THANK YOU
See you next year!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for MBHS 2026 - can’t wait to see you next year!
2026 FEATURED VOICES
Meet the Speakers
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![A woman with a shaved head, wearing a black blazer, pearl earrings, and a black necklace, smiling against a dark background.]()
La Tina Jackson, L.C.S.W.
Deputy Director, Countywide Engagement Division
L.A. County Dept. of Mental Health -
![A middle-aged man with glasses smiling, wearing a suit and a red striped tie, against a neutral background.]()
Michael Hunn
CEO
CalOptima Health -
![A man in a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie smiling against a dark background.]()
Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, FAPA, DFASAM
Medical Director, Substance Abuse Prevention & Control
LA County Department of Public Health -
![A smiling middle-aged woman with short blonde hair wearing a black sleeveless top with white patterns, standing against a dark background.]()
Susan Stone, MD MPH FACEP FAAHPM
Senior Medical Director
L.A. Care Health Plan -
![A professionally dressed man with short gray hair, smiling, wearing a blue blazer over a light blue button-up shirt, against a plain dark background.]()
Clayton Chau, M.D., Ph.D, MASL
Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer
National Healthcare & Housing Advisor -
![A woman with dark, curly hair wearing a red top with cutout circles and gold earrings, smiling against a dark background.]()
Gayani DeSilva, M.D.
Inland Psychiatric Medical Group
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![A smiling man wearing glasses, a light gray suit, a shirt, and a tie, standing against a dark background.]()
Tony Kuo, MD, MSHS, FAAFP
Director, Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention
LA County Department of Public Health -
![A woman with long dark hair smiling at the camera, wearing a black sleeveless blazer over a patterned top, against a dark gray background.]()
Yun Hee Anna Lee, DSW, LCSW
Director of Innovation
Social Model Recovery Systems, Inc. -
![Portrait of a man with dark hair wearing a black shirt and navy blazer, smiling slightly against a dark gray background.]()
Hugo Izquierdo
Lead Data Analyst
Social Model Recovery Systems, Inc. -
![A young woman with long wavy brown hair, wearing a dark top, looking at the camera with a slight smile against a dark background.]()
Katherine Li
Section Manager, Integrated Health Initiatives Substance Abuse Prevention and Control
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![Headshot of a woman with long dark brown hair smiling, wearing a light blue shirt and a dark sweater, against a dark gray background.]()
Vanessa Ramos
Disability Rights California
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![Professional headshot of a man wearing glasses, a checkered shirt, a patterned tie, and a dark suit jacket, smiling against a dark background.]()
Joe Avelino, RN, BSN, MHSA, CPHQ
CEO
College Medical Center Hospital -
![Professional headshot of a smiling man in a white dress shirt and dark tie against a dark background.]()
Warren Yamashita, M.D.
Director of Addiction & Family Medicine
Harbor Community Health Centers -
![A woman with curly, light brown hair and blue eyes smiling at the camera, wearing a black top and a silver necklace, against a dark gray background.]()
Kalene Gilbert
Mental Health Program Manager IV
LA County Department of Mental Health -
![A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling, wearing a beige plaid turtleneck sweater.]()
Michelle Smith
Senior Manager | Behavioral Health Services
OC Health Care Agency -
![Black and white portrait of a smiling man with glasses, wearing a collared shirt.]()
Eddie Turner
Founder & Principal
Common Goal Consulting -
![Professional headshot of a man wearing glasses, a dark suit, a white shirt, and a striped tie, smiling against a dark background.]()
Ali Zadeh, MD
Chief Medical Officer
LANES -
![Smiling woman with short light brown hair wearing a yellow top and gray cardigan, against a dark background.]()
Jennie Crooms
Health Information Management Director
Adjunct Faculty
Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center East L.A. College -
![Headshot of a smiling man with dark, curly hair wearing a white collared shirt and navy blazer against a dark background.]()
Noah Kaplan Ng, LCSW
Director of Enhanced Care Management
L.A. Care Health Plan -
![A portrait of a man in a business suit with short dark hair, beard, wearing a light blue shirt and dark tie, against a dark background.]()
Christian A. Espinoza, MD
Director of Clinical Operations, Epic Physician Builder
Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. -
![Portrait of a young man with glasses, wearing a suit and tie, smiling against a dark background.]()
Nolan Ross Samé-Weil, MBA-HCM, CADC II, ICADC
Director of Development
Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol & Drug Abuse -
![A professional woman with blonde hair smiling, wearing a black blazer and hoop earrings, against a dark background.]()
Dora Barilla, DrPH
Co-Founder & President
HC2 Strategies -
![Professional headshot of a man with glasses, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and striped tie, smiling against a dark background.]()
Gyanesh Agrawal, MD, FASAM
Director SUD Services - Ambulatory Care Network
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services -
![Headshot of a smiling woman with wavy blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a black top, against a dark gradient background.]()
Donna Dominion, LCSW, CCM
Director, Care Management
L.A. Care Health Plan -
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Kelly-Bruno Nelson, DSW, LCSW
Executive Director, Medi-Cal/CalAIM
CalOptima Health -
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Mario Ortega
CEO
Abrazar, Inc.
THE 2026 CONVERSATION
The topics defining the summit
MBHS 2025
This is where California's behavioral health future gets built.
Be in the room.
Everything you need all in one day
WHY ATTEND
Meaningful networking
01
Connect with behavioral health leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the state
Full-day programming
02
Keynotes, panels, and live demos spanning the issues shaping California's behavioral health landscape.
Breakfast, lunch & snacks
03
A full day of food and refreshments so you can focus on what matters.
Complimentary parking
04
No hassle - free and easy parking.
Raffle prizes
05
You won’t want to miss our raffle full of prizes you’ll actually want to win!
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS:
Sponsorship and participation in the Mercy Behavioral Health Summit does not constitute endorsement. Views expressed are solely those of individual speakers and sponsors.