THOUGHT LEADERS AND INNOVATORS came TOGETHER TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH, AND INSIGHTS ABOUT brain & Mental Health
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THE AGENDA
8:00 am Breakfast & Networking
Opening Remarks
Alyssa Aguirre
Board Chair
Alzheimer’s Association
Capital of Texas
Beyond the Silos: Collaborating for Collective Impact to Drive Better Mental Health Outcomes
Moderator
Nicole Clark, PhD
Anchor
Spectrum News
Calvin Kelly, PhD
Chief Clinical Officer
Harvest Trauma Recovery Center
Clarena Tobon
Executive Director
NAMI Central Texas
Innovations In Public Mental Health
Jeff Richardson
Chief Executive Officer
Integral Care
Understanding the State of Texas Budget: Navigating Healthcare's Impact
The Honorable Glenn Hegar
Comptroller
State of Texas
Catalyzing Transformation in Brain & Mental Health: Innovating in Tech, Care Delivery, and Business Simultaneously
Moderator
Jason Scharff
Founder
Austin Next
Marianne Fazen, PhD
President/CEO
Texas Business Group on Health
John Forrest
Co-Founder/CEO
Veravas
12:00 pm Networking & Departure
summit SPEAKERS
Alyssa Aguirre is the Assistant Director of Dementia Care Transformation at The University of Texas Dell Medical School and Assistant Professor of Practice at The University of Texas Steve Hicks School of Social Work. She has dedicated her career to designing new models of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) care, advancing palliative care research, and providing direct patient care to individuals living with ADRD and their family care partners.
Alyssa received the Sojourn Scholar Leadership Award from the Cambia Health Foundation for her leadership, and in 2023, she was appointed as a Faculty Scholar with the NIA IMPACT Collaboratory Faculty Scholars program to support ADRD initiatives within the health care systems.
Alyssa’s current research is focused on validating innovative care partner assessment tools and using machine-learning techniques to support ADRD family care partners. She received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2009, having received a Specialist in Aging Certificate. She proudly serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors at the Alzheimer’s Association Capital of Texas Chapter and holds an Interdisciplinary Teams and Healthcare Certificate from Boston University.
Dr. Nicole Clark is an Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter for Spectrum News in Texas. She feels honored to work for an organization that values credibility and is dedicated to creating diverse coverage and giving everyone a voice on the issues that matter most to them. Nicole is inspired by her deep love for people and their unique experiences. More so, Nicole considers anchoring the afternoon and evening news as a dream job, allowing her to explore a diverse list of topics, share the news of the day, talk to change-makers, and give viewers a deeper understanding of issues that affect them.
Prior to Nicole’s impressive journalism career, she spent almost two decades in the Psychology field. The recipient of several educational degrees, including a Ph.D. in Counselor Education, an MS in Behavioral Science, and a BA in Psychology. Nicole also worked as a PhD-level psychotherapist for over 15 years.
Before joining the Spectrum News team, Nicole spent time working at various stations across the country, winning several awards along the way. A well-respected and decorated journalist, Nicole has won four Associated Press awards, including Best Daytime Newscast, a Louisiana Association of Broadcasters award for Best Political Coverage, and two Emmy awards for Interview/Discussion and Education/Schools. In addition, she was also chosen as Best News Anchor in Monroe, Louisiana, and Austin, Texas.
Dr. Calvin A. Kelly, Chief Clinical Officer at the Harvest Trauma Recovery Center is a Licensed Mental Health Professional and Certified Psychological Forensic Evaluator in Austin, Texas.
He has over 28- years of teaching experience in the fields of Psychology and Counseling courses both at the undergraduate and graduate level, and twenty-seven (27) years of experience in
private practice as a psychologist and Certified Trauma Expert. In addition to his distinguished teaching career, Dr. Kelly has had an extensive history in university administration. He has served an Associate Vice Chancellor in the University of North Carolina System; and most recently as a Dean at St. Edwards University .
As a clinician, student affairs professional, and educator, Dr. Kelly has had the opportunity to practice and refine his leadership skills and style. His style of leadership is based on the Servant Leadership Model. He has also been afforded the opportunity to present on a variety of topics nationally that are
related to his area of expertise and interests in mental health.
Dr. Kelly’s areas of interest and expertise include but are not limited too; trauma and post-traumatic stress related issues; Racial Identity Development; diversity and inclusion issues; men and depression;
secondary trauma; holistic wellness; organizational development and leadership; and team building.
Dr. Kelly feels strongly that it is his belief in family and close spiritual connection that keeps him grounded and focused.
Clarena Tobon is the Executive Director of NAMI Central Texas and a dedicated advocate for mental health. With over eight years of experience in nonprofit leadership, including key roles at United Way and Habitat for Humanity, Clarena has a proven ability to drive meaningful change. Her advocacy work has taken her to Congress twice, where she spoke with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Clarena’s personal connection to mental health is deeply rooted in her own lived experience, having lost her mother to suicide and now serving as a caregiver to her two school-aged children who face mental health challenges. This loss fuels her passion and underscores the importance of the work she does every day. She is committed to breaking the stigma and expanding support for those impacted by mental health conditions.
Outside of her professional life, Clarena cherishes time spent with her children, whether exploring new culinary experiences or planning their next adventure together.
Jeff Richardson is the Chief Executive Officer of Integral Care in Austin TX and the former Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sheppard Pratt, a prominent behavioral health organization in Maryland. Serving over 70,000 people across 380 locations, Jeff demonstrates exceptional leadership in the behavioral health sector. His impressive career includes a twenty-three-year tenure as the Executive Director of Mosaic Community Services, highlighting his dedication to community-based care.
Jeff holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s in business administration from Loyola University. His commitment to behavioral health advocacy is evident through his involvement in nonprofit boards and state task forces. Jeff has held prestigious roles such as Board President for The National Council for Behavioral Healthcare and President of the Board for the Mental Health Association of Maryland.
Furthermore, Jeff’s contributions to the field extend to consulting, publications, and presentations on critical behavioral health topics, including systems redesign, business development, community mental health, strategic planning, affordable housing, healthcare technology, clinical services and nonprofit mergers and acquisitions.
Beyond his professional achievements, Jeff is a devoted family person, married with four adult children, one of whom has special needs. This personal experience fuels his passion for providing effective and quality behavioral health services to individuals and families facing similar challenges.
The Honorable Glenn Hegar was elected Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
Hegar is a sixth-generation Texan who grew up farming land that has been in his family since the mid-1800s. He’s a 1993 graduate of Texas A&M University and earned his law degree at St. Mary’s University. Before his election as Texas Comptroller, he served in the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate, where he worked on issues including public education, transportation, tax reform, government transparency, Second Amendment rights, water issues and tort reform.
As comptroller, Hegar is chief finance officer for the world’s eighth-largest economy. He has emerged as a passionate advocate for conservative financial management who focuses on his agency's constitutional duties and is committed to maintaining its reputation for customer service and transparency. He founded the state’s Transparency Stars program, pushed for ways to protect our Rainy Day Fund against rising inflation, worked to reform our state pension systems and guided the formation of the nation’s first state-administered precious metals depository. Hegar is recently working toward closing Texas’ digital divide and remediating the opioid crisis, through the Broadband Development Office and Opioid Abatement Fund Council, respectively.
His upbringing taught him the core values of hard work, honesty and integrity — the same values he and his wife Dara work to instill in their three teenagers, Claire, Julia and Jonah. Hegar’s most important title throughout his years of service is the one closest to home: Dad!
Jason Scharf is an experienced strategy executive and active angel investor in the life science and digital health sectors. He has built and led teams in strategic planning, market intelligence, and innovation.
In an era where biology, tech, and business intersect, Jason offers a unique blend of strategic foresight, entrepreneurial acumen, and incisive questioning. Through key roles at industry leaders like Illumina, Keen Health, Becton Dickinson, and Amgen, Jason has honed a systems-thinking approach, turning complex data into actionable insights.
As an angel investor, Jason has backed game-changing startups in Digital Health & Tech Bio sectors. The portfolio includes Pleno, Iridia, Abterra Biosciences, Syntrillo, and Elicio Therapeutics—a recent Nasdaq exit. These investments reflect Jason's commitment to the convergence of technology and biology, consumer-driven health solutions, and the rise of the Texas Triangle as the next bio innovation hubs.
Beyond his investment activities, Jason hosts the Austin Next Podcast. The show explores Austin's emergence as an innovation powerhouse, delves into broader technology shifts, and uncovers the underlying mechanics of innovation ecosystems. Jason's writings on Austin's Bio+Health scene, venture capital, and global trends are catalyzing important conversations.
Marianne Fazen, PhD is President and CEO of the Texas Business Group on Health, a statewide organization representing Texas employers in healthcare purchasing and policy issues, and Executive Director of the Dallas-Fort Worth Business Group on Health, a regional coalition of DFW area employers and healthcare organizations committed to improving healthcare quality, affordability, and accountability in North Texas.
Ms. Fazen is a frequent speaker and commentator on employer-sponsored health benefits and healthcare issues. She has been recognized as a member of the Dallas 500 Business Leaders by D CEO Magazine for the past 5 years and as a DFW Healthcare Leader by the Dallas Business Journal’s Who’s Who in Healthcare.
Ms. Fazen currently serves in leadership positions in several national healthcare organizations, including Regional Director of The Path Forward for Mental Health & Substance Use, Regional Leader of the national Leapfrog Group for Patient Safety, and Board Member of Equest Equine Therapy. Previous leadership positions included: Past President of URAC, a national healthcare accreditation organization, Board of Governors and Past President of National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasing Coalitions, representing 40 regional employer coalitions across the country, including TBGH and DFWBGH, and Executive Committee of the North Texas Accountable Healthcare Partnership, a multi-stakeholder collaborative to transform healthcare delivery in North Texas.
Ms. Fazen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology from University of Wisconsin and a Doctorate in Communications Science & Human Development from University of Texas at Dallas.
John Forrest is a seasoned entrepreneur and visionary leader with a 30-year track record in driving global healthcare IT and innovation. His relentless focus has always been on leveraging technology to elevate patient care and profoundly impact lives.
Throughout his career, he has established companies that enhance access to high-quality healthcare information and testing, recognizing the critical role of timely and accurate diagnostic test results. He has achieved Inc. 500 fastest growing company list and won a Stevie Award for app design to automate patient workflow and achieve optimal outcomes.
In his current capacity as Co-Founder and CEO at Veravas, he has channeled his passion towards effecting positive change for individuals faced with Alzheimer's Disease and various neurodegenerative conditions. Veravas is at the forefront of early disease detection with a break-through blood test to detect Alzheimer’s up to 10 years prior to symptoms.