

2023
Population Health Innovation Summit
Highlighting innovative programs and partnerships across New York State that promote mental health and well-being.
DATE: Tuesday, June 6, 2023
LOCATION: Albany Capital Center, 2nd floor (with option to attend virtually)
55 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207
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ABOUT
NYSTEC’s 2023 Population Health Innovation Summit (PHIS 2023) will showcase innovative programs, partnerships, and research across New York State that are promoting mental health and well-being. Mental health, a longstanding priority in NYS, is a complex component of overall wellness and a vital part of building resilient communities.
PHIS events highlight innovations that impact the communities we serve. Since 2017, annual summits have brought together state agencies, healthcare organizations, professional associations, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and private industry all with a vested interest in improving the health and well-being of the population.
Presented by:

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Register NowAGENDA
8:00 am – Registration and Breakfast
8:30 am – Opening Remarks
- Chelsea Sherrod, Master of Ceremonies
- Shannon Kelley, Director, Population Health, NYSTEC
8:40 am – Keynote
- Thomas E. Smith, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, NYS Office of Mental Health
9:10 am – Discussing Peer-to-Peer Engagement among Veterans
- Gavin T. Walters Sr., MSW-USAF Veteran, Program Director, Vet2Vet of Ulster County and Coordinator, NYS Dwyer Coalition
10:00 am – Break
10:15 am – CUNY Center for Innovation in Mental Health Panel
- Victoria Ngo, Ph.D, Director, Center for Innovation in Mental Health and Associate Professor of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY School of Public Health
- Other panelists to be confirmed
11:15 am – Minoritized Women Involved in Substance Use: A call to action
- Crystal Lewis, Ph.D, Division Head, Social Solutions and Services Research, Nathan S. Kline Institute
- Helen-Maria Lekas, Ph.D, Research Scientist, Social Solutions and Services, Nathan S. Kline Institute
11:55 am – Supporting the Next Generation of Behavioral Health Solutions in Leveraging Community Partnerships
- Deborah Faust, Director of Mental Health Community Partners & MHANYS CarePath™, Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS)
- Megan Spagnola, Mental Health Community Partners Program Specialist, MHANYS
- Michelle Garcia, Assistant Director of Mental Health Community Partners, MHANYS
12:35 pm – Lunch
1:45 pm – Social Media, Tech, and the Resulting Impact on Population Mental Health
- Sam Warach, Founder & CEO, NextStep Health
2:25 pm – OMH 988 Presentation
- Denise Balzer, Director of Crisis, Emergency, and Stabilization Initiatives, NYS Office of Mental Health
- Katerina Gaylord, Deputy Director, Bureau of Crisis, Emergency, and Stabilizations Initiatives, NYS Office of Mental Health
3:05 pm – Panel on Workforce Mental Health
- Jason Benitez, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Capital Region Chamber
- Melissa Hinds, MSN, RN, Associate Director for Health & Technology; Director of Online Assistance Unit, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc
- Stephanie Campbell, Director, NYS Behavioral Health Ombudsman Office
- Susan Karavolas, Deputy Chief People Officer, NYSTEC
4:05 pm – Closing Remarks, followed by networking reception
- Kevin Owens, President & CEO, NYSTEC
OUR SPEAKERS

Denise Balzer, Director of Crisis, Emergency, and Stabilization Initiatives, NYS Office of Mental Health

Jason Benitez, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Capital Region Chamber

Stephanie Campbell, Director, NYS Behavioral Health Ombudsman Office

Deborah Faust, Director of Mental Health Community Partners & MHANYS CarePath, Mental Health Association in New York State

Michelle Garcia, Assistant Director of Mental Health Community Partners, Mental Health Association in New York State

Katerina Gaylord, Deputy Director, Bureau of Crisis, Emergency, and Stabilizations Initiatives, NYS Office of Mental Health

Melissa Hinds, MSN, RN, Associate Director for Health & Technology; Director of Online Assistance Unit, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.

Susan Karavolas, Deputy Chief People Officer, NYSTEC

Helen-Maria Lekas, Ph.D, Research Scientist, Social Solutions and Services, Nathan Kline Institute

Deborah Levine

Crystal Lewis, Ph.D, Department Director, Social Solutions and Services, Nathan Kline Institute

Victoria Ngo, Ph.D, Director, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Center for Innovation in Mental Health

Chelsea Sherrod

Thomas E. Smith, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, NYS Office of Mental Health

Megan Spagnola, Mental Health Community Partners Program Specialist, Mental Health Association in New York State

Gavin T. Walters Sr., Program Director, Vet2Vet of Ulster County; Coordinator, NY State Dwyer Coalition, Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration

Sam Warach, Founder & CEO, NextStep Health
VENUE INFORMATION
Parking

The Albany Capital Center’s parking garage is located beneath the facility at 7 Wendell Street, Albany, NY 12207. For additional parking options and directions to the venue, please see: Parking & Directions – Albany Capital Center
COVID-19 Information

NYSTEC is following federal and local directives for PHIS 2023 and is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all conference attendees. NYSTEC will be continually monitoring CDC and NYS guidance to determine decisions related to COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of attendees. It is the responsibility of all attendees to stay abreast of local guidelines concerning COVID-19.
For more information:
Accessibility

We strive to make PHIS2023 be an inclusive and accessible event for all who attend. To request an accommodation, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact phis@nystec.com.
MAP
LOCATION: Albany Capital Center (with option to attend virtually)
EVENT ARCHIVES
2022: Click here for the Population Health Innovation Summit 2022
2021: Click here for the Population Health Innovation Summit 2021 virtual series
2018: Population Health Innovation Summit 2018 — IgniteU NY | IUNY | I U NY
2017: Population Health Innovation Summit 2017 — IgniteU NY | IUNY | I U NY