about us
The eSToRY Center is dedicated to early detection of mental illness, preventing negative treatment outcomes, improving quality of mental health care, and fostering equity in treatment for racial, ethnic, and language (REL)-minority youth.
Across multiple research projects, we hope to improve access to care for youth with mental health needs, and incorporate patient and family input into the redesign of healthcare services.
why we do what we do
We see this as a problem and believe the best way to work towards more equitable mental health care is to partner with communities directly.
people
Benjamin Lê Cook, PhD, MPH
Benjamin Lê Cook, PhD, MPH is Director of the Health Equity Research Lab, Director of Research, Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Outside of work, Ben loves to play and coach soccer and is practicing to become a better beginner guitar player. He also spends a lot of time biking and hiking in the White Mountains with his wife, son, daughter, and moody golden retriever.
Philip Wang, MD, DrPH.
Phillip is the Chair and Chief of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, an academic public safety net system that is part of Harvard Medical School (HMS). Dr. Wang completed his undergraduate degree in biochemistry, medical school, psychiatry residency, and chief residency, as well as a master's and doctoral degree in epidemiology, all at Harvard University. Dr. Wang has also served as the Deputy Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Deputy Medical Director and Director of Research for the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Ellie Richards, Ph.D.
Ellie is a child and adolescent psychologist at Cambridge Health Alliance and an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Outside of work, Ellie loves to be outside whether that’s at the beach and swimming in the ocean, hiking with her dog, or snowboarding during the winter months.
Nicholas Carson, MD
Nick is a child psychiatrist at the Cambridge Health Alliance. He is passionate about using mental health treatment, health services research, and technology to help prevent youth suicide.
At CHA, he is very involved in psychiatric leadership, training, and mentorship. When not at CHA, Nick loves playing music and exercising with his family and friends.
Valeria A. Chambers, Ed.M., CAS, CPS
Valeria is the founder of Black Voices: Pathways4Recovery, a state-wide advocacy and leadership support network for Blacks and African Americans. She is also a Senior Community Researcher at the Health Equity Research Lab.
“As a result of my own mental health lived experience and that of my family, I’ve found my purpose in using all “that stuff” in a positive way to connect with others, in the hopes that they may feel less alone and gradually more empowered in their own process. To balance things out, I love playing with friends with fur, going for walks, practicing yoga and meditation and watching foreign movies without subtitles to see how much I can “read.” Every now and then I muster up my courage to engage in my love/hate relationship with writing.”
Margaret Danielle Weiss MD Ph.D.
Margaret is the Interim Medical Director of the Child Inpatient Service at Cambridge Health Alliance. After work, nothing feels better than cuddling up with her Dr. Dog companions.