Alumni
Founder of the WMHP
Zachary N. Stowe, M.D., founded the Emory WMHP in 1991 as the Postpartum Mood Disorders Program. Dr. Stowe led the program through 20 years of remarkable growth, establishing collaborations with colleagues in Psychology, Pharmacology, Medical Genetics, Gynecology & Obstetrics, Child Psychiatry, Neurology, and Biostatistics. Under his direction, the WMHP has enjoyed 14 years of continuous federal research funding and has made a significant contribution to the research literature.
This impressive list of achievements, however, misses his greatest contribution: his tireless commitment to patient care. Dr. Stowe is indeed a psychiatrist’s psychiatrist. Not only do other psychiatrists frequently call the WMHP for clinical advice, many WMHP referrals come from other psychiatrists. Referring psychiatrists often express gratitude for the existence of the WMHP, which frees them from the burden and liability associated with the demands of caring for mentally ill women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
In 2011, Dr. Stowe accepted a position at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is already enjoying tremendous success in Arkansas as he builds a new program based upon the successful foundation that he established at Emory. We miss his expertise as a researcher, a clinician, a teacher, and a mentor. But mostly, we miss our friend.
Our Research Assistants
For nearly twenty years, our research assistants (RAs) have been the lifeblood of the Women’s Mental Health Program. They come to us fresh out of college, aiming to get into graduate school, willing to work extremely hard for little pay. We throw them into the deep end of the pool, challenging them to keep learning. We try to reward their effort by teaching them how to care for patients and how to conduct quality research, giving them opportunities to brush up their resumes as co-authors on scientific publications, and overall, doing our best to prepare them to continue in school.
After a couple (sometimes more) years, they leave us and go on to make us very proud for having had the opportunity to make a small contribution to their training. They go on to become mothers, fathers, doctors, psychologists, social workers, physician assistants, teachers, and nurses. Or as Dr. Stowe would say, “They become good humans.”
Truth be told, the WMHP RAs have given us far more than they have received from us. Their enthusiasm keeps the work fun for us all. But the true measure of their contribution is best seen in the impression they leave on our patients. Years later, patients continue to ask about our past RAs, calling them by name. We are forever indebted to the Grasshoppers.
Alexis Llewellyn - WMHP 1995-1998
Post-WMHP Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Houston, 2005
Now: Psychologist & Owner, Katy Center for Psychology & Counseling Services, Katy, TX
Married to Travis 13 years/3 kiddos/Running marathons, running after the kiddos, and coaching runners/teach some graduate students as an Adj Prof. at Houston Baptist University/Still fish any chance I get!
Russ Strader - WMHP 1998-1999
Post-WMHP Education: M.D., Emory University School of Medicine, 1999
Internal Medicine Residency, Univ. of Texas Health Sciences Center-San Antonio, 2002
Cardiology Fellowship, University of Texas Health Sciences Center-San Antonio, 2005
Now: Cardiologist, Plano, TX
Amy Hostetter - WMHP 1997-2000
Post-WMHP Education: M.D., University of California – San Francisco, 2009
Now: Psychiatry Resident, Emory University School of Medicine
Claudia (Baugh) Tillman - WMHP 2000-2001
Kelley Calhoun - WMHP 2000-2001
Kevan Sternberg - WMHP 2000-2001
Post-WMHP Education: M.D., State University of New York at Buffalo, 2005
Urology Residency, State University of New York at Buffalo, 2010
Now: Urologist, Buffalo, NY
Jessica Brown - WMHP 2001-2002
Angela (Fisher) Hawk - WMHP 2000-2002
Post-WMHP Education: M.D., Medical College of Georgia, 2006
Residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Virginia, 2010
Now: Fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina.
Completing Masters of Science in Clinical Research.
Sandra Graybeal - WMHP 2002-2003
Post-WMHP Education: M.D., Loma Linda University, 2007
Residency in Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, CA, 2010
Now: Pediatrician, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Oakland, CA
Lisa (Dimantova) Korikov - WMHP 2003
Post-WMHP Education: Psy.D., Georgia School of Professional Psychology, 2011
Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Atlanta Psychological Associates, Atlanta, GA
Ada (Loughhead) Gillis - WMHP 2003-2005
Post-WMHP Education: M.D., Drexel University, 2009
Now: Chief Resident, Family Practice, York, PA
Kimberly Ragan - WMHP 2001-2005
Post-WMHP Education: M.S.W., University of Georgia, 2003
Now: LCSW, Life Enrichment Counseling Center, Manassas, VA
Amy Hower Hartley - WMHP 2001-2005
Now: Associated Sponsored Research Administrator, Emory University, Depts. of Psychiatry & Neurology
Lives in Gainesville with husband Michael, two children Julian and Lily and an always present menagerie of pets.
Aquila Beach - WMHP 2002-2005
Post-WMHP Education: M.S.W., Loyola University Chicago, 2007
Now: LSW in Connecticut
Autumn Henry - WMHP 2004-2006
Martha Calamaras - WMHP 2005-2007
Post-WMHP Education: M.A., Psychology, Georgia State University, 2010
Post-WMHP Education/Now: Ph.D. Student, Georgia State University
Paula (Green) Tate - WMHP 2005-2007
Hope Courtney - WMHP 2006-2008
Denicia Holley - WMHP 2006-2008
Post-WMHP Education/Now: Ph.D. Student, Clinical Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University
Sandra Juric - WMHP 2006-2009
Post-WMHP Education: M.P.C. Student, Georgia State University
Now: Intern, Sheltered Cove Counseling Center, Douglasville, GA
Susie Fernandez - WMHP 2006-2009
Post-WMHP Education: M.A.T., Emory University Laney Graduate School, 2010
Now: 4th Grade Teacher, Gwinnett Public Schools
Britnay Ferguson - WMHP 2007-2009
Post-WMHP Education/Now:Physician Assistant Student, Emory University School of Medicine
Melanie Galanti - WMHP 2007-2009
Liz Zach Charles - WMHP 2006-2011
Post-WMHP Education/Now: MPH student at Emory Rollins School of Public Health
Elizabeth Smith - WMHP 2009-2011
Post-WMHP Education/Now: Psy.D. student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Natalie Morris - WMHP 2007-2012
Now: Research coordinator at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Emily Stagnaro - WMHP 2011-present
