Mental Health, Well-Being, and Psychosocial Support for Patients

Teri Brister, Ph.D., serves as the National Director of Research & Quality Assurance at NAMI. Dr. Brister is responsible for ensuring that all content created and disseminated by NAMI attains the highest possible standards of accuracy, relevance, value and academic rigor. She is the author of NAMI Basics and co-author of the NAMI Homefront program. Prior to joining NAMI in 2005, Dr. Brister worked for twenty years in the community mental health system in Mississippi, working in both clinical and administrative roles, including Assistant Executive Director in two different centers. Dr. Brister received her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University, and her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi.

Kelly Davis is the Director of Peer Advocacy, Supports, and Services at Mental Health America (MHA), where she promotes the expansion of peer support and youth and young adult leadership. In 2019, Kelly was awarded the Disruptive Innovator Award by the International Association of Peer Supporters, given to a young person making positive change in mental health through positive disruption. She is a certified yoga teacher and holds a certificate in applied positive psychology from The Flourishing Center. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania.

Jasmin is a Program and Project Manager who hails from Baltimore, Maryland. She is trained in Change Management with certifications as a Scaled Agilist and Customer Experience Professional. Jasmin earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communications with a focus in Public Relations and dual minor in International and General Business from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She went on to earn her MBA in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. Jasmin has served on the Board of Directors for a local nonprofit that serves the homeless community and as an Adjunct Faculty Member for a university program that bridges underserved Baltimore students from high school to college--offering them college course credits and job experience. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., an international public service-based sorority, Jasmin enjoys being of service to others in any capacity that she is able to give her time and resources.

Jasmin works very hard to remain successful in her career but her job as the mother to her son, Keagan, is by far the most rewarding position she has ever held. She enjoys spending as much time with him as she can, while also making sure she remains accessible to the rest of her family with whom she is very close. Since Jasmin's diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2013, she has pulled herself up to take control of--and thrive with--her disease, traveling and speaking to various groups in the MS community as a Patient Ambassador. With this, she's found pride in serving as an inspiration to others who combat the chronic disease everyday, encouraging them to do more than just "have MS. I hope I’m showing people that even with MS, they can get up and live."

Master in Psychology, postgraduate studies in Neuropsychology. Secretary General of Polish Multiple Sclerosis Society, a Member of European Multiple Sclerosis Platform Executive Committee and MS NEED Steering Committee. Working for the Polish MS Society for over ten years and is responsible for external and media contacts, advocacy and lobbying for MS patients on various institutions (such as Ministry of Health, Parliament, National Health Fund, Ombudsman, Ministry of Family, Employment and Social Policy of Poland) ,writing articles for the press and preparation of publications for patients. Involved in a number of projects coordinated by the organisation, with a focus on those dedicated to young and/or newly diagnosed people with MS. Dominika is also particularly interested in the subject of paediatric MS, being actively engaged in lifting limitations of the treatment reimbursement for children diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

As a clinical psychologist at Stanford, my work aims to support people affected by cancer, especially in dealing with the long-term challenges that persist or develop after treatment is completed. I work with patients to better manage all of the changes that cancer brings - physical, emotional, interpersonal, and financial. I am also honored to work closely with the GRYT team to support the cancer community through virtual programs and events, as well as other patient organizations such as Stupid Cancer and The Samfund.