EBP Webinars

We are excited to make available to you recordings of our Evidence-Based Practice Seminar Series. This series is brought to you by Community Care staff experts and is designed to be an introduction to a selection of frequently used Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs). Through this series, participants will develop a fundamental understanding of the function and benefit of EBPs as well as challenges and limitations to their use. Each webinar has a unique focus geared to captivate the interest of the participant and encourage a desire for continued learning. 

A full list of dates, topics, presenters, and past event recordings are included below. We hope participants find this series to be engaging and applicable to their practice. We look forward to further supporting our providers through additional webinar offerings. Stay tuned!

*CEUs are not available for recorded webinars

  • Best Practices in Implementation
    Presenter: Amy Herschell, PhD
    Recorded: June 23, 2021

    Dr. Herschell is the Senior Director of Research Strategy and Outcomes Management for Community Care, UPMC Insurance Services Division, where she leads the development and implementation of rigorous, high priority evaluations. She is a clinical psychologist, licensed in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Dr. Herschell has served as the Principal or Co-Principal Investigator for several externally funded grants (e.g., NIMH, CDC, SAMHSA) and has published extensively on topics related to evidence-based practices, implementation science, workforce development, and training approaches.

    In this webinar, Dr. Herschell provides an overview of best practices for implementing evidence-based treatment. Different methods of implementation are reviewed, with a focus on implementation methods that help scale and sustain evidence-based practices. In addition, training vs. credentialing and understanding treatment fidelity are discussed.

  • Integrated and Collaborative Care
    Presenter: Kavita Fischer, MD
    Recorded: June 09, 2021

    Dr. Fischer is Regional Medical Director at Community Care in affiliation with UPMC. Her focus with Community care is on quality assurance for members throughout different levels of care including drug and alcohol treatment with a focus on the Blair county region.

    In this webinar, Dr. Fischer provides an in depth look at the Collaborative Care model (CoCM): An evidence-based model supported by 3 decades of research showing its success as an integrated care approach. A case study is utilized as a tool to engage the audience and show how this model functions when implemented.

  • Evidence-Based Practices for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
    Presenter: Alin Severance, MD
    Recorded: May 26, 2021

    Dr. Alin Severance is a board-certified psychiatrist, Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services at UPMC Health Plan, and Associate Medical Director at Community Care. He continues to see patients in a group private practice, with a clinical interest in severe mood and anxiety disorders.

    In this webinar, Dr. Severance reviews a variety of evidence-based practices for individuals with serious mental illness, with a particular emphasis on Assertive Community Treatment and its variations. Primary outcomes and evolution of services over time are discussed, along with economic analyses.

  • Trauma Assessment and Treatment for Adults
    Presenter: Lyndra J. Bills, MD
    Recorded: May 12, 2021

    Dr. Bills is a board-certified psychiatrist and Senior Medical Director with Community Care. Her focus with is integrated care and trauma informed initiatives including Behavioral Health Home Plus, supporting the use of the Collaborative Care model in FQHCs, and developing trauma-informed and trauma specific expertise in mental health and substance use settings for Pennsylvania's Medicaid population.

    In this webinar, Dr. Bills provides a general review of assessment and treatment for adults with traumatic stress exposure. The assessment of trauma is discussed with an emphasis on history taking strategies and tools, as well as the role for trauma symptom measures. Treatment options include both psychotherapeutic and pharmacological options.

  • Evidence-Based Practices for the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma Symptoms in Children & Adolescents
    Presenter: RaeAnn M. Taylor, PhD
    Recorded: April 14, 2021

    Dr. RaeAnn Taylor is the Director of Psychology at UPMC/Community Care. She is a PA Licensed Psychologist, certified Doctoral Addictions Counselor and Behavior Therapist, and Diplomate of Clinical Forensic Counseling. Dr. Taylor served as one of the first Psychologist/Physician Advisors at Community Care and in September 2008, was promoted to Director of Psychological Services.

    In this webinar, Dr. Taylor discusses universal screening for trauma history and trauma-related symptoms. Specific attention is paid to the risk of misdiagnosis as individuals with histories of trauma often display symptoms and behaviors that meet criteria for other disorders, which can result in treatment interventions that may be harmful. Resources to properly screen and diagnosis children and adolescents with trauma-related disorders are reviewed, as well as an overview of trauma-specific evidence-based treatments.

  • CBT for Anxiety and Depression
    Presenter: Brian Rabian, PhD
    Recorded: March 17, 2021

    In this webinar Dr. Brian Rabian addresses the application of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to anxiety and mood disorders. He explores the core principles of CBT, the abundant scientific evidence of its efficacy, and discusses areas of convergence and divergence as CBT is applied to a variety of clinical conditions.

    Dr. Rabian is a licensed psychologist and Manager of Psychological Services at Community Care. Previously, Dr. Rabian was an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology at Penn State University and Director of the Penn State Psychological Clinic. His research and clinical work focus on risk factors for the development of anxiety and related disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults.

  • Externalizing Disorders: Parent Child Interaction Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Multisystemic Therapy
    Presenter: Amy D. Herschell, PhD
    Recorded: March 03, 2021

    In this webinar Dr. Amy Herschell introduces three evidence-based practices (EBPs) for children with externalizing behavior disorders and their families: Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Functional Family Therapy (FFT), and Multisystemic Therapy (MST). For each treatment approach, participants learn about its theoretical framework, clinical components, research base, and appropriateness for diverse populations. Special attention is paid to differentiating these EBPs from treatment as usual as well as describing their training/certification processes.

    Dr. Herschell is the Senior Director of Research Strategy and Outcomes Management for Community Care, UPMC Insurance Services Division where she leads the development and implementation of rigorous, high priority evaluations She is a clinical psychologist, licensed in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Dr. Herschell has served as the Principal or Co-Principal Investigator for several externally funded grants (e.g., NIMH, CDC, SAMHSA) and has published extensively on topics related to implementation science, workforce development, evidence-based practices, and training approaches.

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder: Applied Behavior Analysis
    Presenter: Christopher Tarr, PhD & Teri Stanley, MS, BCBA
    Recorded: February 17, 2021

    In this webinar Dr. Tarr and Ms. Stanley highlight the importance of Applied Behavior Analysis to address the skill deficits and problem behaviors exhibited by individuals with autism. This training addresses the key characteristics of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, explores the evolution of evidence-based practices for individuals with autism, and provides a brief overview of the 28 evidence-based practices currently recognized as effective interventions for those with autism.

    Dr. Tarr is a Licensed Professional Care Manager for the Child and Adolescent department of Community Care. He has spent the past 22 years working with individuals with mental, developmental, and physical disabilities in various capacities and is a Licensed Behavior Specialist with the PA State Board of Medicine. Since 2018, Dr. Tarr has published articles on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), stereotypic behaviors in individuals with autism, and the effects of physical on stereotypic behaviors in individuals with autism.

    Ms. Stanley is the Director of Autism and Developmental Disabilities Services at Community Care. As Director, she participates in Capacity Building Institute trainings, remains up to date with the most recent Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research and treatment practices, collaborates with advocacy groups, and participates in community events for this population such as the Autism Speaks Walks. She represents Community Care as an expert in ABA related activities with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS),the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), and others, as well as being an internal resource regarding commercial coverage of ABA services and how these impact and intersect with Medical Assistance.

  • Internalizing Disorders: Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
    Presenter: Tiberiu Bodea Crisan, MD & Virginia Johnson, PhD
    Recorded: February 03, 2021

    In this webinar, Dr. Bodea and Dr. Johnson highlight the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of Children and Adolescents with Internalizing Disorders and provide research findings that support the evidence-based properties of CBT for the identified populations.

    Dr. Bodea is the Senior Medical Director and Medical Director for the North Central HealthChoices Program contract where he provides clinical support and consultation to our Children’s Services Team as well as professional development trainings for our Community and School Based teams and other children’s providers. He completed his residency in general psychiatry as well as child and adolescent psychiatry and has been with Community Care since 2007.

    Dr. Johnson is a licensed psychologist and Manager of Psychological Services at Community Care, where she has worked since 2002. Previously, her clinical work included services to families and children in schools, inpatient and outpatient settings, homes, and in forensic programs.

  • Ethical Issues and Evidence Based Practices: A Closer Look
    Presenter: Gail A. Edelsohn, MD, MSPH
    Recorded: January 20, 2021

    In this webinar Dr. Gail Edelsohn aims to increase the learner’s ability to identify ethical issues associated with EBPs. Definitions of efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency are reviewed in conjunction with ethical issues related to their application to culturally diverse populations. Ethical issues surrounding prescribing and deprescribing psychotropic medications to youth in the context of evidence-based practice are discussed overall, with respect to polypharmacy and to the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression in the pediatric population.

    Dr. Edelsohn is a Senior Medical Director of Quality, focusing on quality oversight across the departments of Community Care. Dr. Edelsohn completed her residency training in psychiatry, fellowships in child and adolescent psychiatry and preventive medicine, and has a Master of Science in Public Health (epidemiology). She is currently pursuing a Master in Bioethics. Dr. Edelsohn has a longstanding commitment in advocating for quality of care in the public sector for the treatment of mental illness and substance use disorders, with strong foundation in public health and in biomedical ethics applied to the managed care environment.

  • Effective Psychosocial Treatments for People with Substance Use Disorders
    Presenter: Rebekah Sedlock, DSW, LCSW
    Recorded: January 06, 2021

    In the final of four substance use disorder (SUD) webinars, Dr. Rebekah Sedlock reviews effective psychosocial interventions for SUDs with a focus on stimulants, cannabis, and alcohol. The webinar demonstrates how to design a system of care that utilizes a range of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and other services as well as a brief review of telehealth, social reinforcement, and additional interventions that can increase engagement and retention in treatment.

    Dr. Sedlock is a Project Director at Community Care. She recently completed her doctorate in social work, focusing on the role of therapeutic jurisprudence in the SUD treatment referral process. Dr. Sedlock oversees several ongoing projects at Community Care including education related to SUDs, case consultations, development of performance standards, and engaging with SUD providers.

  • Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
    Presenter: Salim Chowdhury, MD
    Recorded: December 16, 2020

    In this third of four substance use disorder (SUD) webinars, Dr. Salim Chowdhury focuses on effective treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUD) with an emphasis on pharmacological treatment. The webinar explores the recent increase in mortality associated with binge drinking as well as telehealth and web-based options for treating people with an AUD.

    Dr. Chowdhury is a Senior Medical Director at Community Care. Previously Dr. Chowdhury served as Medical Director of the Community Mental Health Program, Partial Hospital Program, and adult inpatient detox services at St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is board-certified in psychiatry.

  • MOUD: Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
    Presenter: Richard R. Silbert, MD DLFAPA
    Recorded: December 02, 2020

    In this second of four substance use disorder (SUD) webinars, Dr. Richard Silbert focuses on the benefits of medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and why medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is considered life-saving treatment for people with an OUD.

    Dr. Silbert is a Senior Medical Director at Community Care. He is the President of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society, a Distinguished Life Fellow for the American Psychiatric Association, and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at The Commonwealth Medical College. Previously he had been Medical Director of the Scranton Counseling Center, Psychiatry Department Director at Community Medical Center in Scranton, and President of the Greater Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Silbert has experience as a provider of medication-assisted treatment since 2003.

  • An Introduction to Evidence-based Treatments and Practices: What are they? Why does it matter? & Where can I find up-to-date, reliable information about them?
    Presenter: Amy D. Herschell, PhD
    Recorded: November 04, 2020

    Our first evidence-based treatment webinar, led by Dr. Amy Herschell, offers an introduction to evidence-based treatments and practices as well as an overview of the series. A full list of dates, topics, and presenters is included in the recording.

    Dr. Herschell is the Senior Director of Research Strategy and Outcomes Management for Community Care, UPMC Insurance Services Division, where she leads the development and implementation of rigorous, high priority evaluations. She is a clinical psychologist, licensed in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Dr. Herschell has served as the Principal or Co-Principal Investigator for several externally funded grants (e.g., NIMH, CDC, SAMHSA) and has published extensively on topics related to evidence-based practices, implementation science, workforce development, and training approaches.