Johann Hari is a New York Times best-selling author and the Executive Producer of an Oscar-nominated movie and an eight-part TV series starring Samuel L. Jackson. His books have been translated into 40 languages and have been praised by a broad range of influencers, from Oprah to Noam Chomsky, from Elton John to Naomi Klein.

His latest book “Magic Pill" (Crown, May 7, 2024) is an investigation into the new trend of weight loss drugs and has been named a must-read by The Next Big Idea Club. The first of three other books, ”Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention” (Crown, January 2022) was number three on Amazon’s list of the best books of 2022, and it was named as a Book of the Year by The Financial Times, The New York Post, and The Spectator. It was also chosen as Book of the Month by Britain’s biggest bookseller, Waterstones, and Australia’s biggest bookseller Dymocks. It won several awards, including being named as Most Important Book of the Year at the Non-Obvious Book Awards and Business Book of the Year at the 2022 Porchlight Book Awards. It has been a best-seller on three continents.

His second book, ”Lost Connections: Uncovering The Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions” (Bloomsbury USA, January 2018) was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”, and shortlisted for an award by the British Medical Association. Johann’s first book, ”Chasing the Scream: the First and Last Days of the War on Drugs” (Bloomsbury USA, January 2015) was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’. It has also been adapted into the documentary series “The Fix” on The Roku Channel.

Collectively, Johann’s TED Talks ”Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong” and “This Could Be Why You Are Depressed or Anxious” have been viewed more than 93 million times.

He has written over the past decade for some of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Spectator, Le Monde Diplomatique, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Politico. He has appeared on NPR’s All Thing Considered, HBO’s Realtime With Bill Maher, The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the BBC’s Question Time, and many other popular shows.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, when Johann was a year old his family moved to London, where he grew up and where he has lived for most of his life. His father – a Swiss immigrant – was a bus driver, and his mother was a nurse who later worked in shelters for survivors of domestic violence.

Johann studied social and political science at King’s College, Cambridge, and graduated with a Double First.

Johann was twice named National Newspaper Journalist of the Year by the Amnesty International UK Media Awards. He has also been named Cultural Commentator of the Year and Environmental Commentator of the Year at The Comment Awards.

Judith L. Landau, MD, DPM, LMFT, CFLE, CIP, CAI, CRS, Founder and President of Linking Human Systems, LLC and LINC Foundation is a child, family, and community neuropsychiatrist. Former professor of psychiatry and family medicine at the University of Rochester, she has devoted her career to developing Evidence-Based, Best Practice collaborative family and community resilience models. Former faculty member of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and Senior Consultant to the International Trauma Studies Program at NYU and Columbia, Dr. Landau draws upon 50+ years of research and experience aimed at facilitating long-term healing for individuals, families, and communities dealing with chronic, relapsing behavioral, mental, and physical health issues and addiction. (www.linkinghumansystems.com).

Dr. Landau enjoys overcoming challenging patient, family, business, forensic and community issues, and unraveling complex systems. Her passion is overcoming racial injustice and improving the living situations of disadvantaged communities. She served as the primary consultant to the Judiciary in South Africa on issues of domestic violence and, working as a District Surgeon, was responsible for all inner city, prison and police forensic issues and violence.

As a child, growing up before and during the oppression and violence of Apartheid, she was enveloped in the closeness of her community of family and non-blood family and experienced the protective nature of relational resilience. This became the heart of her life’s mission: helping people realize their inherent resilience and the importance of connectedness to family, culture, and spirituality as protection from trauma.

Based on her relational resilience research, Dr. Landau with University of Rochester faculty, developed the Evidence-Based, Best-Practice Transitional Family Therapy (TFT), the first integrative model of family therapy. Evidence-Based interventions at individual, family, and community level based on TFT include LINC Community Resilience, ARISE Comprehensive Care with Invitational Intervention, a method for engaging and treating addicted individuals and their families, and LIFE, applied to reducing intimate partner violence, STDs/HIV/AIDS, and addiction in inner city and minority women. She took early retirement to apply these methods in the “real world.” She has conducted numerous country and state-wide community interventions, executive and business interventions, and a few thousand individual and family interventions.

Author and co-author of over 200 peer-reviewed publications and books, she has taught in numerous countries, and trained several thousand trainers, therapists, and interventionists. Her ground-breaking book, AIDS, Health and Mental Health, won the international Choice Library award. Dr. Landau has been principal investigator on research conducted through WHO, NIDA, NIAAA, SAMHSA and EAR. She has consulted to UN, WHO (most recently to the Public Health section about communities dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic), NIMH, NIDA, NIAAA, SAMHSA, CDC & P, national and international universities, and several international governments including Argentina, South Africa, Hong Kong, Hungary, Brazil, Taiwan, countries in former Yugoslavia (most recently Kosovo), and to a United States Congressional Committee on prevention of consequences of mass disaster. She currently serves as a consultant to the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Geneva and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS). Vienna. She is a frequent consultant to treatment centers, colleagues, clients, families, and family businesses around the world.

A Senior Fulbright Visiting Scholar, and Fellow of Orthopsychiatry, Association, AAMFT and NCFR, she is the recipient of awards for AAMFT’s Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Marriage and Family Therapy and AFTA’s Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy. She is past president of the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) and has served on numerous editorial boards, and national and international association boards. She has been listed in Who’s Who in the World since 1999, in Science and Engineering since 1998, Medicine and Healthcare since 2002, and holds the 2018 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Currently recognized as a global addiction and trauma pioneer, Dr. Landau continues to change the future of addiction and its interface with mental and physical health by identifying trauma that spans generations. Her TEDX talk, Family Stories, Secrets and Survival, has become legendary and is one of the most sought-after presentations on the subjects of: family resilience, trauma, addiction, and mental health. Steadily working on her personal memoir, Dr. Landau continues to be relied upon by the national media as an expert on all stories relating to human behavior. She is also a “Sangoma” or traditional African healer and a member of 4 Winds Indigenous Healers, an organization committed to bridging traditional wisdom and western science.

Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, based at LSHTM’s MRC Unit in Uganda. She develops and evaluates culturally appropriate mental health interventions for Africans. Her research focuses on the mind-body connection, examining psychotherapy's impact on physical health and its mechanisms. Dr. Nakimuli-Mpungu empowers health workers through her virtual SEEK-GSP Academy, fostering mental health capacity building across the continent. She has won accolades, including the 2016 Elsevier Foundation Award, the 2016 Presidential National Independence Medal of Honor, the 2020 BBC 100 Women, the 2021 Makerere University Outstanding Social Innovation in Health Award, and the 2023 US Mission Outstanding Alum in Health Award. In 2023, she was elected to the Executive Committee of the World Psychiatry Association (WPA) Psychotherapy Section. and later appointed as a Council Member representing Uganda on the World Federation of Psychotherapy Council. With medical and doctoral training from Makerere and Johns Hopkins Universities, and funding from organizations like Grand Challenges Canada and the Wellcome Mental Health Data Prize-Africa, Dr. Nakimuli-Mpungu is committed to advancing mental health research and practice in Africa.

Since 1973, Dr. Boss has studied ambiguous loss, taught university students, practiced as a clinician, and trained family therapists, psychologists, counselors, and humanitarians around the world to help individuals and families suffering from the trauma of ambiguous loss and its grief that has no end. Drawing on research and clinical experience, Dr. Boss worked across cultures to develop six useful and inclusive guidelines for building the resilience needed to both bear the ambiguity and move forward to live productive lives. Over the course of her research, Dr. Boss has worked with families in New York who lost family members during 9/11 and families in Kosovo who have lost family members as the result of ethnic cleansing and terrorism. She also has worked with families who have psychologically lost a relative as the result of Alzheimer's disease and other chronic mental illnesses. Dr. Boss draws on her research (and that of others) and her forty years of clinical experience to develop a powerful but flexible therapeutic approach for this heretofore unrecognized but ubiquitous type of loss. The fundamental tools of the theory and practice, described by Dr. Boss in the Ambiguous Loss Online Training and in her writings, are the six guidelines for therapists and practitioners as well as for concerned family members and friends who, despite ambiguous loss, need to find new hope and meaning in life. At this time, the ambiguous loss model, as updated, is being used to ease the pain and trauma for various kinds of ambiguous losses and across different cultures. Education and Work history: Dr. Boss received her Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1975. From 1975 to 1981, Dr. Boss was an assistant and then associate professor with tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1981, she joined the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota and continued there as full professor until 2005 when she became Emeritus Professor. In 1995-96, Dr. Boss was appointed Visiting Professor at the Harvard Medical School, and in 2004-2005, she was awarded Moses Distinguished Professor at Hunter School of Social Work in New York City.

Gonçalo Henriques, psychologist, coordinator of the Lisbon Municipal Emergency Shelter - Associação Ares do Pinhal, has been working in non-governmental organizations in the sector of health with homeless people for the past 20 years. He is responsible for the health services of this facility and coordinates a multidisciplinary team of psychosocial support technicians, social workers, psychologists, nurses and doctors, also providing a pilot drug consumption room (ECAD), alongside with an Alcohol Managed Program, exclusively for the residents of the shelter, with total capacity for 126 people, including 26 for women and 8 for couples. Currently taking part in a research group on the Diagnosis of the Health of Homeless People in Lisbon.

ac Charlier is the Executive Director of TASC's Center for Health and Justice, which specializes in practical, local solutions to improve community safety by reducing drug use and drug-related crime. A former Deputy Chief with Illinois State Parole, Mr. Charlier is a founder of the international deflection field, focused on strategies that bridge law enforcement, treatment, and community to improve public safety. He also serves as CEO for the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC), which is the national and global voice for the field of deflection. is a social policy expert with over 30 years’ experience in public health and harm reduction. From 2005 to 2025, he was CEO of Ana Liffey Drug Project, Ireland’s first harm reduction service (est. 1982), where he led rights-based, person-centred responses to drug use and social support. Tony has worked across frontline outreach, policy reform, and international collaboration—always focused on reducing drug-related harm and improving access to services for people with complex needs. He now works independently with organisations across Europe and beyond. He is Chair of Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network, a Trustee of the Harm Reduction International Board, and an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Trinity College Dublin.

Bob Doppelt founded and coordinates the International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC), a network of mental health, social service, disaster management, climate, and faith organizations and professionals (website: http://itrcoalitionorg). He is trained in both counseling psychology and environmental science and has combined the two fields throughout his career. He is also a Graduate of the International Program on the Management of Sustainability, in Ziest, The Netherlands, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Instructor, a meditation instructor at Spirit Rock in California, and a former Fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center. Early in his career Bob worked as a counseling psychologist with troubled youth and their families. Decades later he directed the Climate Leadership Initiative at the University of Oregon, a climate change research and technical assistance program that was one of the first in the U.S. to assist private and public entities to develop climate mitigation and adaptation plans. For many years he also taught systems thinking and climate change policy at the university. Through this work Bob realized that the mental health and psycho-social-spiritual impacts of the climate crisis were a significant but largely unaddressed problem. This led him in 2013 to organize the ITRC. In 2024, the ITRC’s work helping communities worldwide organize Transformational Resilience Coordinating Networks (TRCNs) to prevent and heal climate-generated traumas led it to become the 35th partner of the UN High Level Climate Champion Race to Resilience Campaign. Due to his many years of work, in 2015 Bob was named one the world’s “50 Most Talented Social Innovators” by the World CRS Congress. For over a decade Bob wrote a monthly column on climate change and psychosocial issues for the Register Guard, his hometown paper. Bob has also written for Psychology Today and currently writes a monthly column on Substack. He is the author of a number of books on the interface between individual and community mental health, social change, and ecological regeneration. His most recent book is Preventing and Healing Climate Traumas: A Guide for Building Resilience and Hope in Communities (Taylor and Francis/Routledge Publishing, 2023). It describes the outcomes of an intensive two+ year research project that determined that a public health approach to mental health is necessary to prevent and heal the accelerating individual, community, and societal traumas generated by the global climate mega-emergency. This involves returning the responsibility for sustaining mental wellness and resilience to where it existed for most of human history and has the greatest chances of success: to the neighborhood and community levels.

Ellert R.S. Nijenhuis, Ph.D., is a psychologist, researcher, and former psychotherapist. He engaged in the diagnosis, treatment and study of severely traumatized patients for more than four decades and teaches and writes extensively on the themes of trauma-related dissociation and dissociative disorders. He initiated several biopsychological studies of complex dissociative disorders. His publications (see www.enijenhuis.nl) include the book Somatoform Dissociation. With Onno van der Hart and Kathy Steele he co-authored the book The Haunted Self: Structural Dissociation and the Treatment of Chronic Traumatization. A trilogy is The Trinity of Trauma: Ignorance, Fragility, and Control. With his daughter Kirande, he runs an eAcademy on trauma and dissociation. Nijenhuis has been one of the founders of the ESTD. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation granted him several awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Dawn Nickel is a respected leader in the women’s recovery movement and the founder of SHE RECOVERS® Foundation, a nonprofit that inspires hope and reduces stigma for women in or seeking recovery from substance use, mental health challenges, and other life issues. With a PhD in healthcare policy, Dawn has spent over three decades working in mental health, addiction, and trauma-informed care. In recovery since 1987 from substance use disorder, domestic violence, and later workaholism, anxiety, and cancer, she brings both lived and professional experience to her work. Dawn is also a Certified Professional Recovery Coach and a passionate advocate for individualized, holistic recovery paths. She is frequently called upon to share her expertise and experience in recovery with diverse audiences—offering insight, humor, compassion, and practical tools for healing and growth.

Dr. Adam Gazzaley obtained an M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, completed Neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania, and postdoctoral training in cognitive neuroscience at University of California, Berkeley. He is currently the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco and the Founder & Executive Director of Neuroscape, a translational neuroscience center at UCSF engaged in technology creation and scientific research. At Neuroscape, he leads the design and development of novel brain assessment and cognitive optimization technologies to advance education, wellness, and medicine practices. Neuroscape’s novel approach involves the development of custom-designed, closed-loop video games integrated with the latest advancements in software and hardware (virtual/augmented reality, motion capture, mobile physiological recording devices, transcranial electrical brain stimulation). These technologies are then advanced to rigorous, placebo-controlled research studies that evaluate their impact on cognition, as well as the neural mechanisms of these effects using a combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Dr. Gazzaley is co-founder of Akili, a company developing therapeutic video games [On Fast Company’s 2022 list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies] and JAZZ Venture Partners, a venture capital firm investing in experiential technology to improve human performance. He has been a scientific advisor for dozens of companies including Apple, GE, Nielsen, Deloitte, Magic Leap, and the VOID. He was a Science Board member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, and is currently a Board of Trustee, Science Council Member and Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences. Dr. Gazzaley has filed multiple patents, notably his invention of the first video game cleared by the FDA as a medical treatment. He has authored over 190 scientific articles and delivered over 760 invited presentations around the world. His research and perspectives have been consistently profiled in high- impact media, such as The New York Times, New York Times Magazine, New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, TIME, Discover, Wired, PBS, NPR, CNN and NBC Nightly News. He wrote and hosted the nationally televised PBS special “The Distracted Mind with Dr. Adam Gazzaley”, and co-authored the 2016 MIT Press book “The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World”, winner of the 2017 PROSE Award in the category of Biomedicine and Neuroscience. Dr. Gazzaley has received many awards and honors, including the 2015 SfN Science Educator Award, the 2020 Global Gaming Citizen Honor and was named in Newsweek's 2021 Inaugural list of America’s Greatest Disruptors.

René Veenstra (1969), Ph.D., is a Full Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Groningen, and a board member of the Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), the Netherlands. His work focuses on the theoretical and empirical elaboration of a social network approach to bullying and victimization and pro- and antisocial behavior. Funding Veenstra has been the Principal Investigator of a personal NWO VICI grant (2015-2021), a fundamental research grant from NWO-PROO on Social networks processes and social development of children and adolescents (2013-2019), and a grant from the Ministry of Education (Onderwijs Bewijs Actieprogramma II) to implement and evaluate the KiVa Antibullying Program in the Netherlands (2010-2015). He is a member of the steering committee of GUTS (Growing Up Together in Society), funded by the Ministry of Science with 22 million euros. This 10-year program (2023-2032) has the ambition to examine optimal opportunities for young people, both for themselves and for the present and future society. His grant total is > 6M€ as PI (plus 30M€ as Co-PI). Ph.D. Supervision Of his Ph.D. students, 27 have successfully completed their dissertations and 10 are in progress. His former Ph.D. students and postdocs have found academic positions and are at the forefront of their fields, as evidenced by the acceptance of their papers in high-impact journals, the grants they have successfully applied for (ERC Consolidator, ERC Starting, VENI, Marie Curie, Rubicon), and the awards they have received (ISSBD Young Scientist Award, NSV Dissertation Prize, Praemium Erasmianum, EARA Young Scholar Award, Alberti Center Early Career Award). More about Ph.D. projects. Data Collection He has a strong track record in data collection. He was data manager (2000-2005) and is now a member of the management team of the longitudinal TRAILS project, which follows a cohort of preadolescents (born around 1990) into adulthood. He received three NWO Investment Medium grants for TRAILS. To date, eight waves of TRAILS have been completed. Another large data collection project that he led was the KiVa project, in which 10.000 children in 400 classes in 100 schools completed online questionnaires. He also contributed to the SNARE, PEAR, and PRIMS data collections. Honors He is an elected member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities and an elected fellow of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development. He was a visiting professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Turku, Finland (2007-2012). He is Associate Editor of Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: A Peer Relations Journal (2025-now). He previously served as Associate Editor of the Journal of Research on Adolescence (2010-2016). He was the Research Director of the Department of Sociology and the Director of the ICS (2014-2023).

Peter Mintir Amadu is a Clinical Health Psychologist, Lecturer/educator, Researcher and mental health advocate whose work spans academia, clinical service, and community-based mental health interventions in Ghana. A Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service (MHPSS) champion in the Northern Ghana and Ghana as a whole At the University for Development Studies (UDS), he serves as a Lecturer in the School of Medicine, Department of mental Health where he is actively involved in teaching,student research supervision, and various administrative duties. His academic work or research interest is centered on youth mental health, trauma-informed care, Mental health Literacy and mental health service access. As a researcher he has a number of peer reviewed articles to his credit with a number of ongoing collaborations towards developing empirical evidence for practice, policy and services delivery in the area of mental health. In his clinical role at Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Peter is a Visiting Clinical Health Psychologist. He provides patient care at the tertiary level by providing expert psychological assessments, therapy, and trauma-informed interventions, enhancing recovery, mental well-being, and holistic health outcomes. He supports mental health service delivery, particularly advocacy and training in trauma, depression, and anxiety management. He also plays a critical role in the clinical supervision and training of intern and practicum psychology students, medical students, nurses, and other allied mental health professionals. Peter is the Founder and Executive Director of Total Life Enhancement Centre Ghana (TOLECGH), where his enjoys the title mental health advocate which he exemplifies through his passion, dedication, commitment and enthusiasm for spreading mental health information for a better understanding. TOLECGH is a pioneering MHPSS organization delivering integrated mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services in Northern Ghana. TOLECGH is the first/premier accredited psychology clinic in Northern Ghana by the Ghana Psychology Council (GPC). TOLECGH’s trilogy (Advocacy, Therapy and Training - ATT) in the mental health ecosystem is innovative towards achieving SDG 3.4;. Under his leadership, TOLECGH leads initiatives with self-developed model (ART-LE/PE) to addressing mental health issues in Context Constrain countries (CCC) in: • Advocacy, through radio, schools, ghettos, prisons, and communities • Therapy and psychological support, for vulnerable populations • Rehabilitation programs, targeting ghetto youth and substance users • Livelihood Empowerment, sharpening the skills of youth for effective engagement • Training and mentorship, for young mental health advocates and professionals Beyond these core roles, Peter contributes to District, Regional and National mental health dialogue through volunteerism, consultancies, trainings, seminars, policy reviews, and partnerships with local and international stakeholders, emphasizing inclusive, and culturally grounded models of mental health care and services.

Dr Michelle Garnett PhD is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in autism for more than 30 years. She founded the specialist Autism clinic Minds & Hearts in 2005 serving as Director for 15 years. Alongside Tony Attwood she co-founded Attwood & Garnett Events to enhance autism awareness and understanding via global trainings and publications. She has co-authored seven books on autism and many peer-reviewed journal articles. She has been an invited keynote speaker and conference presenter internationally for over two decades. Dr Garnett is autistic and has ADHD, late diagnosed.

Prof. Barbara Franke is Professor of Molecular Psychiatry at Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. She is the head of the Department of Medical Neuroscience at Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) and a member of the Strategy Board of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. She is an elected fellow of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities, and Academia Europaea, and she was granted knighthood in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. Educated in Giessen (Germany) and Utrecht (The Netherlands), she obtained her PhD in molecular signal-transduction in Utrecht before joining Radboud University. Her research is focused on understanding the genetic contribution to neurodevelopmental psychiatric conditions, especially ADHD and its comorbidities. Beyond gene-finding, she uses complementary approaches (bioinformatics, i-neurons, small animal models, neuroimaging genetics) to map biological pathways from gene to disease. Throughout her career, she formulated her own ambition as contributing to improving healthcare for people with psychiatric conditions. She aims to do so through her work on clarifying the biology of such conditions as well as by bringing together researchers across disciplines to work together on integrating knowledge across multiple levels, from molecular to clinical. She has obtained prestigious grants, including a personal Vici grant from the Dutch Organization of Scientific Research and several interdisciplinary EU consortium grants. She founded and coordinates the International Multicentre persistent ADHD Collaboration (IMpACT) and the ECNP Network ‘ADHD across the Lifespan’, is a co-founder of ENIGMA (the currently largest consortium worldwide on neuroimaging and genetics), and is one of two leaders each of ENIGMA’s ADHD Working Group and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium’s ADHD Working Group. From 2018 to 2023, she was an elected member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Psychiatric Genetics, since 2024, she is a member of the Executive Board of ECNP-Neuroscience Applied. Since 2019, she holds an honorary Adjunct Professorship at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany as well as an honorary Skou Professorship at Aarhus University in Denmark. Barbara Franke has (co-)authored over 550 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Tamara Ventura Wurman is a medically trained psychiatrist recognized by the General Medical Council as a registered specialist in both General Adult Psychiatry and Medical Psychotherapy. In addition, she holds an endorsement in Liaison Psychiatry and has substantial experience in Perinatal Psychiatry. Dr. Ventura Wurman holds both an MSc and a PhD in Psychoanalysis from University College London (UCL), where she is currently an Honorary Research Associate. She also serves as a tutor at the Anna Freud Centre. Originally trained as a medical doctor at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile—the top-ranked university in Latin America—Dr. Ventura Wurman graduated with the highest distinction and ranked among the top ten students. She went on to specialize in Psychiatry at the same institution, completing postgraduate diplomas in the Neurobiological and Evolutionary Bases of Psychiatry and in the Theoretical Foundations and Clinical Practice of Psychotherapy. In Chile, Dr. Ventura Wurman worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist, providing both inpatient and outpatient care, with a focus on liaison psychiatry and expert witness evaluations. In 2014, she moved to London to pursue advanced studies at UCL, contribute to psychotherapy research, and work as an honorary psychotherapist at the Camden Psychotherapy Unit. She also completed the Post Foundation Course at the Institute of Psychoanalysis in London. Dr. Ventura Wurman later joined the prestigious Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust for higher training in dual specialties—General Adult Psychiatry and Medical Psychotherapy—after ranking first nationally among applicants and receiving the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Alexander Mezey Prize. During this period, she trained as a Mentalisation-Based Therapy (MBT) practitioner, gained additional experience in Liaison and Perinatal Psychiatry, and began training as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist. Her doctoral research at UCL led to the development of a measure of therapist competence in brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), which is now used in training at the Anna Freud Centre. This work reflects Dr. Ventura Wurman’s dedication to integrating clinical practice with academic research to support meaningful psychological change and improved mental well-being.

Dr Harry Reid is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with subspecialty accreditation in substance misuse and liaison psychiatry. He works as a specialist addiction psychiatrist at the London Psychiatry Clinic and has held senior NHS roles across community, inpatient, and psychotherapy services, including clinical leadership in homelessness and complex trauma pathways. Dr Reid has published on personality disorder, risk management, and barriers to care. He has a strong interest in psychoanalytic theory and is completing further training in group analysis at the Institute of Group Analysis and in Transference-Focused Psychotherapy.

John Hamilton: President and CEO of Liberation Programs, John Hamilton re-joined the organization in 2018, having previously served from 1996-2006. He is nationally recognized as an expert in addiction treatment and prevention, with three decades of experience. John chairs the advisory board for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and serves on the Governor's Alcohol and Drug Policy Council. His extensive background includes leadership roles with the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network and the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD). Throughout his journey with Liz, John has been advancing the understanding of how harm reduction principles can save lives.

Greg Hobelmann, MD, MPH currently serves as a Co CEO of Ashley Addiction Treatment. In this role, he oversees the clinical, medical and nursing staff for both the inpatient and outpatient clinics, in addition to general operations. He previously worked as an interventional pain specialist as well as a staff psychiatrist after completing his psychiatry residency at Johns Hopkins. He completed an anesthesiology residency and pain medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins in 2006 and has a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His treatment interests include substance use disorder and chronic pain.

Piet Jansen is Managing Director at Yes We Can Youth Clinics, a specialised residential treatment centre for 13-to-25-year-olds suffering from mental health issues, addictions and behavioural problems. Since 2015, Piet has been a driving force in expanding the clinic’s international reach, ensuring every young person and their family receives the exceptional care they deserve. With a background in international affairs and years of global experience in travel, education and consultancy, Piet brings a deep understanding of people and cultures. He also supports the development of Yes We Can’s global professional network, which includes healthcare professionals, educators, schools and support services around the world. This collaborative approach ensures continuity of care and the long-term success of a treatment programme where unconditional acceptance, safety and honesty play a key role.

For more than thirty years, Dr. Dayton has been a leading voice in the fields of trauma healing, addiction recovery and experiential, embodied therapy. A clinical psychologist, licensed creative arts therapist, and certified trainer in psychodrama and sociometry, with a master’s in educational psychology she is a Senior Fellow at The Meadows and the author of over fifteen acclaimed books including Growing Up with Addiction, Treating Adult Children of Relational Trauma, The ACoA Trauma Syndrome, Sociometrics, Emotional Sobriety, Forgiving and Moving On, and Trauma and Addiction.

Her pioneering work integrates psychodrama, sociometry, and nervous system-informed approaches into a cohesive model Relational Trauma Repair (RTR) used by therapists and treatment centers across the world. As a Fellow of the American Society of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy, she has received their highest honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Scholar’s Award, President’s Award and Gratitude Award. She also served for eight years as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy. She is on the scientific board of The National Association of Children of Alcoholics, (NACoA). In the addiction’s field, her contributions have been recognized with The Martie Mann Award The Mona Mansell Award and The Ackermann Black Award.

Dr. Dayton’s work is widely respected in both academic and clinical settings, as well as in the public sphere. She has been a guest expert on NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other national platforms, and is a frequent speaker at leading conferences on trauma, mental health, and recovery.

To learn more about her work, visit www.tiandayton.com.

Jackie began her career in Human Resources and Office Services/Training. She had a strong desire to help others and work with people. Her journey led to a change in industry as she joined Alina Lodge in 2011. Her passion and positive approach focus on providing our guests with specialized clinical services and evidence-based programming. Jackie is passionate about healing with a psycho-spiritual integrative approach. She has a Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling and LCADC, is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, EMDRIA Certified Therapist and Consultant, and is a trained IFS Clinician and Consultant.

Fritzi Horstman is the Founder and Executive Director of Compassion Prison Project (CPP), an organization committed to transforming prisons through compassion, trauma awareness, principles of nonviolence and systemic healing. CPP’s groundbreaking curriculum, Trauma Talks, is currently being implemented in prisons across California, throughout the United States, and internationally, reaching thousands of incarcerated individuals in Colombia, Northern Ireland, New Zealand (and soon Mexico, Australia, Argentina, the UK and Ireland), often with minimal funding but maximum impact. With over 30 years in the film industry, Fritzi is a Grammy-winning producer for HBO’s The Defiant Ones. She also directed the viral short film Step Inside the Circle and the documentary short Veterans Behind Bars. Her deep understanding of childhood trauma, shaped by her own experiences, is at the core of her work. Through film, curriculum, and conversation, Fritzi helps others see that trauma often lies at the heart of incarceration — but healing is possible. Fritzi is also the host of the Compassion in Action podcast, where she has powerful conversations with trauma experts like Gabor Maté, Bruce Perry, Bessel van der Kolk and thought leaders including Joe Dispenza and Michael Singer. The podcast is now reaching over 1 million incarcerated people across the U.S. Her work is guided by a rare combination of strategic vision and deep compassion. Fritzi doesn’t just imagine a better world — she takes action to build it, inside the very systems that have caused the most harm. By bringing trauma awareness, emotional healing, and practical tools for transformation into prisons (and communities), she is helping to reimagine what justice can look like: not as punishment, but as possibility. Her mission is not just about reform, it’s about awakening the human spirit in places where it has long been forgotten.

Tony Duffin is a social policy expert with over 30 years’ experience in public health and harm reduction. From 2005 to 2025, he was CEO of Ana Liffey Drug Project, Ireland’s first harm reduction service (est. 1982), where he led rights-based, person-centred responses to drug use and social support. Tony has worked across frontline outreach, policy reform, and international collaboration—always focused on reducing drug-related harm and improving access to services for people with complex needs. He now works independently with organisations across Europe and beyond. He is Chair of Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network, a Trustee of the Harm Reduction International Board, and an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Trinity College Dublin.

Christopher Paul Jones is a leading therapist, coach, and speaker specializing in phobia, anxiety, and trauma resolution. With over 15 years of experience and extensive training in NLP, CBT, EMDR, EFT, hypnotherapy, and contemporary psychotherapy, he is renowned for helping individuals achieve rapid and lasting change. His integrative approach combines evidence-based techniques with a deep understanding of emotional patterns to support clients in overcoming fear, stress, and personal limitations. Christopher works with a diverse range of clients—including high-profile business leaders, celebrities, and non-profit professionals—through his Harley Street practice and online platforms. As the founder of Christopher Paul Jones Ltd., he is committed to demystifying complex psychological concepts and delivering results-driven interventions that foster genuine transformation. In addition to his clinical work, Christopher is a published author of Face Your Fears (2024) and Face Your Fear of Flying (2021), and has been featured in national media outlets including the BBC, GQ, and The Evening Standard. He regularly leads workshops and speaks at events across the UK, sharing practical tools for emotional wellbeing and personal growth.

I'm a qualified dentist with over 35 years of clinical experience — including long-standing roles in London, Yorkshire, and a period overseas in Antigua. My professional journey led me to focus on holistic healing and addiction recovery, particularly in the area of food addiction. Today, I combine my clinical background with coaching, hypnotherapy, and complementary therapies to support clients in reclaiming their health and rebuilding their lives. I'm the founder of the Recovery Code and the Food Addiction Coach Training Programme, and I’m proud to have trained professionals globally to recognise and support individuals dealing with disordered eating and addiction. I believe recovery is possible — and my mission is to be a catalyst for that change.

Mental health leader with more than a decade of experience advancing access to psychiatric care for youth, underserved populations, and first responders. Demonstrated success in leading nonprofit, clinical, and international programs focused on trauma, equity, and community resilience. As Executive Director and Co-Founder of KOPI, Nathan has directed international initiatives in Tanzania to train first responders, police, and firefighters in prehospital emergency medicine and mental health, partnering with the Ministry of Health, Duke University, The University of Iowa, and global collaborators. He has also advanced deflection initiatives in the United States and partnered with colleagues in Italy and Kenya to strengthen international approaches to addiction and mental health. His career reflects a unique blend of experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and former paramedic, with a strong record of innovation, partnership-building, and strategic program development across global and domestic contexts. Dedicated to sustainable solutions, he continues to expand system-level access to care and improve long-term mental health outcomes. Degrees and Licenses Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health – University of Minnesota Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Bemidji State University Associate of Science in Nursing – North Hennepin Community College Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic – Waubonsee Community College Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Practitioner, Minnesota Board of Nursing

With a career spanning five decades, Professor Tony Attwood is one of the world’s foremost specialists on Autism. Currently serving as an adjunct Professor at Griffith University in Queensland, Professor Attwood’s impact has enriched the global understanding of autism. His many books have resonated globally, two of which are now published in over 25 languages

UIrike Schmidt, OBE MD PhD FRCPsych FMedSci FAED, is the Professor of Eating Disorders at King’s College London and a Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She is also an NIHR Senior Investigator. A key focus of her research is the development of brief scalable interventions. She has led the development of MANTRA, a NICE-recommended psychotherapy and of FREED, a multi-award winning early intervention programme. She has also pioneered the use of novel brain-directed treatments in eating disorders. Ulrike was a member of the NICE Eating Disorders Guidelines development group, chair of the Eating Disorders Section at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a board member of the Academy for Eating Disorders. She has written some 500 peer-reviewed papers and many other publications.

Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae: A.J. Pasha of mySHO I. Executive Summary: A.J. Pasha – A Driving Force in Digital Mental Health Innovation A.J. Pasha serves as the Co-Founder and President-COO of mySHO (My Select Health Options), a pioneering digital therapeutics firm established in 2019.1 Bringing over 25 years of diverse experience as a business owner and team member in Project Management, Agile Methodologies, Infrastructure Technology, and Software Development processes, coupled with a background as a U.S. Air Force veteran, Pasha, alongside co-founder Terry Williams, embarked on a mission to address critical gaps in mental healthcare, education, and public safety through technologically transformative, AI-powered solutions.1 Their flagship product, GritX, represents a significant advancement in the field, offering an evidence-based mental health digital tool designed to provide 24/7 personalized support and function as a co-pilot for mental health professionals.2 This innovative approach aims to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health care at scale. Pasha's leadership has been instrumental in mySHO's rapid development, the formation of strategic partnerships, and the company's steadfast commitment to a socially impactful and financially sustainable operational model.1 His dual role as Co-Founder and President-COO signifies direct involvement in both the strategic genesis and the meticulous operational execution of mySHO's innovative approach to mental health, positioning him as a foundational leader in a mission-driven health technology enterprise. II. Introduction to A.J. Pasha: Co-Founder and Operational Leader at mySHO A.J. Pasha holds the critical position of Co-Founder and President-COO (Chief Operating Officer) at mySHO (My Select Health Options).2 This dual title indicates a leadership role that encompasses both the strategic inception of the company and its rigorous day-to-day operational management. The "President" aspect often signifies a focus on external relationships, strategic positioning, and overall organizational health, while the "COO" role primarily concentrates on internal efficiency, resource optimization, and the execution of strategic initiatives. mySHO was founded in 2019 by A.J. Pasha and Terry Williams, both of whom are confirmed military veterans.1 This shared background is a significant characteristic, as military veterans often bring a distinct set of leadership qualities, including exceptional problem-solving capabilities, resilience under pressure, and a deeply ingrained mission-oriented approach. Pasha's extensive career, spanning over two decades in various project management and technology leadership roles prior to mySHO, including his current position as Sr. Project Manager at Life Time, provides a robust foundation for his operational leadership. In the context of mental health, this background suggests a powerful motivation for developing impactful solutions like GritX, potentially stemming from personal experiences or observations of challenges faced by service members and the broader population. This shared foundational experience likely fosters a cohesive leadership vision and a commitment to delivering tangible results in addressing systemic gaps. In a rapidly evolving startup environment, the President-COO typically acts as the engine, translating the CEO's (Terry Williams) strategic vision into actionable plans and managing daily operations to achieve growth. Given mySHO's swift development of GritX 2 and its engagement with significant external partners like Scalable Care and the Mayo Clinic 1, A.J. Pasha, in his capacity as President-COO, would be instrumental in operationalizing these initiatives. This includes managing internal teams, optimizing workflows, allocating resources, and ensuring the seamless integration of advanced AI technology with evidence-based mental health principles. This demonstrates a strong operational acumen, strategic foresight, and leadership capability within a dynamic and high-stakes sector. The mySHO leadership team, which includes key strategic partners, is detailed below: Table 1: mySHO Leadership Team (Key Personnel) Name Title Key Affiliation/Role Terry Williams Co-Founder / CEO mySHO A.J. Pasha Co-Founder / President-COO mySHO Allen Billings CEO Scalable Care (Strategic Partner) John Denning CTO Scalable Care (Strategic Partner) (Ret) Gen. Rufus Smith Military & Veteran Health - Senior Advisor mySHO Omaur Bliss Digital Architect mySHO This table provides immediate context for A.J. Pasha's position within mySHO's executive structure and highlights key collaborators. The inclusion of personnel from Scalable Care emphasizes the deep integration and strategic importance of this partnership, as Scalable Care provides the technological backbone for GritX, directly impacting the operational domain of the President-COO. Furthermore, the presence of a retired General as a Senior Advisor underscores the company's credibility and strategic depth, particularly given the co-founders' military veteran status and mySHO's explicit focus on veteran mental health.3 This reinforces the mission-driven aspect of the company and suggests a well-rounded advisory board supporting Pasha's operational initiatives. III. mySHO: A Digital Therapeutics Innovator Bridging Healthcare Gaps mySHO, or My Select Health Options, was founded in 2019 with an ambitious and clearly defined mission: to provide technologically transformative products and services that address critical gaps across various societal sectors, including the education system, healthcare system, and criminal justice system.1 The company positions itself as an "industry trailblazer," distinguished by its "unique, culturally competent, and culturally connected programming".1 It is important to note a discrepancy in one source 4 stating mySHO is "unfunded" and "based in Montenegro." However, the preponderance of evidence from mySHO's official website 2 and the Atlanta Tribune article 1 points to a US-centric operation, citing a Silicon Valley partnership, Mayo Clinic involvement in Minnesota, US veteran founders, and a funding model reliant on US federal, state, and county grants. This report prioritizes the information consistent across these primary sources directly linked to A.J. Pasha and the GritX platform. Core Product: GritX – The AI-Powered Mental Health Solution GritX stands as mySHO's flagship product, an evidence-based mental health digital tool that offers 24/7 personalized care.2 It leverages the power of artificial intelligence to deliver transformative mental wellness support, fundamentally integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles into its guidance.2 GritX is designed to be more than a conventional chatbot; it functions as an "emotional wellness co-pilot".2 It facilitates interactive conversations and provides access to a comprehensive resource library of mental health tools.2 Crucially, it serves as a co-pilot for counselors and other mental health providers, aiming to reduce face-to-face caseloads rather than replacing human therapists.2 This explicit positioning as a "co-pilot" rather than a replacement for human therapists directly addresses a significant concern within the healthcare industry regarding AI-driven automation: job displacement. This strategy fosters trust among mental health professionals and promotes adoption, ensuring that AI amplifies human capabilities rather than negating them. User testimonials highlight its caring, compassionate, and thought-provoking nature, making it useful for both children and adults.2 GritX offers services without the need for appointments, available continuously 24/7/365 via smartphone, tablet, or computer.1 A significant feature is its ability to communicate in 92 languages, which facilitates deeper connections between professionals and their diverse patient populations. This broad language support also positions GritX as a vital lifeline in rural areas where mental health resources are often scarce.2 Strategic Approach and Societal Impact mySHO strategically frames the escalating global mental health crisis as a "2nd Pandemic," positioning GritX as a "beacon of hope" that directly empowers both mental health professionals and patients by effectively bridging critical accessibility gaps.2 The program is meticulously designed to benefit a wide array of stakeholders, including hospital and clinic administrators, school systems, service providers, and federal/state/county leadership. It equips these entities with essential resources to overcome persistent staffing shortages and geographical barriers, thereby ensuring mental health services are available to all who need them.2 Beyond the GritX digital tool, mySHO offers a broader suite of services, indicating a holistic approach to community well-being. These include Mental & Behavioral Health Support, Sustainable Funding Solutions, Public Safety & Violence Reduction, and Workforce Development Programs.2 The inclusion of "Public Safety & Violence Reduction" and "Workforce Development Programs" might not immediately seem related to a mental health application. However, by explicitly linking mental health issues to broader societal challenges like community violence and workforce shortages 3, mySHO strategically positions itself as addressing root causes. This comprehensive approach potentially unlocks diverse funding streams 1 and facilitates broader governmental and institutional partnerships. This demonstrates a sophisticated, systemic approach to societal well-being, where mental health is recognized as a foundational element impacting multiple critical sectors. mySHO employs an innovative Public-Private Partnership model, strategically utilizing available grant funding from Federal, State, and Local resources to provide GritX to end-users at no cost.1 This model is key to achieving widespread adoption and impact. Recognizing the sensitive nature of mental health data, GritX is committed to setting a high standard in privacy and accessibility for every user.1 Key Collaborations and Validation mySHO has forged a critical partnership with Scalable Care (WSC-Well Advised), a leading technology firm based in Silicon Valley, to bring GritX to market.1 This collaboration provides the advanced AI and technological infrastructure necessary for GritX's operation and scalability. Partnering with a Silicon Valley tech firm like Scalable Care ensures that mySHO benefits from cutting-edge technological development, scalability, and potentially agile development methodologies, which are vital for an AI-driven platform. In October 2023, mySHO commenced participation in a program sponsored by the Mayo Clinic. This initiative allows teams of undergraduates, guided by MBA students, to research and recommend next steps for inventions and new products in development.1 This collaboration signifies significant external validation and opens avenues for continuous innovation and evidence-based refinement of mySHO's offerings. The participation in a Mayo Clinic-sponsored program provides invaluable academic and clinical validation, access to leading-edge research, and a structured pathway for continuous product refinement and evidence-based enhancements. These high-profile partnerships collectively suggest a strong foundation for sustained innovation, market leadership, and a commitment to scientific rigor, enhancing mySHO's reputation in the competitive digital health landscape. Table 2: mySHO's GritX: Key Features and Benefits Feature/Aspect Description/Benefit Core Technology AI-powered, evidence-based digital tool integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles.2 Availability 24/7, 365 days a year access; no appointment needed.1 Accessibility Available via smartphone, tablet, computer; communicates in 92 languages; provides a lifeline in rural areas.2 Role for Professionals Functions as a "co-pilot" for counselors and mental health providers, reducing caseloads without replacing human interaction.2 Target Users Individuals seeking mental wellness, mental health professionals, hospital/clinic administrators, school systems, service providers, federal/state/county leadership.2 Funding Model Public-Private Partnership model, utilizes grant funding to provide services at no cost to end-users.1 Privacy Commitment Dedicated to setting a high standard in user privacy and data security.1 This table provides a highly efficient and digestible summary of GritX's complex functionalities and value propositions. This format allows for a quick understanding of the core attributes of mySHO's offering. It effectively showcases the innovative and differentiating aspects of GritX, such as its AI integration, round-the-clock availability, multi-language support, and its unique "co-pilot" model for therapists. This highlights the technological and strategic advancements mySHO brings to the mental health sector. As President-COO, A.J. Pasha is directly responsible for the operational success, scalability, and continuous improvement of GritX. Detailing its key features and benefits provides essential context for understanding the scope and complexity of the product he is helping to manage and expand, implicitly demonstrating the tangible outcomes of his operational leadership and strategic execution within the company. IV. A.J. Pasha's Role and Contributions at mySHO: Operationalizing Innovation As Co-Founder and President-COO, A.J. Pasha is central to mySHO's operational strategy and execution.2 This role typically involves overseeing daily operations, translating strategic plans into actionable initiatives, managing resources efficiently, and ensuring the seamless execution of projects across all departments. His position implies direct responsibility for the operational viability and growth of mySHO's innovative solutions. While the provided research material does not offer granular details on A.J. Pasha's specific individual responsibilities or quantifiable achievements beyond his title and co-founding status 2, his leadership can be inferred from mySHO's significant progress. The rapid development and success of mySHO and its flagship product, GritX (e.g., its 92-language capability, 24/7 availability, and the prestigious Mayo Clinic partnership), serve as strong indirect testaments to highly effective operational leadership.2 In a startup environment, the Chief Operating Officer's impact is often most visible in the smooth functioning, efficient growth, and successful execution of strategic initiatives. The fact that mySHO has successfully launched a sophisticated AI-powered tool, secured and managed key partnerships, and is actively addressing complex societal issues implies robust operational oversight and strategic execution. These critical functions fall squarely under the President-COO's purview, indicating that Pasha's leadership is a significant contributing factor to these organizational achievements. Pasha's pivotal role in co-founding mySHO in 2019 underscores his entrepreneurial drive and commitment to addressing critical societal gaps through innovative technology.1 This initial vision-setting and organizational build-out are fundamental contributions. Given his COO role, Pasha would have been instrumental in the operational aspects of bringing GritX to market. This includes overseeing the integration of AI, the application of CBT principles, and ensuring the platform's scalability, accessibility, and 24/7 functionality.2 His leadership would have been crucial in managing the technical teams and product roadmap. The COO often plays a key role in operationalizing and managing strategic alliances. Pasha would likely have been involved in the logistical and operational aspects of collaborations with Scalable Care (for technological infrastructure) and the Mayo Clinic program (for research and validation).1 His role would also be crucial in executing the "no-cost" model for end-users, facilitated by public-private partnerships and the strategic utilization of grant funding.1 This involves navigating complex funding landscapes and ensuring operational readiness to serve diverse populations. As a co-founder and military veteran, Pasha contributes significantly to mySHO's "culturally competent and culturally connected programming" 1 and its overarching mission-driven ethos, which is vital for a company focused on sensitive areas like mental health. Pasha's role as President-COO likely extends beyond internal operations to encompass external strategy concerning market penetration, particularly in sensitive and underserved areas such as public safety, veteran support, and rural health. The explicit focus on "Public Safety & Violence Reduction," "Mental Health Support for Athletes," "VETERANS AND ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT," and "Mental Health Support for the Rural & Farming Communities" 3 indicates that mySHO is targeting highly specialized and often challenging markets. Successfully entering and serving these sectors requires a deep understanding of their unique needs, regulatory environments, and the ability to forge appropriate public and private partnerships. As COO, Pasha would be directly responsible for operationalizing these diverse initiatives, ensuring that GritX and mySHO's broader services are tailored and effectively deployed to meet the specific demands of these user groups. This demonstrates a strategic role in expanding mySHO's social impact and securing its market presence in critical, often overlooked, segments. V. Professional Background and its Impact on mySHO Leadership A.J. Pasha's extensive professional journey, spanning over 25 years across diverse industries and roles, provides a robust foundation for his leadership as Co-Founder and President-COO of mySHO. His career demonstrates a consistent trajectory of mastering complex project management, leveraging technology for strategic advantage, and building resilient operational frameworks. Foundational Discipline and Problem-Solving: U.S. Air Force (1990-1998) Pasha's eight and a half years as an Airman in the United States Air Force, including tours in Desert Storm, Panama, and Korea, instilled a profound sense of discipline, a strong work ethic, and natural problem-solving skills. This military background, shared with mySHO's CEO Terry Williams, is crucial for a mission-driven organization like mySHO. It provides a practical understanding of operational planning, resource management under pressure, and the ability to execute complex initiatives, all directly transferable to the demands of building and scaling a digital therapeutics platform that addresses critical societal needs. Building IT Infrastructure and Project Management Acumen (1998-2011) His early civilian career as an IT Consultant (1998-2003) and then as an IT Project Manager / Construction Projects at Life Time Fitness / FCA Construction (2003-2007) laid the groundwork for managing large-scale technological deployments. In these roles, Pasha gained hands-on experience in: ● End-to-end project execution: Overseeing IT network services, driving deliverables, tracking plans, and mitigating issues. ● Infrastructure development: Managing voice, data, and cable infrastructure, including new construction IT installations and data center builds. This experience is directly relevant to mySHO's need for robust and scalable cloud infrastructure for GritX. ● Vendor and resource management: Acting as a single point of contact for IT vendors and engaging diverse resources, a skill vital for mySHO's partnerships with technology providers like Scalable Care. ● Mergers and Acquisitions: His work with Life Time Fitness's M&A team to deploy enterprise networks and facilitate acquisition assimilation demonstrates an understanding of scaling and integrating systems, which is invaluable for a growing startup. Following this, as a Project Manager at Cyber Advisors (2008-2011), Pasha further honed his skills in developing and managing technical teams, overseeing audio/visual and unified communications installations, and handling complex logistics. This experience in building operational teams and managing the procurement and deployment of technology directly informs his ability to lead the technical and operational aspects of mySHO's platform and services. Global IT Transformation and Strategic Execution (2011-2021) Pasha's roles at Cargill (2011-2014), Digital River (2014-2015), and Delta Air Lines (consultant, 2015-2020), followed by Entrust (2020-2021), represent a significant period of managing large-scale, global IT transformations and strategic projects. ● Cargill: His work on global IT infrastructure projects, including divestitures, acquisitions, and implementing cost-effective WAN connectivity solutions, showcases his ability to manage complex IT lifecycles, reduce risk, and drive efficiency in a large enterprise. His "Circle of Pride, Leo Award" for outstanding performance underscores his impact. ● Digital River: As a Program Manager, he led global cloud infrastructure builds, data center transformations, and application migrations, notably completing a complex project ahead of schedule with zero downtime. This direct experience with cloud architecture, real-time application migration, and managing cross-continental technical teams is profoundly relevant to mySHO's AI-powered, cloud-based GritX platform, ensuring its stability, performance, and global reach. ● Delta Air Lines: His tenure as a Sr. Project Management Consultant and Scrum Master involved deploying large-scale mobile solutions (Electronic Flight Bag, iOS Sunrise) and developing innovative applications (Turbulence App). This experience with user-facing digital products, agile methodologies, and managing complex deployments for critical operational functions directly translates to the development, iteration, and widespread adoption of GritX. ● Entrust: His focus on remote infrastructure compute & storage project management, global backup solutions, and disaster recovery site standup further solidifies his expertise in building resilient and secure IT environments, which is paramount for a mental health platform handling sensitive user data. Current Dual Leadership and Strategic Alignment (2019-Present) Since co-founding mySHO in 2019, Pasha has leveraged this rich background to drive the company's mission. His ongoing role as Sr. Project Manager at Life Time Inc. (Jun 2021 - Present), focusing on Information Security, Compliance & Audit (PCI, HIPAA, SOX), is particularly critical for mySHO. This expertise ensures that GritX adheres to the highest standards of data privacy and regulatory compliance, a non-negotiable requirement for a digital health platform dealing with sensitive mental health information. His ability to prioritize complex cybersecurity services, foster cross-functional collaboration, and implement risk mitigation strategies directly supports mySHO's commitment to user privacy and data security. Education and Certifications Reinforcing Practical Experience Pasha's academic background, with degrees in Technology (Associate of Arts in Information Technology, 2006-2008) and Business (Bachelor of Business, 2010-2013) from Western International University, provides a strong theoretical framework for his practical experience. His certifications, including ITIL v3 (2012) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM, 2019), demonstrate a commitment to industry best practices in IT service management and agile project delivery, methodologies that are essential for the efficient and iterative development of mySHO's digital solutions. Overall Contribution to mySHO In summary, A.J. Pasha's comprehensive professional history, from his disciplined military service to his extensive experience in IT project management, global infrastructure builds, software development, and critical compliance, directly contributes to his pivotal role as President-COO of mySHO. His proven ability to operationalize complex technological initiatives, manage diverse teams, ensure data security and compliance, and drive strategic partnerships makes him an indispensable leader in mySHO's mission to revolutionize mental healthcare through innovative digital therapeutics. His career reflects a unique blend of technical acumen, operational leadership, and a deep understanding of the strategic and regulatory landscapes critical for a health technology enterprise. VI. Conclusion: Pioneering the Future of Mental Health with mySHO A.J. Pasha stands as a key entrepreneurial and operational force in the burgeoning field of digital therapeutics. As Co-Founder and President-COO of mySHO, he has been instrumental in the conceptualization, development, and operationalization of GritX, an innovative AI-powered platform that is directly addressing the global mental health crisis.2 His leadership is characterized by a commitment to leveraging technology for broad societal benefit. His strategic vision and operational acumen, alongside co-founder Terry Williams, are driving mySHO's commitment to delivering scalable, evidence-based, and culturally competent mental health solutions.2 By effectively utilizing strategic partnerships (e.g., Scalable Care, Mayo Clinic) and a unique public-private funding model, Pasha is helping to ensure widespread accessibility to critical mental health support, particularly for underserved populations.1 mySHO, under A.J. Pasha's operational leadership, exemplifies a forward-thinking model where technological innovation, a profound social mission, and sustainable business practices converge effectively. The combination of mySHO's advanced AI platform (GritX), its explicit focus on addressing the needs of underserved populations (e.g., rural communities, veterans, those in the criminal justice and education systems), its innovative funding model (leveraging grants and public-private partnerships), and its collaborative "co-pilot" approach with mental health professionals positions mySHO as more than just a technology company; it is a leading social enterprise.2 Pasha's central role in operationalizing this complex and multi-faceted model highlights his capacity for both astute business acumen and a deep commitment to social responsibility, making mySHO a compelling case study for future ventures at the intersection of technology and public good. mySHO is poised to continue its role as a significant innovator in the digital health landscape.

Highly accomplished and uniquely skilled professional with a career spanning over 10 years in clinical mental health. Proven ability to lead complex game projects from concept to launch, demonstrating expertise in content design, programming, and team management. Concurrently, a licensed clinical social worker with a strong background in therapeutic interventions, crisis management, and promoting well-being. Passionate about leveraging the power of interactive media for positive social impact and mental health advocacy. Seeking to apply interdisciplinary expertise to innovative roles that bridge technology and human well-being.

John Denning is a pioneering technology leader in healthcare and artificial intelligence. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Scalable Care. With more than 20 years of experience, he has helped develop some of the most influential digital health platforms, including Epic’s MyChart and Kaiser Permanente’s HealthConnect. He was also part of the team that passed the Turing Test, a landmark achievement in AI. Through Scalable Care and previous ventures like Well Advised, Denning focuses on turning clinical research into practical, AI-powered tools that improve patient care and expand access to effective treatment across diverse communities.

Rev. Daniela Kreher is an accomplished theologian and social researcher with extensive experience in project management, international advocacy, and university teaching. As the Managing Director of the Knowmad Institut, she excels in strategic planning, intercultural communication, and leadership. Daniela has worked with intergovernmental entities, NGOs, and faith-based organizations, and is proficient in Spanish, German, and English. Her work focuses on advancing human dignity and social impact through innovative solutions and research. Member of the Rome Consensus 2.0.

Bishop Martin Díaz is a distinguished theologian and social researcher with a focus on human rights, drug policy, and emerging technologies. As the Executive Director of the Knowmad Institut, he has led numerous projects and published extensively in the Americas and Europe. With extensive international advocacy experience, Martin continues to drive innovation and promote human dignity globally. Member of the Rome Consensus 2.0 Secretariat and One Young World Ambassador.

Dixon Chibanda, is the founder of Friendship Bench. He is a leader in the global conversation to democratize mental health care, published researcher, and author of 'The Friendship Bench: How Fourteen Grandmothers Inspired a Mental Health Revolution'. He is a medical doctor and professor of psychiatry & global mental health at the University of Zimbabwe and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He is the Director of the African Mental Health Initiative (AMARI) and a founding member of Coalition for Scaling Mental Health. Dixon started the Friendship Bench in Mbare, Zimbabwe, in 2006 and which has since scaled nationwide and has been replicated in over 10 countries. He has been for over a decade a key player in bringing the various stakeholders from health authorities, health professionals, international researchers, and donors together to form successful collaborations. In his role as PI, he has led the team through the rigorous exercise of randomized control trials (RCT), including a randomized controlled trial published in JAMA. In addition, over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications of the program are accessible online. Dixon has explored the intersection of indigenous knowledge and western models of care to develop sustainable interventions in global health. His TED talk has been viewed over 3.2 million times, and the Friendship Bench project has been featured in major media like The PBS News Hour, CBS, New York Times, LA Times, BBC World Service, and more.

Founder and Former Director of the Association Soins Infirmiers et Développement Communautaire-SIDC, which was established in 1987. Elie Aaraj completed his Maitrise degree in Community Health at the St Joseph University, Lebanon after going on to complete BS Nursing at the Lebanese University in 1982. He worked in 2 hospitals in Lebanon, before becoming the Director of the Nurse-Aid Technical School at Hayek Hospital, Beirut. He is the Founding President of the Order of Nurses in Lebanon Council member of the Municipality of Sin El Fil for 2 terms (1998 & 2004) He is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association-MENAHRA, a regional NGO working towards promoting and advocating for harm reduction within the MENA region. President of the Regional/Arab Network Against AIDS-RANAA (2008 – 2018). Mr. Aaraj has undertaken more than ten major pieces of research on HIV, drug use prevention and Harm Reduction and the role of civil society organizations. Mr. Aaraj is currently a member of the Developing Country NGO Delegation (DCNGO) at the Board of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and a member of the advisory board at the faculty of health sciences at Sagesse University. Holder of “Medaille Marcelle Hochar” Award (2005) from the Lebanese Red Cross Nursing Association, the National Rolleston Award (2011) from Harm Reduction International. The “Kim Mo IM” Award for policy innovation and Impact, International Council of Nursing (2019)

Mike Trace has a wide range of experience in the field of drug and alcohol treatment and policy, from direct work with people who use drugs, to senior positions in national government and international agencies. Following a period of 12 years working in and managing projects that provided care and support to the homeless, drug users and offenders, Mike was offered the post of Deputy UK Anti-Drug Co-ordinator (National Drug Czar) in 1997, and held this post until 2002. From 2000 to 2003, he was the Chairman of the European Union drugs agency, the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), and from 2002 to 2003, also held the post of Chief of the Demand Reduction Section at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna. Since leaving his United Nations post, Mike has returned to the UK, and the non-governmental sector. He has combined two leadership roles in the field of drug policy and drug dependence treatment: as Chief Executive of the Forward Trust (www.forwardtrust.org.uk), a large national charity providing care and rehabilitation services to offenders and those struggling with addiction. as Founder and Chairman of the International Drug Policy Consortium (www.idpc.net ), a global network of NGOs with an interest in the promotion of humane and effective drug policies. Mike continues to advise policy makers around the world on social and penal policy.

Dufflyn Lammers is a Certified Professional Coach with a passion for empowering individuals and families in recovery. She is a Certified Arise Interventionist and a Certified Recovery Specialist. Lammers specializes in codependency and sex and love addiction. In her sixteen years of personal recovery, she has been a regular contributor at TheFix.com, the world’s leading resource for addiction and recovery. She has published essays in the L.A Times, Adelaide, Santa Fe Writers Project, Iowa Woman, and more. She is now at work on a memoir. Lammers has worked with the Los Angeles Police Department and with at-risk youth in schools and community centers to facilitate recovery in traumatized and underserved populations. She presents workshops on resilience, identity and attachment at treatment centers and conferences internationally. Her workshops use improv games and creative writing to teach emotional intelligence, communication skills, and recovery skills through the power of play. Originally from Palo Alto, California, she now lives in Paris.

Froma Walsh, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist and is Professor Emerita in the Crown School and Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago, and Co-Founder/Co-Director, Chicago Center for Family Health. Dr. Walsh is the leading international authority on family & relational resilience, with extensive practice expertise with traumatic loss and complicated bereavement. Her resilience-oriented, systemic practice approach, integrating relational, intergenerational, and socio-cultural influences, helps those who are struggling to find healing and flourish in life beyond loss. Dr. Walsh is a highly regarded speaker and consultant internationally. She is Past President, American Family Therapy Academy; Past Editor, Journal of Marital & Family Therapy; and recipient of many awards for her distinguished contributions to family/relational systemic theory, research, and practice. With over 120 publications, her noted professional books are Strengthening Family Resilience (3rd ed.) and Complex & Traumatic Loss: Fostering Healing and Resilience (2023).

Molly Baldwin is the founder and CEO of Roca. A graduate of UMass Amherst, Molly began her career as a youth worker and community organizer before founding Roca in 1988. Roca relentlessly supports 1,600+ young adults at the center of urban violence each year in Massachusetts, Hartford, CT and in Baltimore, MD. Additionally, the Roca Impact Institute equips community-based violence intervention (CVI) programs, juvenile and young adult justice agencies, and law enforcement with tools and strategies to reduce violence and improve outcomes for young people. Roca is recognized as one of the most effective violence interventions in the nation, having helped 25,000+ young people make profound changes in their lives. Molly holds a master’s degree in Education from Lesley University and honorary Ph.D. degrees from Salem State University, Lesley University and James Williams College. She was a 2020 recipient of the prestigious Heinz Award in the Human Condition category.

Mental health leader with more than a decade of experience advancing access to psychiatric care for youth, underserved populations, and first responders. Demonstrated success in leading nonprofit, clinical, and international programs focused on trauma, equity, and community resilience. As Executive Director and Co-Founder of KOPI, Nathan has directed international initiatives in Tanzania to train first responders, police, and firefighters in prehospital emergency medicine and mental health, partnering with the Ministry of Health, Duke University, The University of Iowa, and global collaborators. He has also advanced deflection initiatives in the United States and partnered with colleagues in Italy and Kenya to strengthen international approaches to addiction and mental health. His career reflects a unique blend of experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and former paramedic, with a strong record of innovation, partnership-building, and strategic program development across global and domestic contexts. Dedicated to sustainable solutions, he continues to expand system-level access to care and improve long-term mental health outcomes. Degrees and Licenses Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health – University of Minnesota Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Bemidji State University Associate of Science in Nursing – North Hennepin Community College Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic – Waubonsee Community College Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Practitioner, Minnesota Board of Nursing

Dr. Alec Miller is a clinical psychologist, trainer, researcher, treatment developer and disseminator of evidence-based interventions to clinical settings, schools and organizations worldwide. He is currently Co-Founder and Co-Director of Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants (CBC) in White Plains and New York City, NY. He is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. Presently, Dr. Miller also serves as the President of the Access Psychology Foundation (APF), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to overcome mental health disparities among historically under-represented populations by increasing access to evidence-based prevention, treatment, education and training. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and his doctorate in clinical psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University. He is the co-author of the leading textbooks and treatment manuals of DBT for adolescents in clinical and school settings. He is a DBT-LBC Certified Clinician as well as the Director of a DBT-LBC Certified DBT Program in New York.

Liz Evans: An internationally recognized expert in harm reduction with over 30 years of experience, Liz Evans began her career as a nurse in a low-income community, addressing the complex needs of individuals frequently cycling through emergency departments. Hired by a grassroots non-profit, she managed a residential hotel, developing an inclusive organization providing housing, food, medical care, banking, dental care, detox and treatment, jobs, and social programs, serving 8,000 people daily. Liz was instrumental in opening North America’s first supervised injection site, Insite, in 2003, providing life-saving access to care and becoming a model for overdose prevention worldwide. Currently, Liz collaborates with John Hamilton at Liberation Programs in overdose prevention and outreach, engaging high-risk populations and linking them to treatment and support.

For over 20 years, María Paula has led social and economic inclusion projects with multilateral organizations, governments, and NGOs, working alongside vulnerable children, youth, women, and victims of armed conflict in Colombia, Spain, and other Latin American countries. Her deep commitment to personal growth led her to the field of trauma, bringing clarity to her purpose of freeing minds and hearts from suppressed pain. As a trauma-informed facilitator, she has worked in prisons with both men and women, witnessing how unhealed pain can lead to isolation and judgment. Yet, her personal and professional experiences have shown her the transformative power of cultivating community. She believes that sharing our stories and feeling heard and seen fosters courage, softens shame, and encourages compassion. Through this connection, our ability to form authentic relationships deepens, helping to restore the social fabric that unites us all.

Lucas Roncati is a psychologist (CRP 06/154386) and Chemical Dependency Specialist. He serves as Executive Director of the Brazilian Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FEBRACT) and Vice President of the Latin American Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FLACT). He also holds leadership roles with the State Council on Drug Policies of São Paulo and the Social Organization Comunidade SOL. With extensive experience in events and programs focused on recovery and public policy, he is dedicated to strengthening therapeutic communities and promoting best practices in addiction treatment across Brazil and Latin America.

Undergraduate Student in Social Work at UNISINOS, Affiliation Manager at FEBRACT, Member of the Affiliation Committee of the WFTC (World Federation of Therapeutic Communities), Level 2 Addiction Counselor at FLACT, Consultant on Substance Use Disorders at the Center for the Study of the Family and the Individual (CEFI Porto Alegre), Counselor at COMPOD Cachoeirinha RS, Trained in the Universal Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders (UTC) organized by the Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) of the Colombo Plan, OAS/CICAD.

Andrew Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions. He is the Resident Contemplative Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, and a research consultant for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University. His work involves studies on dream yoga and the practice of dark retreat. Dr. Holecek is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the author of nine books, and a concert pianist. He has completed the Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat and is a frequent subject in scientific studies on meditation and lucid dreaming. His work integrates ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary perspectives, aiming to help individuals navigate spiritual challenges and end-of-life experiences. He is currently writing two books on dark retreat. Holecek holds degrees in classical music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery.

Philippe graduated from Tolbiac Economics University and ESGCI International Business School in Paris with a Bachelor in International Trade in 1991. In 2008 he approached the world of addiction, first as a volunteer and then as a Program Manager for the Villa Maraini Foundation, playing an important role in the set up of the International Activities Department. Today Philippe continues to carry out his Program Manager function combined with the role of Consultant and Trainer for the Partnership on Substance Abuse (International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, Italian Red Cross, Villa Maraini Foundation). Philippe has a wide range of experience in the field of addiction treatment, advocacy and policy, from direct work with Drug Users, to managing European Commission and United Nations international projects and grants. He has been working for more than 16 years both with beneficiaries and international agencies. Furthermore he has organized more than 40 Trainings and conferences on harm reduction and humanitarian approach to substance use disorders for Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies and NGOs, in Italy and abroad.