Meet the Team

Renee is the Behavioral Health Consult RN for Mott Children’s Hospital. She receives consultations throughout C&W and interfaces closely with CL Psychiatry, Pediatric Psychology, Social Work, Nyman Unit Leadership, Hospital Leadership, DPSS (security), M-PLAN leaders, Nursing leadership, and all Pediatric Specialties, as well as the Pediatric Hospitalist Service, to identify at-risk youth for suicide, aggression, or other behavioral concerns. She develops behavioral plans, mobilizes teams, models and operationalizes behavioral interventions, and is constantly working with patients, families, bedside staff, teams across the health system to improve the systems of care that support mental health care for youth and families.

Renee has decades of experience working with youth in the community, education system, psychiatric, and medical environments that struggle with mental illness and problematic behaviors. Her leadership roles have included teaching Psychiatric Nursing Clinical Practicum for UofM School of Nursing, leading Dialectical Behavioral Therapy groups, and helping to develop an inpatient workbook for the Nyman Unit. She is a graduate of University of Michigan-Flint.

Shriya is a recent graduate from Teachers College, Columbia University with a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests focus on treatment mechanisms to optimize and personalize interventions that target transdiagnostic symptoms. Shriya aspires to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of the lab, she enjoys singing, playing the violin, nature walks, and art! 

Megan recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University's College of Arts and Science, where she studied Psychology and Economics. At NYU, she completed an honors thesis with Dr. Lawrence Ian Reed, studying cognitive biases in depression. Broadly, she is interested in using computational clinical science and novel technologies to improve knowledge on the cognitive mechanisms and risk factors behind suicide and self-injury. She intends on pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of the lab, she loves figure skating, journaling, and finding new study spots!

Katie Johnston is a University of Minnesota graduate with a major in biology. Volunteering as a crisis counselor has fueled her interest in topics like depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Her future career goal is to work as a primary care physician with a specific interest in mental health. In her spare time, Katie enjoys pickleball, strength training, listening to music, reading, nature-walking, and watching Disney movies!

Kaitlyn is a post-masters research assistant, having received her M.S. in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She is from Holmdel, New Jersey and received her B.A. in psychology from SUNY Binghamton. Her research and clinical interests include interpersonal trauma, suicide and self-injury prevention, social support, and posttrauma adjustment, particularly among young adults with historically marginalized identities. Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys weightlifting, outdoor running/walking, and watching movies and YouTube.