Two Easy Tips to Stay Present on Summer Vacation

We’ve all been there. The moment when our anticipation for the long-awaited vacation quickly turns to unwanted anxiety and stress. Will it be a good vacation? Will the family enjoy it? Will the photos look good? How much will it cost? How will I make sure I can break away from work? So much uncertainty can start to emerge. This can be especially true for military families taking their precious leave or perhaps connecting a vacation to their Permanent Change of Station, moving to their next installation and home.

It’s natural to have frequently changing thoughts, so here are two ways to intentionally shift your mentality to make the most of your summer vacation.

1. Identify the opportunity each moment presents ahead of time.

When on vacation, it is human nature to pay attention to annoyances, even the mundane ones. We worry about work, get annoyed at the heat, high prices, crowds, or loud commotion around. Frustrations can run higher when you add in the challenges of a kid, significant other, or friend who found all the right buttons to press. When we focus on these annoyances, our focus becomes trapped on them. We feel drained and need a vacation from our vacation!

Try looking through a lens of opportunity, shifting your focus to notice and savor the little pleasures that a vacation offers. Enjoy the laughter of children playing, the warmth of the sun on your skin, and the vibrant colors of blooming flowers. In amusement parks, choose to notice the joy of those around you, the incredible engineering and designs around each ride, and growing excitement as you wait for your turn for fun. In every instance, there is an opportunity to connect with others, perhaps learn something new about someone, or see them in a different light. The learning can even be about yourself: “I can’t believe I actually went skydiving!” Anticipating and being on the lookout for these opportunities sets the stage for us to be fully immersed in the joy the present has to offer. Ask not what you need to do for your vacation but what your vacation can do for you!

2. Slow down to become present in the moment.

When you find yourself caught up in the chaos that is often part of a vacation, take a moment to pause and breathe. Focus on your senses and the beauty around you. This practice can bring a sense of calm and clarity, allowing you to experience and enjoy the moment fully.

Slowing down helps us remember that this moment is something we’ve been waiting for. This moment may not be the exact image we had in our mind as plans can go awry, but it often isn’t the specific event that makes something special; it’s the presence that squeezes out every bit of meaning that sticks with us.

May you welcome the opportunities a summer vacation brings by being open to new experiences and adventures. Whether trying a new outdoor activity, exploring a new place, or simply relaxing and unwinding, allow yourself to engage fully and appreciate these moments.

During a ride, remain seated and always keep your arms and legs inside. During a vacation, stay present and keep your mind focused on opportunities at all times. Wishing you a safe and enjoyable vacation!

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Cara Albanese, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

Cara Albanese is a senior manager of clinical care services and has been with Magellan for over six years. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master's degree in education and Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor's degree in education. In her current role, Cara oversees the autism and ABA products offered by Magellan to certain California and Texas managed Medicaid members. Cara has worked with individuals with autism and related disabilities and their families since 2005. She has always been passionate about working with families and providing a unique, member-centric focus to applied behavior analysis utilization management. View posts

Lisa Aloise

Lisa Aloise, Director of Federal Program Management at Magellan Federal, has over 15 years of experience in federal contracting across various DoD programs. Having been raised as a proud Army brat, Lisa has dedicated her career to a steadfast commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of the military, veterans, and their families. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Mason University and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP). In her free time, Lisa enjoys traveling, paddle boarding, cooking, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and rescue hound. View posts

Daphne Atria, PharmD, BCPS, CPE

Daphne Atria, PharmD, BCPS, CPE, is a board certified clinical pharmacist. She joined Magellan Health in 2016 and possesses a strong background in pharmacy practice, clinical and policy development, research, and training/professional development. Currently she leads the inforMED clinical pharmacy program and is a solutions driven leader. She is an active member of The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and has presented research at various national conferences related to medication management and the improvement of health outcomes. Daphne obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida and completed an advanced PGY1 pharmacy residency at Palmetto General Hospital in Florida. Previously she worked in the Emergency Room and inpatient Mental Health unit, as well as being a preceptor and administrator of the residency program. In 2015, she obtained the Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) certification from the BPS – Board of Pharmacy Specialties. View posts

Teresa Banner

Teresa Banner is a senior training specialist with Magellan Federal. She is also a military spouse, nurse, and Certified Family Life Educator who is passionate about supporting military families and promoting connections between military and civilian communities. View posts

Vanessa Boglio, Psy D, SAP, CEAP

Vanessa Boglio, Psy D, SAP, CEAP, is a licensed clinical psychologist in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Boglio has more than 17 years of clinical experience providing individual psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families with a diversity of mental health disorders. Additionally, she administers behavioral, cognitive, emotional, learning, and personality tests. Dr. Boglio has provided cognitive-behavioral counseling, solution-focused interventions, case management, and psychoeducation to a wide range of clients in private practice, as well as employees and supervisors in the workplace. Dr. Boglio has extensive management consultation and critical incident response experience, including working with FEMA as a stress counselor. Also, Dr. Boglio has been a professor at various universities in Puerto Rico and offers Continuing Education at AGM University. In 2010, Dr. Boglio joined the Federal Occupational Health Employee Assistance and WorkLife Program as a field consultant. In this role she supports employees and family members at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in San Juan and at the Federal Building covering approximately 40+ federal agencies in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Dr. Boglio received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2006 from Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Dr. Boglio also has various certifications: Provider of Direct Psychological Health Services, Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), Facilitator of Dancing Mindfulness, and Certified Employee Assistance Professional. View posts

Caroline Carney, MD

Dr. Caroline Carney is a board-certified internist and a board-certified psychiatrist. She joined Magellan Health in 2016 and serves as Magellan Health’s President of Behavioral Health and Chief Medical Officer. Her previous experience includes the role of SVP Chief Medical Officer of Magellan Behavioral Health and Magellan Specialty Health. She served as the chief medical officer for regional health plans where she gained experience in Medicaid, Medicare, Exchange, and commercial populations. She has served as the medical director for the Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, helping to launch the Medicaid expansion product as well as the behavioral health transformation for the state’s community mental health services. While in Indiana, she served on the Governor’s Mental Health Commission. She is a frequent speaker about behavioral health services, integrated and collaborative care, and the importance of self-care during the pandemic. Dr. Carney is a published author and co-author for over 100 peer and non-peer reviewed publications focusing on issues surrounding comorbid medical and behavioral health conditions. She was a tenured associate professor of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at Indiana University. She started her medical and academic career at the University of Iowa where she earned her medical degree, as well as a master’s degree, and directed the Med-Psych residency program. She continues to engage in regular clinical work through supporting the behavioral health team at a federally qualified health center. View posts

Monica Collins

Monica Collins is the senior director of system transformation for Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, where she is responsible for leading the strategy and planning efforts in system transformation. Her responsibilities include engaging providers, state agencies and stakeholders in a collaborative approach to develop a high-value service delivery system. She brings more than 20 years of behavioral healthcare experience to this role both from a provider and then a payer perspective. Collins earned her master's degree in counseling psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her master's degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. View posts

Kristopher Copeland, MRT-PE III

Kristopher Copeland, Master Resilience Trainer – Performance Expert (MRT-PE Level III), is from the Fort Cavazos Ready and Resilient (R2) Performance Center in Texas. Kris received his Master’s in Kinesiology/Sport Psychology from the University of North Texas, where he trained various collegiate and high school athletes. While assigned to the Fort Wainwright R2 Performance Center in Alaska, Kris worked with various infantry, medical, and airborne units. After making the 4,000-mile move, he now works with Soldiers at Fort Cavazos, providing mental skills training for combative programs, range qualifications, and medical staff. Kris is married and has three young children. When he’s not training Soldiers, he plays at parks with his family, attends sporting events, and tries to sneak away for a date night. View posts

Kayleigh Craft

Kayleigh Craft, communication specialist at Magellan Federal, is an experienced marketing and communications professional with a track record of managing marketing projects, overseeing effective social media strategies, and coordinating successful trade shows. Kayleigh received her degree in Advertising with a concentration in Graphic Design at Ball State University View posts

Octavio Cruz, M.S., LPC-S

Octavio Cruz, M.S., LPC-S, currently works with children and youth populations as a Magellan Federal Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC) in Italy. He has more than 20 years of experience balancing spirituality and emotional wellbeing as a chaplain within a hospital setting and as a professional counselor. He believes loss, grief, and bereavement are areas of intervention where there is much work to be done. With a background in psychology, clinical pastoral education, and behavioral health integration in primary care, he has been able to connect with processes that go beyond loss to the discovery of meaning and purpose. He is a husband and a father of three young men. With the recent death of his father, the subject of grief through his own experience has gained relevance in his life and that is why he chose to share this article. View posts

Krystal Doucette

Krystal Doucette is a lead talent acquisition consultant at Magellan Federal. She has seven years of experience in recruitment and talent acquisition. Krystal joined Magellan Federal in February 2019 and has been dedicated to finding talent to provide confidential, solution-focused mental health counseling to the active-duty military and their families. Krystal has a personal interest in supporting the military community, with family members that are currently on active duty, military spouses, and veterans. Krystal is a certified recruitment marketer and holds a degree in History with a concentration in American Military History from the College of William and Mary. View posts

Stacy Drones

Stacy Drones is a credentialed Advanced Victim Advocate through the National Advocate Credentialing Program and Senior Director of Family Programs at Magellan Federal. Stacy serves as the Program Manager for the Army Family Advocacy Support Services contract. She has worked with military family programs since 2007 and joined Magellan Federal in 2013. She has approximately 20 years of experience working with victims of family violence. Stacy graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and completed her Master of Arts in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University. View posts

Barbara Dunn

Barbara Ann Dunn, LCSW, ACSW, is director of program innovation and outcomes for Magellan Healthcare and is responsible for proposing, implementing and evaluating innovative programs across behavioral health. Barbara’s work includes creating data collection systems using evidence-based and emerging assessment tools. Before joining Magellan, Barbara worked in early childhood and alternative education, child welfare, faith-based organizations and community mental health. She holds a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Binghamton University. View posts

Diona Emmanuel, PHD, MPH, LPC, NCC

Diona Emmanuel, PHD, MPH, LPC, NCC, is a licensed professional counselor in Washington, DC, and the state of Virginia and is also an employee assistance specialist. She has more than 10 years of clinical experience counseling individuals, groups, and families in treatment centers and non-profit settings. Dr. Emmanuel has provided education; individual, couples, and group counseling; and expressive art therapy services to clients with a variety of substance abuse and mental health concerns. Additionally, she has expertise in performing psychosocial assessments, a crucial step in providing effective counseling. In 2021, Dr. Emmanuel joined the Federal Occupational Health Employee Assistance and WorkLife Programs as a field consultant serving the General Services Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Department of Justice, and the Administrative Offices of the United States Courts in Washington, DC. Dr. Emmanuel obtained both her undergraduate degree and her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, and a Master of Public Health and Doctorate of Philosophy in counseling from George Washington University in Washington, DC. View posts

Linda Y. Evans

Linda Y. Evans, MD, FAPA, is Board-certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has worked in the behavioral health field for 30 years. She was an Army officer for 16 years and a civilian working for the military for 10 years. She served as a psychiatrist for servicemembers and their families on military posts around the world. She is a former associate professor for the Augusta University’s Medical College of GA child psychiatry fellowship training program. Upon leaving the military, she worked in many different areas of psychiatry to include private practice, inpatient child and adult psychiatry, telepsychiatry, and outpatient addiction treatment. She worked part-time in rural areas in the community mental health setting. She served as physician for the regional developmental disabilities department where she developed a special interest in mental health of adults and children with autism and other developmental disabilities, a very underserved population. She is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and member of the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians’ Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent psychiatry View posts

Dana Foglesong

Dana Foglesong, MSW, NCPS, CRPS, is the national senior director of recovery and resiliency services for Magellan Healthcare. She joined Magellan in 2015 as a director for a Medicaid mental illness specialty plan in Florida. Prior to Magellan, Dana worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families in the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and founded the Peer Support Coalition of Florida. In her leadership roles, Dana utilizes her professional and lived experiences with recovery to transform policy and practice, deliver data-driven innovation, and work for the meaningful inclusion of people served and their families in the design, implementation and evaluation of systems and service delivery practices. Dana currently serves as the immediate past president of the board of directors for the National Association of Peer Supporters. She is a former member of the National Council’s Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program and executive committee board member for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She is a published author and co-author of peer and non-peer reviewed publications and is a frequent speaker on the supervision of peer support workers, recovery-oriented practices, and peer delivered and whole health approaches within integrated health settings. Dana is a nationally certified peer specialist and holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Central Florida. View posts

Kristen Ford

Kristen Ford, MPH, serves as the vice president of product development for Magellan Healthcare. She has more than 24 years of experience within the behavioral health managed care industry including 11 years with Magellan. Kristen leads innovation and product development activities for Magellan’s behavioral health markets.  She oversees the identification, development, and production of new services for behavioral health populations including employer, payer, and public markets.  Kristen has held several leadership roles within behavioral health managed care including operations, quality improvement, and six sigma process management and design. Kristen holds a master’s degree in Public Health, a bachelor’s degree in social work and is passionate about empowering people to achieve their best health. Prior to working in the managed care industry, Kristen worked with local community public health departments doing health education and community outreach. Kristen started her career as a community-based case manager for the Department of Human Services. View posts

Dr. Lyle Forehand

Dr. Forehand, a Southern California native, trained in Baltimore, Maryland (Johns Hopkins, Sheppard Pratt, University of Maryland) and with the National Institutes of Health. He completed a Fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry in Rochester, New York, is board certified in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry, and he has been an invited speaker in national and international conferences on a variety of psychiatric topics. He was certified in Advanced Clinical Psychopharmacology by the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, and has a Master Psychopharmacology Certificate from the Neuroscience Education Institute. A veteran of the U.S. Army Rangers, he was one of the first members of the American Psychiatric Association’s Committee on the Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster as well as one of the first psychiatrists certified by the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security. He has taught medical students and resident physicians at the University of Maryland, the University of Rochester, the University of California, and Riverside University Health System. Having treated tens of thousands of patients, he now brings his varied background to the Magellan mission: to lead humanity to healthy, vibrant lives. A proud father of three, Dr. Forehand is a tennis aficionado (as you might guess from his name). He loves the beach, the forest, the mountains, the desert, and all things outdoors. View posts

Kirill Grinchenko

Kirill Grinchenko, Cognitive Performance Specialist, at Camp Zama Ready and Resilient (R2) Performance Center. View posts

Dr. Trina Hammonds

Dr. Trina Hammonds is a field consultant with the Federal Occupational Health Employee Assistance Program. As a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), she provides counseling and consultations to Federal employees. Since joining the Federal Occupational Health in 2020, Dr. Hammonds has worked with over forty agencies based in Atlanta, Georgia. Recently recognized by the Atlanta Federal Executive Board for her outstanding collaborative efforts with the Department of Labor, Dr. Hammonds has worked hard to establish relationships between the Federal agencies and the EAP. With over twenty years of experience in the public and private sectors, Dr. Hammonds has devoted her career to helping others. Dr. Hammonds resides in the suburban Atlanta area where she enjoys spending time with her daughter and grandson. View posts

Jamie Hanna, MD

Jamie Hanna, MD, serves as the national medical director for children's behavioral health. She is board certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Hanna completed medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and a subsequent internship in Pediatrics, residency in General Psychiatry, fellowship in Child and Adolescent psychiatry, and fellowship in Infant Mental Health with Louisiana State University in New Orleans. Prior to joining Magellan Health in 2020, Dr. Hanna served as an assistant professor and assistant training director with Louisiana State University School of Medicine working with the acute behavioral health unit, consult liaison services, and emergency psychiatric services at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. View posts

Jennifer Harlow

Jennifer “Jen” Harlow is a Project Manager supporting three teams—the Department of Defense Online Survivor Benefit Report program, Magellan Federal’s proprietary benefits calculator, and member services. She has over 24 years of experience supplying support to military survivors and service members. Jen has served as a military and survivor benefits expert and has experience as a Department of Veterans Affairs Service Officer. She is proficient in military survivor benefits law and claims filing with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Social Security Administration, Tricare, DEERS, SGLI/VGLI, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jen is also a founding member of the Magellan Federal Community Partners Committee working with non-profit military service organizations. View posts

Richard Harris, CMPC

Richard Harris, CMPC, is a Human Performance Consultant with extensive experience delivering health & wellness, resilience, stress management, and optimal human performance training. He has over 15 years of providing operational and strategic work experience in the application of performance psychology, positive psycholgy, and counseling psychology principles. He holds two Masters of Arts degrees, one in Clinical Psychology specializing in sports and exercise science and another in Rehabilitation Counseling. He is certified by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology as a Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and served as a sport consultant practitioner for the annual joint Armed Forces DOD Warrior Games event. He also is a national classifier for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA). View posts

Dr. Paula Hensley

Paula Hensley, MD is a Board-Certified psychiatrist and serves as a senior medical director with Magellan Healthcare in New Mexico. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed publications on mental health topics including grief, bereavement, depression, medication side effects, and pharmacoeconomics. She has conducted clinical trials on affective illnesses, schizophrenia and medication side effects. As a voluntary faculty member at the University of New Mexico, she serves on the University’s Human Research Review Committee. She has over 20 years of experience in clinical medicine and has worked in academia, private health care systems that serve the community, and the state hospital, including the forensic unit. She has a deep commitment to serving the less fortunate, working for equality in the delivery of medical care, and improving outcomes for all individuals. View posts

Alison Hood, MSW

Alison Hood, MSW, is a Senior Manager at Magellan Federal. She has had the honor of supporting service members and their families through Magellan Federal since 2013 and currently serves as the Magellan PM for the Air Force Family Advocacy Program - CONUS and the GA/MI Army National Guard Psychological Health Coordinator contracts. Alison resides in Florida where she is learning how to garden with her two children, and provides caregiver support to her mother, who is a Navy Veteran and a Wounded Warrior. View posts

Maria D. James, MS

Maria D. James is the external communications manager for Magellan Health. She is an award-winning journalist and public relations professional. Her work has been published in local, regional, and national publications such as Black Enterprise Magazine and the Virginian Pilot. Maria joined Magellan Federal in 2019 and was promoted to her current role in 2021. In the State of Maryland, Maria is the first African American and longest-tenured managing editor for The Hyattsville Life & Times and the co-founder of the College Park Here & Now community newspapers. Maria’s work has earned industry awards from the Public Relations Society of America, PRNews, the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, and the National Newspaper Association. In 2022, she became a contributing author of the Amazon best-selling book “The HBCU Experience – HBCU Band Alumni 2nd Edition.” Maria serves her community as an active member with leadership roles within several organizations, including the Public Relations Society of America, Toastmasters International, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. Prince George's County Chapter, Inc., the Junior League of Prince George’s County and the Virginia Union University National Alumni Association (VUUNAA). In 2007, she was selected as Young Alumna of the Year by the VUUNAA and in 2021 she was honored with the Rising Star award by the Junior League. Maria received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Virginia Union University and a master’s degree in Strategic Public Relations from Virginia Commonwealth University. View posts

Meagan Jones, , LPCC, TCADC

Meagan Jones, LPCC, TCADC, serves on the Child & Youth Behavioral team of the Military & Family Life Counselor program at Magellan Federal. Meagan is a licensed clinical therapist with a specialty in substance abuse treatment. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Memphis, Tennessee. Having a veteran mother for inspiration, Meagan has long advocated for access to mental health resources for the armed forces and their families. Before working for Magellan, Meagan worked in inpatient psychiatric and addiction treatment for military and civilian patients, creating evidence-based holistic healing curriculum. For the past two years, Meagan has supported the families and youth of Fort Campbell, KY. Meagan has a passion for play, uplifting others, and often spends her time volunteering with children as a character performer. She also loves to travel, discover new houseplants, and is an avid gamer. View posts

De Andra Judge

De Andra Judge is the cultural advisor for Magellan Federal. De Andra has her master’s degree in industrial & Organizational (IO) Psychology and she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Business Psychology. De Andra has more than 10 years of experience providing an array of IO psychology services as an internal and external consultant to corporate, community, and faith-based organizations. During her career, she has helped organizations re-engineer business processes, establish diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, managed organizational change projects, and supported staff augmentation efforts both large and small. View posts

Piers Kowalski

Piers Kowalski, a Magellan Cognitive Performance Coach, has dedicated his career to using the science of psychology to help people unlock their full potential, perform under pressure, and thrive through adversity. He has over a decade of experience supporting individuals and teams in high-risk occupations (military, first responders, and healthcare professionals), elite and collegiate athletes and coaches, and corporate leaders and teams. Piers is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology and Sport and Exercise Psychology from California State University, Chico, and is a certified by the University of Pennsylvania as a resilience instructor. A Colorado native, Piers spent 11 years living and working on the West Coast from Southern California to Seattle, Washington before returning to his home state where he currently lives with his family. View posts

Doris Lebischak, M.D.

Dr. Doris Lebischak completed her medical training at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She is board certified in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and licensed in six US states. In her career of over 30 years, Dr. Lebischak has worked in many different areas of psychiatry including private practice, community mental health, forensics, and managed care. In 2020, Dr. Lebischak joined Magellan Healthcare as a medical director in California. In her spare time, she is involved with Community Volunteers in Medicine to provide psychiatric care to children and adolescents who are uninsured. View posts

Amy Leeser (LPC)

Amy Leeser (LPC) is a Regional Supervisor for Magellan Federal’s Military Family Life Counseling program, currently supervising MFLCs at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, Picatinny Arsenal, NWS Earle in NJ, NSB New London in CT, NAVSTA Newport RI. She received her Undergraduate degree in Spanish and Psychology, and Graduate Degree in Counseling Psychology from Georgian Court University in Lakewood NJ. She has been independently licensed since 2016. Since age 3, she delighted in watching the “flying gas stations” (KC10’s) take flight, and always felt compelled to serve the military community. When she was made aware of the MFLC program in 2016, for her it felt like it was meant to be. Her biggest adventure is raising her two daughters, ages 13 and 11. She enjoys listening to Spanish language music and is committed to finding the silver lining in all things in life. View posts

Sonja Mathis, MA, AFC

Sonja Mathis, MA, AFC® is the Regional Supervisor for the Magellan PFC program, which includes 11 states in the Northwest, Midwest, and Mississippi. Prior to Magellan, she worked in the insurance industry in underwriting and sales in addition to selling tax-sheltered and insurance plans in the K-12 and college market. She has served as a PFC for two previous companies, assisting Service members in the US, Europe, and Asia, in Active duty, National Guard and Reserve Component, for more than 15 years. View posts

Dr. Janet Maurer

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Dr. Ángel-Luis Mercado-Santiago, NCC, LPC, EOLD

Dr. Ángel-Luis Mercado-Santiago, NCC, LPC, EOLD, has been working as a military family counselor in Puerto Rico for 11 years. Dr. Mercado-Santiago is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor licensed in Puerto Rico and North Carolina. He has a Ph.D. in psychology with a major in gender diversity and a master's degree in Counseling Psychology with a specialty in couples and family therapy. He has also been a part-time university professor at Ana G. Méndez University for 18 years. View posts

Dr. Jon Metzler

Dr. Jon Metzler, Ph.D., CMPC® is the Director of Human Performance at Magellan Federal. He provides strategic leadership to help organizations optimize performance, enhance resilience, and sustain readiness through coaching innovations taught by a highly specialized staff of cognitive performance coaches. Dr. Metzler has over 20 years of extensive experience providing direct performance psychology consultation to teams and athletes representing many different sports of various competitive levels including intercollegiate athletes, Olympians, Paralympians, and professional athletes. Over his 10 years directly supporting the U.S. Army in performance psychology and resilience, he has helped develop the course content that Magellan Federal has delivered to over 2.7 million training and coaching engagements across the Army in the past five years. He is a past president and fellow of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and currently serves as Chair of the Council for Certified Mental Performance Certification® and is a member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. He holds three bachelor’s degrees from Concordia University – Portland, a Master of Arts in Sport Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology with a specialization in Psychology of Movement and Sport from the Pennsylvania State University. View posts

Natasha Moore, MSW, LCSW

Natasha Moore, MSW, LCSW, is a Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) with Magellan Federal located at Fort Liberty, NC. She brings 17 years of dedicated social work experience working in various capacities: foster care and adoption, therapeutic foster care, an emergency shelter for children, and outpatient therapy. Natasha’s deep connection to the military culture stems from her father’s service as a Staff Sargent in the Army for 13 years. She expresses an appreciation for the unique experience of traveling and being immersed in different cultures. As an MFLC, she connects effortlessly with children and youth who have shared a similar military background. She offers support while empowering them with tools to cultivate resilience as they navigate military challenges. Natasha celebrated 11 years of marriage in March to Gerard, a chemical engineer. Together they persevered while pursuing their own fertility journey, and the challenges of IUIs and IVF; now they have a wonderful and determined 3-year-old daughter, Gianna. Natasha exemplifies resilience, compassion, and dedication to empowering children and family's lives. View posts

Susan Morris

Susan Morris joined Magellan Federal as the Director of Business Development in 2022. She is interested in finding services that support and improve the overall well-being of our nation's warriors and their families. Magellan Federal's Personal Financial Services aim to enhance the financial well-being of our service members and their families, which ultimately contributes to our military readiness. She received a Industrial Engineering degree from Auburn University and an MBA from the College of William and Mary. View posts

Tonya Nascimento PhD, LMHC, CMPC

Tonya Nascimento (PhD, LMHC, CMPC) is a Regional Supervisor for Magellan Federal working in the Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Program. Tonya earned a master’s degree from the University of West Florida in 2007, became a licensed mental health counselor, and earned a PhD in sport psychology from Florida State University in 2012. She was a visiting assistant professor at the University of West Florida for two years and currently remains on staff as an adjunct instructor. In 2014, she took a position as a mental performance specialist embedded with the Air Force Special Tactics Training Squadron at Hurlburt AFB. This first military position gave Tonya a close-up view of the sacrifices, struggles, resilience, and fortitude Special Operations soldiers face, and eventually led her to discovering the MFLC program. Tonya became an MFLC, and for seven years, she supported military-connected students in Okaloosa County schools. In 2022, she accepted the regional supervisor position. She enjoys using her education and experience to positively impact and serve the military community. View posts

Teresa Odom

Teresa Odom is the director of clinical care services for Magellan Healthcare’s employer segment as well as the Employee Assistance Program Center of Excellence. In this position, Odom is responsible for the clinical processes involved in overseeing all clinical services including military coaching and transition programs. Prior to assuming this role, Odom was a clinical supervisor for eight years, responsible for the clinical processes involved in the day-to-day operations of integrated accounts. Odom provided direct supervision to the clinical staff conducting concurrent reviews for members in active treatment. Odom also provided direct supervision to the intensive care manager team, the outpatient care management team and oversaw the ambulatory follow-up process. Prior to assuming the role of clinical supervisor, Odom worked in various roles within the Midwest care management center, including inpatient care management; outpatient care management and intensive care management, while acting as the team lead involved in succession planning with her direct supervisor. Previously, Odom was an in-home clinician providing individual, family and group therapy. Odom also worked in the addiction field, in both a residential treatment facility and an outpatient program as a community support worker conducting individual assessments, life skills groups and assisting individual’s in transitioning recovery skills into every day living. Odom was director of a children’s program within a residential treatment facility working directly with children impacted by a parent’s substance use. Odom was also an adjunct profession at the University of Missouri-St Louis master’s degree counseling program, teaching the application of counseling skills. Odom is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a member of the Missouri Counselors Association. She is also a certified employee assistance professional (CEAP), and is currently working toward becoming a qualified substance abuse professional (SAP). View posts

Stacy K Paskvan

Stacy Kay Paskvan (LMFT, LCMHC-S) is a Regional Supervisor on Magellan Federal’s Military Family Life Counseling program team, currently supervising Child Youth Behavior Schools connected to Ft. Bragg Army Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino in 1997; a master’s degree in counseling with an emphasis in marriage and family from Webster University in 2005; and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Capella University in 2014. She has been independently licensed since 2007 spanning the states of Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina. She is passionate about military families, being both a retired US Air Force Veteran and a military spouse and has focused much of her career on understanding the ins-and-outs of the military family. She has witnessed the struggles of many military members who have denied themselves the help they needed due to their drive to “get the job done” and appreciates the opportunity to be part of Magellan Federal’s Military Family Life Counseling program that is positively impacting the mental health of military members and their families. When not working, she spends her time shuttling her 10-year-old twins, George and Zuzu, around town, enjoying her cats and dog, and feeding the crows and squirrels that like to play in the pine trees outside her office window. She loves to travel and hopes to someday get to Kathmandu, Nepal to get glimpse of Mt. Everest up close, as well as the Galapagos Islands. View posts

Tonie Powell

Tonie Powell, has been with Magellan Federal for nearly eight years. She serves as the Operations Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the President/CEO, Chief Growth Officer, and Vice President of the Human Readiness Division. She is the wife of a retired Army veteran and the mother of two extraordinary adult children. She enjoys the theatre and spending time with her family. Her life’s philosophy is simply, “Be Authentic.” View posts

Steven E. Pratt, MD

Dr. Steven Pratt is the senior medical director for the employer segment within Magellan Healthcare. He joined Magellan Healthcare in 2017 and previously served as the executive medical director of behavioral health for the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MN DHS). In his current role, Pratt is responsible for clinical oversight of utilization management, case management, and a unique disability management program. His expertise is relied upon in product development, quality oversight and contract management for the employer segment. In addition to extensive experience in leadership of public sector, direct care organizations, he has previous health plan experience working for United Health Group (UNH). At United Health he was involved in development of disease management and health advocacy programs. Pratt has a deep interest in cost containment through wellness promotion and integrative care. He is adept at leading organizational change, engaging individuals who are not engaged in change efforts and holding all, including himself, accountable to the highest standards of performance. He has a breadth of experience as a public speaker and trainer with particular interest in what he and the MN DHS termed “The Core Four” evidence-based practices: Person-centered Culture, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care and Positive Behavior Supports. Pratt earned his medical degree and bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. View posts

Jeremy Richter, MBA, MA

Jeremy is a senior performance coach at Magellan Federal. He has spent nearly a decade training military members to elevate their performance, resilience, and leadership. He has been an adjunct instructor and ran two small businesses. Publications include two books and a few peer-reviewed journal articles. Jeremy will be spending the holidays sending love virtually to his deployed wife and in person with family and friends in San Diego, CA. View posts

Amber Rodgers

Amber Rodgers, LCSW, is a Magellan director in Clinical Project and Program Management and has dedicated her career to helping others through adverse life events, coping with mental health challenges, and improving their quality of life through therapy. She has over two decades of experience supporting individuals and leading teams in the military, hospice, transplant, and foster care system. Amber is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University, and is a Board-Certified Diplomate by the American Board of Clinical Social Work. An Air Force veteran, Amber spent 10 years on active duty service before transferring to the Air National Guard and relocating to Virginia with her husband and three German Shepherds to pursue country living at its best! View posts

Sherry Ryon Courtemanche, LCSW, CEAP

Sherry Ryon Courtemanche, LCSW, CEAP, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP). She is a Senior Program Manager for the Department of Navy’s Civilian Employee Assistance Program. Sherry has 20 years of professional experience in the delivery and management of employee assistance program services, with a diverse background in behavioral health, mental health, workplace wellbeing strategy, and people leader development. Sherry is an active member of the Employee Assistance Professional Association and sitting Director at Large. View posts

Dr. Andrew Sassani

Dr. Sassani was recruited to Magellan in early 2012 and currently serves as corporate vice president and chief medical officer for its California behavioral health services. Prior to Magellan, he held various leadership roles in direct-care services including department chair and hospital vice chief of staff in southern California. In 2017, he received a faculty appointment as associate professor of psychiatry at a University of California teaching hospital. He was residency trained at Harvard, and is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. View posts

Kate Smith

Kate Smith (LPC, ATR) is a Regional Supervisor for Magellan Federal working in the Military and Family Life Counseling Program. Kate has supervised OCONUS and CONUS locations for Magellan over the last 7 years and currently manages installations in Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Kate received her undergraduate degree in Fine Art from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutger’s University and received her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from New York University. She has been independently licensed since 2001 in the State of New Jersey. Kate’s father is a Veteran of the Air Force and served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary until he was 82 years old and this dedication to serving the community is something that Kate feels strongly about continuing. When not working, Kate enjoys archery, spending time with her family, and is working on hours towards becoming a certified wildlife rehabilitator. View posts

Barry Smith

Barry M. Smith was the chief executive officer of Magellan Health from 2013-2019, a leader in managing the fastest growing, most complex areas of health, including special populations, complete pharmacy benefits and other specialty areas of healthcare. Prior to Magellan, Smith served in leadership roles at VistaCare, Inc., a national provider of hospice services, Value Rx, Inc., then one of the country's largest pharmacy benefit management companies, and PCS Health Systems, also a pharmacy benefit management firm. He currently serves on the board of directors of The Ensign Group, Inc., a diversified provider of healthcare services. Smith retired in 2019 View posts

Dr. Christopher Squillaro

Dr. Chris Squillaro joined Magellan of Pennsylvania as Medical Director in 2021. For the past two years, he has been working in managed care and consulting for a Population Health company in Philadelphia. After graduating from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2004, Dr. Squillaro completed his residency in General Adult Psychiatry at the University of Maryland/Shepperd Pratt Psychiatry Residency Program. In 2008, he moved back into the Philadelphia area and began working at Penn Foundation, Inc. where he was hired to support multiple programs, but mostly work in outpatient care. Over his 12+ year tenure, he served as Medical Director of Penn Foundation and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry for Grandview Health for 11 years. He also worked in the following clinical environments: Nursing Homes, Residential Drug and Alcohol, outpatient Drug and Alcohol, Consult Liaison Psychiatry, Crisis, ACT, and Mental Health outpatient. In 2020, he left Penn Foundation to pursue two opportunities. The first was as a behavioral health consultant to a population health company supporting Primary Care Physicians called Tandigm, which he continues to do to this day. The second was as Associate Medical Director of Horsham Clinic’s Assessment and Referral Center (ARC). He left the second position to join Magellan of Pennsylvania. View posts

Jenna Stauffer

Jenna Stauffer s a Senior Quality Improvement Manager on Magellan Federal’s Military Family Life Counseling program. She received a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Western Illinois University and has more than 15 years’ experience in quality improvement with the past nine in the healthcare field. She is an ISO 9001 Certified Internal Auditor and an active member in the American Society for Quality (ASQ). View posts

Paul Taraborelli MSW, LICSW

Paul Taraborelli LICSW, is a Child Youth Behavioral (CYB) Director for the Military Family Life Counseling program. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of New England and his master’s degree in social work from Boston University. He has held his independent license in Rhode Island for over twenty-five years and is an active member in Rhode Island’s Association of Infant Mental Health (RIAIMH). He has provided clinical consultations on early childhood mental health issues, approaches to supporting children in the classroom with a range of developmental, behavioral, and medical issues for early childhood programs and working with families with children presenting with behavioral concerns. He has presented in the past on topics including guiding behaviors in a classroom setting, the development and use of a bereavement protocol and services for families, adolescent drug abuse and treatment, and child abuse and neglect. View posts

Phillip Thornton (PT)

Phillip Thornton (PT), is a retired Army Medical Services Officer and has worked as the Recovery Coordination Program, Executive Officer and Program Lead for the Education and Employment Initiative and Operation Warfighter programs for more than 10 years. He has extensive experience assisting recovering Service members and their families. He has assisted hundreds of wounded warriors in recovery and transitioning to new careers or opportunities in the civilian sector. He has knowledge and working relationships with all Military Services, Federal Agencies, and Federal employers across the United States that have led to successful internships and employment opportunities that positively impact the rehabilitation process. View posts

Jennifer Tobey LPC, LAC, CEAP

Jennifer Tobey, LPC, LAC, CEAP, graduated from Framingham State College in 2007 with an MA in Counseling Psychology. Since then, she has worked in various environments, including healthcare, addictions, the military, and EAP. She is credentialed as a Licensed Therapist, Licensed Addictions Counselor, and Certified Employee Assistance Professional. Jennifer has expertise in assessment, crisis response, behavior change, and short-term, goal-directed therapy. View posts

Ronna Trent

Ronna Trent is the director of the Program Management Office for Magellan Federal. Ronna retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years of service as an Army Medical Specialist Corps officer in 2017 and joined Magellan Federal as a program manager for contracts supporting benefits for transitioning service members and their survivors. As the Director of Magellan Federal’s Program Management Office, Ronna oversees engagement with community partners, continuing to build relationships and exchanges with organizations that serve veterans and caregivers. She and her husband, retired Colonel Stoney Trent, are raising three children in Bethesda, MD. View posts

Joyce Trzoniec

Joyce Trzoniec, has over 20 years of experience in behavioral health service, including consumer education, prevention programs, population health, healthcare quality improvement, and managed care administration. She currently serves as the Director, External Communications for the Military & Family Counseling Program contract at Magellan Federal; and prior to this role, Ms. Trzoniec oversaw quality and compliance of the same program. Her passion involves motivating individuals to achieve optimal emotional and physical health through awareness and illness-prevention strategies. View posts

Kimberly Turner, MS, LPC

Kimberly is currently serving as an MFLC in Grafenwöhr Germany and has been with Magellan since 2021. She has an MS from Capella University in Mental Health Counseling, an MS from Walden University in Education, and a BS from Grand Canyon University in Secondary Education. Kimberly has worked as an MFLC since 2019. Prior to that she worked in private practice and in community mental health. Before becoming licensed as an LPC, Kimberly was a high school and middle school teacher for 15 years. She is passionate about self-growth and helping others to become their best version of themselves. View posts

Yagnesh Vadgama

Yagnesh has been with Magellan for over 4 years, in managed care for 5 years, and was a clinician in the field of Behavior Analysis for 11 years prior. Yagnesh has over 16 years experience in ABA, starting off by working directly with individuals on the autism spectrum to directing programs in homes, schools, and community based settings. Currently, as the Vice President of Autism for Magellan, Yagnesh oversees both the autism and ABA product for Magellan nationally. His team of BCBAs and licensed clinicians provide a unique experience in ABA UM as they all have similar experience to Yagnesh with real-world experience. Yagnesh also engages in the decision making process for ABA both at Magellan and nationally, with participation in work groups such as ICHOM, speaking at conferences and universities, and developing outcomes measures for the field of ABA. View posts

Gabi Vandermark

Gabi Vandermark is a technologist, a problem solver and a strategic consultant leader. As the IT Chief of Staff at Magellan Health, she drives strategy execution, the business of IT operations and collaborates with key leaders to identify and bring to life innovative solutions that support our Massive Transformative Purpose to "Lead humanity to healthy, vibrant lives". Gabi’s career trajectory illustrates her curiosity and desire for continuous learning. With a Bachelors in Computer Science, she started her career as a Software Developer at Nationwide Insurance, where over the course of 10 years, she moved positions, departments and or roles roughly every two years building depth of knowledge in software development and architecture, service-oriented design; and breadth of experience in organizational change management giving her a unique view into the interworking, challenges and opportunities familiar to most organizations. Prior to Magellan Health, Gabi started Rottie Consulting, where she focused on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Client Relationship Management (CRM) systems implementation in Latin America. As an independent consultant, Gabi strived to be the fearless, confident partner her clients needed to succeed. Today, at Magellan Health, Gabi works closely with the CTO to implement Exponential (ExO) IT, a new way for managing the business of IT in an Exponential world, attracting the workforce of the future through different initiatives such as the recently launched Women in Technology group. View posts

Nicole Waite, LCMHC

Nicole Waite, LCMHC, started with Magellan as a School Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC) back in 2014 at Fort Campbell, KY and has worked in schools, child development centers, and as an embedded MFLC at Fort Campbell, working with soldiers and their families. While taking time away from full-time work to be home with her daughter, she was afforded the opportunity to use the experience she had gained as an MFLC on the ground as a member of the presentation refresh team. She is currently back to her MFLC roots, working as a school MFLC near Fort Liberty, North Carolina. In her free time, Nicole enjoys working out, spending time outside, and traveling with her family. View posts

Allison Welliver

Allison Welliver, LMHC, MCAP, serves as a Senior Manager in the Adolescent Support & Counseling Services program at Magellan Federal. Allison graduated from the University of Central Florida with an MA in Clinical Psychology and has 17 years of experience in the field of counseling. Allison worked as an adolescent drug court counselor for five years before becoming an Adolescent Support and Counseling Services (ASACS) counselor in 2013. She provided services for middle and high school students in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and was promoted to Clinical Supervisor in 2018. Allison currently serves as ASACS Worldwide Program Manager, where she oversees the ASACS program with OCONUS positions located in Asia, Europe, and Hawaii. She is a licensed mental health counselor and a Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional. Allison also completed a second Master's degree in Public Administration in 2022. View posts

Tristen Wendland, MS, LPC

Tristen Wendland, MS, LPC, is a 25-year military spouse. She has worked throughout her spouse’s Army career within the federal government. She worked for over 18 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs within the Vocational Readiness and Employment program. Currently, Tristen serves as Magellan’s Senior Program Manager for Operation Warfighter (OWF) for Defense Health Agency, Recovery Coordination Program. View posts

Stephanie White, LMFT

Stephanie White, LMFT, is a Regional Supervisor for Magellan Federal’s Military and Family Life Counseling program, currently supervising at Fort Bragg, NC. As an Air Force veteran, she honorably served during 9/11 and deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing security during the first democratic elections for that nation. Stephanie separated from the military in 2006 and after many military moves and the growth of her own family, she became independently licensed in 2019. She credits her ability to serve in this field to her faith, her military background, and her role as an Intensive In-Home Therapy provider. Stephanie is married to James, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. She and her husband have traveled to numerous states and countries as a military couple and have chosen Fayetteville, NC as their home, where they are raising their beautiful daughter “Jen” who is teaching them all about Autism as a girl on the spectrum herself. Stephanie and her extended family run a food pantry in Fayetteville, hoping to be a part of the solution to food insecurity. She is also a published author and singer, basing all her artistic endeavors around the intention to encourage others to love being their “best self.” View posts

Lynette Wishart, MA, LCMFT, CISM, CASDCS

Lynette Wishart, MA, LCMFT, CISM, CASDCS is a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder clinical specialist and regional supervisor on Magellan Federal’s MFLC Program team since 2014. Beginning as an MFLC in 2010 before supervising seventeen installations over the years, she currently oversees Keesler AFB, NCBC Gulfport in Mississippi and Maxwell AFB – Gunter Annex in Alabama. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Education K-8 in 1991 from Missouri State University and a master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family in 1998 from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary both in Springfield, MO. She holds licenses in California, Missouri, and Kansas. She is a child of a Naval Vietnam Veteran and the mom of a military child. Lynette resides in Gardner, Kansas near Kansas City. She spends her free time hanging out with her teenage daughter and their dog Bunni, ballroom dancing with friends, serving in church and on a local school board. One day Lynette and her daughter plan to attend the Assateague wild ponies swim in Virginia. View posts

Alaysia Yates, SHRM-CP

Alaysia Yates, SHRM-CP, serves as Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Magellan Federal and is also a Military Spouse. She has 8 years of experience assisting in recruitment, talent acquisition, and organizational staff fulfillment. Alaysia joined Magellan Federal March 2018 and has been integral in establishing and maintaining partnerships to assist recruitment strategies for military spouse and veteran communities through affiliation with Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Veterans Ascend, Virginia Values Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and Hiring our Heroes. Alaysia has a passion for enriching the quality of life within the Magellan community. Alaysia is SHRM-CP credentialed by the Society for Human Resource Management and holds a Human Resource Management certificate from George Mason University. View posts