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Volume 1, Issue 1 March 2024 | | |
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On October 25, 2022, the David Farber ASPIRE Center ribbon was officially cut by the Farber family, opening the doors to a comprehensive suicide prevention center. The first of its kind in the area, the ASPIRE Center provides clinical services alongside research and education initiatives to benefit both clinical professionals as well as community members. | | |
A Message from the Director
Welcome to the David Farber ASPIRE Center and our new quarterly newsletter, Connections. There are many things going on at the Center! We want to use this opportunity to update you on community involvement, events, presentations, and similar initiatives. Connections not only represents one of our efforts to outreach to the broader regional community, but, according to the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, connection is the strongest life-preserver against suicide at our disposal. The mission of the David Farber ASPIRE Center is to develop the leading comprehensive suicide prevention center in the region by integrating family-focused, nationally and internationally renowned clinical research within a broader public health orientation at Jefferson. We do this through comprehensive, evidence-based clinical service, innovative state-of the-science research, and an array of education and training opportunities to equip the community with tools to help save lives– within and outside of Jefferson. In this inaugural issue, we'll review accomplishments beginning with our Grand Opening in October 2022. Our education team will provide quarterly updates, and we encourage you to follow us on Instagram @davidfarberaspirecenter.
Matthew Wintersteen, PhD, Center Director
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Dr. Wintersteen is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. He joined Jefferson in 2008 where he has contributed to both undergraduate and graduate medical education while providing clinical care, and maintaining a fully-funded research portfolio.
He has served on national and international task forces convened by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the American Association of Suicidology, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Suicide Awareness and Voices of Education, and the National Institute of Mental Health. He was a consultant to the National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide (NCPYS) and served on Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s Suicide Prevention Task Force. Dr. Wintersteen was recently commissioned by Governor Josh Shapiro to serve on the Behavioral Health Council Advisory Committee. His research takes a public health approach to suicide prevention, with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality associated with suicide across multiple communities. To date, he has received over $25 million in research support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Pennsylvania’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Vibrant Emotional Health, and National Association for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders, as well as related contracts.
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Dr. Zullo has over a decade of experience providing family-focused, evidence-based suicide prevention care in a variety of settings, including intensive outpatient, inpatient, consult liaison, and the emergency department. Throughout his career, he has gained expertise in the most cutting edge suicide-prevention treatments by working directly with the developers of these interventions themselves. Dr. Zullo prides himself on delivering evidence-based care with rigorous clinical fidelity while also making therapy engaging and accessible to families in order to maximize clinical outcomes. As Clinical Director, Dr. Zullo has a passion for community-partnered, equity driven care and is committed to making the services provided by the ASPIRE Center available to all families seeking care.
Dr. Zullo is extremely active within national organizations, including the American Psychological Association, Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). Within the NCTSN, Dr. Zullo is one of the founders and co-leaders of the NCTSN Trauma-Informed Suicide Prevention and Postvention Community of Practice and is a collaborator within the NCTSN Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression Collaborative group. Additionally, Dr. Zullo is an on-call consultant for The Trevor Project and 988.
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Ms. Blue is responsible for developing and facilitating educational programs for professionals as well as community members. As a survivor of suicide loss, Amanda is passionate about education and prevention efforts.
She served as the Chair of the Chester County Suicide Prevention Task Force and directs the Mental Health First Aid program across Chester County in partnership with the Chester County Office of Mental Health. She completed her master's degree in public health at West Chester University after establishing a successful Mental Health First Aid program on campus where more than 2000 students were trained. Amanda also co-hosts a weekly radio show on WCHE radio in West Chester. The program, called “Let’s Talk About It” addresses mental health and suicide prevention with a wide range of guests that provide information and/or services in the areas of trauma, behavioral health, and prevention. She is a member of the MPH Community Advisory Board at West Chester University and has served as a state level advocate for the American Society for Suicide Prevention.
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In the first full year of operation, we hit the ground running. The leadership team has been actively making connections and building partnerships to share information and understand how best to serve our community.
Here are a few highlights–
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Grand Rounds @ Jefferson
All Jefferson faculty, staff, researchers, and students are invited to attend the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Grand Rounds. The Center directors have each had the privilege of presenting for Suicide Prevention Month. This year, Dr. Wintersteen and Dr. Zullo provided two of the seminars in September. Amanda Blue presented in 2022, “Lost and Found: A Journey Through Suicide Loss with a Survivor.” You can view her presentation here.
Dr. Wintersteen presented, “Thwarted Psychological Needs and Cessation of Life: Thoughts on Understanding Suicide.” You can view his presentation here.
Dr. Zullo presented, “Treatment Recommendations and Barriers to Care for Suicidal LGBTQ+ Youth.” You can view his presentation here.
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September 13
The David Farber ASPIRE Center was invited to participate in a community screening of the film “Dear Evan Hansen” at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, sponsored by Forever Changes, a Phoenixville business. Dr. Zullo and Senior Clinical Coordinator Hannah Metzger, herself a survivor of loss, led the post film discussion.
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September 13
Dr. Wintersteen presented at the PA Rural Behavioral Health Conference. His keynote presentation explored the unique contributors to suicide in rural communities and the crisis services that are available to help. The conference was hosted by the Staunton Farm Foundation.
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September 18
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services hosted the annual Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol. Hannah Metzger (Senior Clinical Research Coordinator) and Julia Mead (Community Liaison and Fellowship Coordinator) attended to provide information and talk with visitors and staff at the Pennsylvania capitol in Harrisburg.
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September 19
Rose Milani, Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Grant Project Director, presented in partnership with Blair County: Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Resources. The presentation reviewed data specific to Blair County youth and how the GLS Youth Suicide Prevention Grant has been working with county stakeholders to create a comprehensive suicide prevention plan.
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October 1
The first Sunday in October always brings the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk in Philadelphia. The Center hosted a table to provide information and resources and our staff, along with Farber family members and friends, completed the two mile walk together. Along the way, we surpassed our fundraising goal by $3200 with a grand total of $14,200!
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November 21
In November, Dr. Wintersteen visited Malvern Preparatory School to participate in a discussion about youth mental health for students, parents and alumni. Interviewers Cade and Mason, students at Malvern Prep, did an excellent job facilitating the conversation.
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David Farber ASPIRE Center Open House
On October 10, we held our first Open House! We had over 50 colleagues, friends, and community partners visit. Members of our Clinical, Research and Education teams were on hand to talk about the work they’re doing and to tour guests through the space. The Farber family welcomed everyone and shared some remarks along with Jefferson leadership and the David Farber ASPIRE Center directors. It was a great event!
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David Farber ASPIRE Center Staff Retreat
The staff at the Center has grown from 8 to 18 in less than a year! For a Center team-building day in October, we enjoyed an afternoon retreat at Linvilla Orchards where we went apple picking and had a picnic potluck on a beautiful fall day.
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21st Annual Jefferson Gala
The Center directors, along with Bill Farber, enjoyed an evening of celebration at the Jefferson Gala on December 6. It was a lovely event that recognized some of Jefferson’s best and brightest and included dinner and dancing.
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Conferences, Presentations & Other Good News | |
SAMHSA $1.2M Grant Award
Dr. Lucas Zullo was recently awarded a three-year $1.2M SAMHSA grant to fund a project titled 'Family Focused Counseling for LGBTQI+ Youth at Risk for Suicide: A Community-Partnered Initiative.' This grant has several key components including funding the hire of new staff for the David Farber ASPIRE Center to provide services to LGBTQ+ youth at risk for suicide as well as obtaining trainings for Center staff in evidence-based interventions specifically designed for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention. Additionally, the ASPIRE Center will be able to offer similar trainings to providers across the state of Pennsylvania for the duration of the grant in order to support widespread regional upstream suicide prevention efforts.
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IASR/AFSP International Summit on Suicide Research, Barcelona, Spain
Tita Atte, Director of CQI Analytics presented his research findings concerning adolescent substance use and suicide in pediatric emergency departments.
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Society of Clinical Psychology (American Psychological Association Division 12)’s Inaugural Conference: The Future of Clinical Psychological Science, Atlanta, GA
Lucas Zullo, Clinical Director participated on the conference planning committee as the pre-conference Institute Committee Chair. Additionally, Dr. Zullo co-presented a workshop titled “Navigating Self Care and Secondary Traumatic Stress When Working with Individuals at Risk for Suicide and During End-of-Life Care.” Dr. Zullo also presented in a panel discussion titled “Enhancing Diversity, Equitability, and Inclusivity in Clinical Psychology: Challenges and Opportunities.”
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PA MASLOW Inaugural Statewide Collegiate Basic Needs Convening, State College, PA
Rose Marino, Project Director, and Olive Mowery, Clinical Research Coordinator, presented on the Higher Education Suicide Prevention Coalition, a collaborative organization dedicated to suicide prevention and wellness for college students across the country.
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Youth Suicide Research Consortium’s Fourth National Conference, Virtual Conference
Lucas Zullo, Clinical Director presented in a panel discussion titled “Applying an Intersectional Lens to Intervention Research with LGBTQ+ Youth of Color at Risk for Suicide.”
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57th Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Seattle, Washington
Lucas Zullo, Clinical Director presented in a panel discussion titled “Employing Community-Based Approaches to Inform Suicide Prevention Research.”
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Suicide Prevention Symposium
Join us for the first Suicide Prevention Symposium
organized by the David Farber ASPIRE Center
(Advancement of Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Research, & Education)
April 10, 2024 • 8:00 – 5:00
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Details & Registration
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Supporting the David Farber ASPIRE Center
If you are interested in supporting the work of the David Farber ASPIRE Center, we welcome you to visit our page on the Jefferson Development site.
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