Summit Keynote Speaker Biographies
November 15–17, 2009 • Astor Crowne Plaza • New Orleans, Louisiana
William A. Anthony, Ph.D is currently the Director of Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and a Professor in the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University.
For the past 35 years, Anthony has worked in various roles in the field of mental health and psychiatric rehabilitation, and has been honored for his performance as a researcher, an educator, and a clinician. He is currently co-editor of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. In 1988 Anthony received the Distinguished Services Award from the National Alliance on Mentally Illness in recognition of “...his efforts that challenge outdated ideas which limit the potential of mentally ill people. The innovative programs created through Bill Anthony’s leadership offer hope and opportunity.” Anthony has appeared on ABC’s Nightline, which featured a rehabilitation program developed and implemented by Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Ted Koppell characterized it as a model program: “a small beacon of sanity in dealing with the problems of those whose sanity has crumbled.”
In 1992 Anthony received the Distinguished Service Award from the President of the United States for his efforts “...in promoting the dignity, equality, independence and employment of people with disabilities.”
Anthony has authored over 100 articles in professional journals, 16 textbooks, and several dozen book chapters. A few of Anthony’s latest professional books are: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs: Putting Theory into Practice (co-edited with Dr. Marianne Farkas), Psychiatric Rehabilitation (authored with Dr. Mikal Cohen, Dr. Marianne Farkas and Dr. Cheryl Gagne), Readings in Psychiatric Rehabilitation (co-edited with Dr. LeRoy Spaniol), and Toward a Vision of Recovery. His most recent book (2008) is Principled Leadership in Mental Health Systems and Programs, co-authored with Kevin Ann Huckshorn.
Judith A. Cook, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She directs the Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy (CMHSRP), which houses a federally funded center on self-determination and recovery, and a number of research and evaluation projects addressing severe mental illness. The UIC National Research and Training Center on Psychiatric Disability is funded for five years to conduct research and training on evidence-based practice, consumer-directed services, and alternative financing mechanisms for mental health care.
Dr. Cook also directed the Coordinating Center for the Employment Intervention Demonstration Program, a federal multi-site, clinical trial of supported employment services for people with major mental disorders. Dr. Cook’s published research includes over 150 books, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed journal articles in areas such as rehabilitation, recovery and self-determination; mental illness among youth; post-secondary education for people with psychiatric disabilities; gender issues in mental illness; and coping strategies of parents of mentally ill offspring. She served as expert consultant to the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, and as an advisory committee member and reviewer of the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health. Dr. Cook has consulted with the British Columbia Ministry of Health, and with numerous federal agencies and administrations in the U.S. including the White House, the Office of the Surgeon General, the Department of Labor, the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Veteran’s Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration.
With staff at the MHSRP, Dr. Cook has created a series of training manuals and curricula in areas such as: reduction of seclusion and restraint in inpatient settings, community safety for women with mental illness, hiring consumers as direct service providers, job coaching in psychiatric rehabilitation, assertive case management for homeless persons, vocational transitioning for youth with severe emotional disorders, and outreach to minority families of persons with mental illness.
Tom Gloss is one of two Ticket Program Specialists that CESSI has onsite at the Social Security Administration (SSA) national headquarters in Woodlawn, MD. He and his colleague have played a principal role in the recruitment of organizations to become Employment Networks in the Ticket program by developing written marketing materials, staffing exhibit booths and presenting workshops and other training sessions in person, on teleconferences and via Webinars.
Tom started his career as a Claims Representative for SSA in Rochester, NY in 1974. He then worked as an analyst for SSA’s Appeals Council reviewing claims for disability benefits and then held a number of disability policy positions at SSA’s central office and ultimately served as a special assistant to the Associate Commissioner for Disability.
In 1997, Tom accepted a position as a Senior Health Policy Analyst at the Health Resources and Services Administration/Maternal and Child Health Bureau directing the national grant program focused on children and youth with special health care needs in transition to adulthood called “Healthy and Ready to Work.”
Tom retired from the Federal Government in the fall of 2003 and was consulting on issues of youth with special health care needs and disabilities in transition to adulthood and working in private insurance before joining CESSI in January 2008. Tom has a B.A. in Political Science from Binghamton University.
A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed. is Director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). CMHS provides national leadership in mental health promotion, mental illness prevention, and the development and dissemination of effective mental health services. Director Power leads a staff of 126 professionals in facilitating the transformation of our nation’s mental health care system into one that is recovery-oriented and consumer-centered. Director Power received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service on these occasions: 2004, for outstanding leadership and accomplishments in the national effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate seclusion and restraint in mental health and substance abuse service settings; 2005, for outstanding collaborative spirit in leading an unprecedented Federal coalition to transform mental health services in the United States; 2006, for distinguished service in providing increased capacity for mental health and substance abuse treatment services following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
Prior to her appointment as Director of CMHS, Ms. Power served for over 10 years as the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (DMHRH), a Cabinet position reporting to the Governor. The Rhode Island DMHRH is responsible for four systems of care serving individuals with mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders, developmental disabilities, and long-term medical needs requiring hospital-level service. During her tenure, the Department gained a national reputation for leadership and innovation that produced real and often dramatic improvements in the quality of life for the people it served. Director Power was a powerful force in helping the State of Rhode Island embrace a focus on recovery, promote deinstitutionalization, reduce the use of seclusion and restraint, adopt behavioral health approaches, implement trauma-informed services, advance an emotional competency agenda, develop mobile treatment teams, and expand supported employment to competitive employment opportunities. Ms. Power previously directed the Rhode Island Office of Substance Abuse, the Governor’s Drug Program, the Rhode Island Anti-Drug Coalition, and the Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Centers.
Director Power received her Bachelor’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and her Master’s degree in education and counseling from Western Maryland College. She is a graduate of the Toll Fellowship program of the Council of State Governments, which promotes the development of State leaders through intensive work in policy, management, and executive decision making. She has also completed programs in senior executive leadership development, mental health leadership, and substance abuse leadership at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. In addition, she has extensive training and teaching experience in leadership, ethics, public service, policy development, and program implementation.
Ms. Power is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Joe Razes is a Senior Technical Advisor for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) – the Federal Agency that oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Mr. Razes is responsible for leading a team that is implementing the health related portions of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act legislation.
During his career, Mr. Razes has worked on a broad range of health care and disability issues. At CMS, he has served in numerous managerial and team leader positions. These positions included Medicare and Medicaid operations, fraud and abuse, health care reform, program policy and managed care. He has also worked for a state agency as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and rehabilitation grants manager and formerly held a position with the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Operations. Mr. Razes has a bachelor’s degree in business and psychology and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.
Brenda Sheppard is the senior health care policy analyst who specializes in Medicaid eligibility policies for aged, blind and disabled individuals that include issues relating to the working disabled buy-ins, dual eligibles, trusts, annuities, long-term care eligibility and spousal impoverishment.
Brenda began her career in state government. She started in Oregon as a case aid and quickly moved into eligibility. As a case manager, Brenda assisted individuals with disabilities to obtain Medicaid benefits and engage in employment. Her love for eligibility and policy lead her into training and then to becoming a Senior Policy Analyst. During this time, she was the policy coordinator for Oregon’s Medicaid buy-in. Brenda finds her 15 years of experience to be invaluable as she reviews state plan amendments and provides technical support to the States and regional offices.
Margaret (Peggy) Swarbrick, Ph.D., OTR, CPRP is Director of the Institute for Wellness and Recovery Initiatives, Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (a large statewide agency run by persons living with mental illness in collaboration with professionals) and a part time Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, University of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Health Related Professions, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Her early personal life challenges and experiences in the mental health system led to a career focused on promoting a health and wellness framework for the mental health delivery system. She is strong proponent of ‘occupational wellness’ (meaningful and purposeful activity – employment) as a vital aspect of recovery. She has many publications and has lectured nationally and internationally on issues such as employment, wellness, peer delivered service models, and both supportive housing and financial self sufficiency models.