a Resident Clinic Director for the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic Psychiatry Night from 2024-2026.

Jill Nakrani, MA, LPC-Associate, NCC, is a therapist, educator, and co-founder of Kinfolk Healing Collective, PLLC, based in San Antonio, Texas. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at St. Mary’s University, Jill’s clinical practice and community leadership focus on trauma-informed, affirmative, and culturally responsive care for underserved populations. She serves as Chair of the Clinical Committee on the Board of Directors for Pride Center San Antonio, where she helps guide clinical operations, internship programming, and accessible mental health services. Jill brings expertise in trauma-informed psychotherapy, community-led healing models, and systemic support for LGBTQ+ and diverse populations navigating high-acuity distress and identity-based stress.

Amy L. Stone is Professor of Sociology at Trinity University. They have been a longtime collaborator with Pride Center San Antonio on several community-based research projects. They are the author and editor of books about LGBTQ life in the United States, including Out of the Closet, Into the Archives: Researching Sexual Histories, Gay Rights at the Ballot Box, and Cornyation: San Antonio’s Outrageous Fiesta Tradition. They are also the author of works on contemporary LGBTQ life, including Queer Carnival: Festivals &Mardi Gras in the South. They co-lead the research project Family Housing and Me (FHAM Project), the landmark longitudinal study about nonparental relatives and housing stability of LGBTQ youth in Texas and California. With their collaborators, they helped design the Sexual and Gender Minorities Adverse Childhood Experiences (SGM-ACEs) scale.