SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb 24, 2021–
Woebot Health, a pioneer in the development and delivery of fast acting mental health digital therapeutics, has announced the founding of its Clinical Diversity Advisory Board. The board will facilitate informed, evidence-based discussions and decisions to optimize the company’s ability to make mental health tools more accessible to marginalized groups. Board members come from a variety of backgrounds and have a range of expertise in areas of age, gender, race, sexual orientation and ethnicity.
The board will meet six times per year and is comprised of:
- Jeffrey M. Cohen, Psy.D., an assistant professor of medical psychology (in psychiatry) at Columbia University with expertise in adapting evidence-based treatments to address the unique features of sexual and gender minority mental health.
- Carolyn Greene, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and director of team science at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Translational Research Institute. Dr. Greene has expertise in digital therapeutics, rural health and delivering culturally- competent, evidence-based healthcare to underserved communities.
- Allison Thompson, Ph.D., clinical associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Thompson has expertise in the treatment of people of color and other underrepresented and underserved populations as well as in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Jessica Yu, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist for Pacific Anxiety Group and director of behavioral health programs and strategy at Livongo. Jessica’s career focuses on the intersection of behavioral science, clinical innovation, technology and all forms of diversity.
- Athena Robinson, Ph.D., chief clinical officer at Woebot Health and adjunct clinical associate professor at Stanford’s School of Medicine. Dr. Robinson is board co-chair with expertise in evidence-based digital therapeutics, implementation science and treatment-outcome behavioral health research.
- KenWeingardt, Ph.D., director of clinical programs at Woebot Health and board co-chair, has held faculty appointments at major medical schools, leadership positions in the federal government, and senior positions at digital therapeutics companies.
- Timothy Mariano, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., vice president and medical director at Woebot Health and adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University. A practicing psychiatrist, Dr, Mariano has extensive training and experience in engineering, psychology and drug development.
“With such a wide breadth of experience in a variety of clinical domains, our Clinical Diversity Advisory Board will help ensure that we cultivate understanding about the lived experiences of underrepresented groups seeking mental health care,” said Dr. Robinson. “This group will give us the added perspective we need to continue to chart our path forward in the most inclusive manner possible.”
According to the American Psychiatric Association, racial/ethnic, gender and sexual minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to factors including inaccessibility of quality mental health services, cultural stigmas, and systemic discrimination. Woebot Health’s inception of the board also comes after a 2020 study showing that anxiety and depression have more than tripled since 2019, with black Americans experiencing the heaviest burden.
“Digital health has made enormous gains in mental health treatment, but there may be disparities in which populations have benefited,” Dr. Greene said. “Serving on this board provides an opportunity to identify ways that Woebot Health can reduce inequalities and act as an important force for marginalized groups that continue to face access challenges.”
For more information about Woebot Health’s vision and research, visit woebothealth.com.
About Woebot Health
Woebot Health’s mission is to make mental health radically accessible. Its breakthrough technology is engineered to engage, bringing the art and science of effective therapy together in a portfolio of targeted digital therapeutics and behavioral health products that scale to fill gaps in care and motivate people to improve their mental health for a lifetime. Headquartered in San Francisco, Woebot Health is funded in part by venture capital firms New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Jazz Venture Partners L.P., and Social Discovery Ventures, with participation from Andrew Ng’s AI Fund. For more information, please visit woebothealth.com or follow Woebot on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210224005603/en/
CONTACT: Margot Carlson Delogne
Woebot Health
781-492-1039
[email protected]
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: WOMEN SOFTWARE GENERAL HEALTH HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH GAY & LESBIAN TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER
SOURCE: Woebot Health
Copyright Business Wire 2021.
PUB: 02/24/2021 09:00 AM/DISC: 02/24/2021 09:01 AM
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210224005603/en
