Speaker

LaRue, PharmD, PMP, Leah J.

As Associate Director, Clinical Affairs, Dr. Leah LaRue provides education around Millennium Health offerings with a goal of improving clinical outcomes and patient safety. Dr. LaRue has considerable experience in the areas of pain management and addiction, being primarily focused on initiatives supporting the safe and effective use of opioids, as well as issues surrounding medication misuse, abuse, and diversion. She has lectured extensively on topics covering pharmacogenetics, pain management, mental health disorders, and urine drug monitoring. She was named the 2013 Industry Pain Educator of the Year by the American Society of Pain Educators and is a recipient of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s Distinguished Young Alumnus Award. Dr. LaRue earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with honors from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and is a licensed registered pharmacist in Missouri.

Bye, PhD, Kimberly

Kimberly Bye, PhD, works for the Missouri Department of Mental Health at Sex Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Services.
Dr. Bye has 4 years of experience working with sex offenders in Kansas, California, and the Department of Mental Health.

Bender-Crice, MS, Krissy

Krissy Bender-Crice, MS, works for the Missouri Department of Mental Health at Sex Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Services.
She has 12 years of experience treating sex offenders for the Department of Mental Health.

Burke, LPC, Marianne M.

Marianne M. Burke, LPC, has lived in St. Louis, MO since 1986, and in her earlier career days was a professional educator. She earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in 2007, and since then has worked primarily in the areas of mood disorders, trauma, abuse, neglect, life transitions, and interpersonal conflict. She is currently completing my certification in EMDR, and has extensive training and experience in DBT, including founding and leading a Women’s DBT skills group and consultation team at CrossRoads Counseling Centers. She has also had training in mediation, which she utilizes in helping clients with problems solving and conflict resolution. Ms. Burke works primarily with adults, individuals, couples, and family counseling. She has been trained in Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples, as well as the PACT, and in Domestic Violence. Recent passions include incorporating various DBT skills to enable clients to develop resources that will enable them to do trauma work using EMDR. She has recently been using EMDR for addictions and Recent Traumatic Events, and is a member of the EMDR Network of Greater St. Louis and the Trauma Recovery Network (TRN) a volunteer networking organization that seeks to support communities, military, and first responders suffering from recent or unresolved traumatic events, including PTSD.

Taegel, MEd, Andrew

Andre Taegel holds a Master of Education in Counseling, and is a Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Medication Assisted Recovery Specialist, and Clinical Supervisor, having completed the MCB Clinical Supervision Training. Currently he is receiving supervision from Dr. Robyn Walser, a nationally recognized ACT therapist, author, trainer, and researcher in order to personally conduct ACT with clients and in groups. Mr. Taegel has attended several workshops and trainings with Dr. Stephen C. Hayes, ACT co-founder and leading author.

Thakur, MD, Hemant

COL (Ret.) Hemant Thakur M.D. is a medical doctor, Assistant clinical professor, OIF/OEF Veteran and specialist in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a board-certified psychiatrist with specialized training in psychosomatic medicine, he has worked in various mental health settings, including alcohol/ drug rehabilitation programs. Dr. Thakur was a Colonel in the US Army Reserve and Director of PTSD Program for more than twenty years. He also worked for more than Twenty-eight years with the VA. He is an author of three books with his latest book, “Innovative Holistic Approaches to PTSD and Life Stress” and has lectured extensively in eight countries.

Depue, PhD, Susan

Dr. Depue is the current Project Director and Epidemiological Chair for the Partnerships for Success grants. In this role she has overseen a variety of communities use strategic planning to select evidence based interventions.

Fornelli, MS, Natalie

Natalie Fornelli joined the Missouri Department of Mental Health in 2008 after working for community mental health providers in Kansas, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri. She is the Manager of Integrated Care for the Division of Behavioral Health and oversees the Community Mental Health Center Healthcare Home program, the behavioral health Disease Management Projects, and behavioral health crisis services, including Access Crisis Intervention and Emergency Room Enhancement. Natalie received her bachelor of arts in psychology and her master of science in clinical psychology from Pittsburg State University.

Lotz, LPC, NCC, Jeremy

Jeremy Lotz, LPC, NCC has worked full-time in long-term residential settings for adolescents since 2004 in both Maine and Missouri. Mr. Lotz specializes in adolescence, residential care, and employee wellness. Mr. Lotz is an experienced therapist, clinical supervisor, college instructor, and trainer. As an organizational trainer, Mr. Lotz has consulted with over 50 organizations throughout the Midwest and New England. Currently, Mr. Lotz serves as the Director of Training and Leadership for Shelterwood Academy, a national therapeutic boarding school for adolescents in Kansas City.

Christmas, BSW, MPA, Jacquelyn

Jacque Christmas is the Fatality Review Coordinator for the MO Department of Mental Health and provides oversight of the Department’s Fatality Review Panel. The Fatality Review Panel develops recommendations for prevention and systemic interventions related to DMH consumer deaths. She earned a BSW from Southwest MO State University, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Grand Canyon University. Jacque has worked for the Department for 20 years and attended the first Zero Suicide Academy in 2014. In 2015, she was the Department representative for the Zero Suicide Breakthrough Series.