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CGI Celebrates 12 Years of Vision, Innovation, and Impact on Founders Day 2026

By October 20, 2026No Comments6 min read
CGI Founders Day 2026 banner celebrating 12 years of Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies, featuring the CGI logo, anniversary date of October 20, 2026, and a blue, purple, and green gradient background.

On October 20, 2026, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI) celebrates its 12th Founders Day, honoring the vision of Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings and Dr. Janet Cummings and the community of healthcare professionals who continue to carry their legacy forward.

Since its founding in 2014, CGI has remained committed to preparing healthcare professionals to challenge traditional approaches to care, advance integrated behavioral health, and lead meaningful change across healthcare systems.

This year’s Founders Day offers an opportunity to reflect on CGI’s beginnings while celebrating a year marked by significant achievements in scholarship, education, professional recognition, and community impact.

Honoring Our Founders Through a Landmark Publication

One of CGI’s most significant milestones in 2026 was the official publication of Integrated Behavioral Health: Applying the Biodyne Model in Healthcare, released July 3, 2026, by Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Building upon the pioneering work of Drs. Nicholas and Janet Cummings, the publication brings the Biodyne Model into today’s healthcare landscape, offering practical strategies for advancing integrated, whole-person care.

Edited by Dr. Cara English, Dr. U. Grant Baldwin Jr., and Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick, the book represents years of collaboration among CGI faculty, students, alumni, and healthcare leaders. Featuring contributions from more than 30 authors, the publication addresses pressing challenges facing healthcare systems, including health disparities, workforce shortages, chronic disease, trauma, and sustainable healthcare transformation.

More than an academic achievement, the publication represents a continuation of CGI’s founding vision: transforming how healthcare professionals understand, deliver, and lead integrated care.

The book’s availability in print and Open Access digital formats also expands opportunities for healthcare professionals and educators worldwide to engage with the Biodyne Model.

Read more about this landmark publication.

3D mock-up rendering of the paperback edition of Integrated Behavioral Health: Applying the Biodyne Model in Healthcare. The book features a turquoise and black cover design with an aerial image of people connected by lines, symbolizing integrated care and collaboration. The thick spine and visible page edges emphasize the book’s approximately 460-page length.
Collage featuring the editors and more than 30 contributing authors of Integrated Behavioral Health: Applying the Biodyne Model in Healthcare. The banner includes professional headshots of the editors and contributors, the Cummings Graduate Institute logo, the book title, a small image of the book cover, and a note that the publication is published by Routledge/Taylor & Francis in partnership with Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies.

Advancing Education, Innovation, and Collaboration

Throughout 2026, CGI continued strengthening its Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) degree program and expanding its contributions to integrated healthcare.

The institution introduced new courses addressing women’s health, rural health, data analysis for decision-making, and integrated care for LGBTQ+ populations. These curriculum enhancements reflect CGI’s commitment to preparing professionals to respond to evolving healthcare challenges and lead evidence-informed improvements in care delivery.

Explore the 2026 DBH curriculum expansion.

CGI also strengthened its engagement in national and international conversations surrounding integrated care. CGI experts participated in the International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC26) in Birmingham, United Kingdom, sharing perspectives and expertise with healthcare professionals and leaders from around the world.

Learn about CGI’s participation in ICIC26.

In another important development, CGI joined the National Maternal Mental Health Accelerator as an inaugural member. This collaboration reflects the institution’s commitment to improving maternal mental health outcomes through interdisciplinary approaches, workforce development, and systems-level change.

Read about CGI’s involvement in the National Maternal Mental Health Accelerator.

CGI representatives standing in front of a step and repeat at the 2026 International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC26) in Birmingham, UK, featuring a session on workforce capacity and inclusion in integrated care.

Celebrating Institutional and Faculty Excellence

CGI’s commitment to fostering a supportive learning and working environment received national recognition in 2026.

The institution earned the Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, recognizing its efforts to support employee mental health and workplace well-being.

Read about CGI’s Gold Bell Seal recognition.

CGI also celebrated the recognition of DBH program faculty member and academic advisor, Dr. Ronke Komolafe, DBH, MBA, who received the 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The award honors her dedication to academic excellence, student mentorship, and leadership in distance education.

Celebrate Dr. Komolafe’s achievement.

These recognitions reflect the dedication of CGI’s faculty, staff, and leadership to creating an educational community grounded in professional excellence, collaboration, and student success.

Dr. Ronke Komolafe smiling in front of a step and repeat backdrop with the CGI logo.
Eight Cummings Graduate Institute Doctor of Behavioral Health graduates stand together in academic regalia at the June 2026 commencement ceremony.

Celebrating Our Alumni

At the heart of CGI’s mission are the students and graduates who apply their education to improving healthcare and strengthening communities.

In 2026, CGI celebrated new Doctor of Behavioral Health graduates, recognizing their academic achievements, culminating projects, and dedication to advancing integrated care.

Meet CGI’s June 2026 DBH graduates.

Beyond graduation, CGI alumni continued to demonstrate the reach and impact of a DBH education through professional leadership, scholarship, advocacy, and innovation.

Dr. Napoleon Harrington received the 2026 DEAC Famous Alumni Award, recognizing his professional contributions and leadership in behavioral healthcare.

Read about Dr. Harrington’s recognition.

DBH alumna Dr. Andreena M. Jackson also achieved a significant milestone by transforming research from her culminating project into a published book addressing women’s health. Her achievement illustrates how doctoral scholarship can extend beyond the classroom to inform professional practice and support communities.

Explore Dr. Jackson’s journey from culminating project to published book.

The stories of CGI students and alumni remind us that the impact of education is measured not only in degrees earned, but also in the ideas, initiatives, relationships, and improvements in care that follow.

Dr. Napoleon Harrington, Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) alumnus, wearing a white lab coat in front of a Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies backdrop.
Dr. Andreena Jackson, Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) alumna, wearing a white coat in front of a Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies backdrop.

Reflecting on Leadership, Resilience, and Purpose

Founders Day is also an opportunity to recognize the values that sustain CGI’s community.

Throughout 2026, stories and reflections from CGI leadership and community members explored the personal and professional dimensions of meaningful change.

In her reflection, Love Fiercely. Rage Honestly. Retreat When You Must, Rise When You’re Ready., Dr. Cara English offered a perspective on resilience, leadership, and navigating difficult moments with authenticity and purpose.

Additional alumni features celebrated the achievements of Dr. Pauline Pablo, DBH, BCBA, IBA, and Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick, DBH. In The Quiet Work of Building What Was Missing, Dr. Pablo’s story highlights her efforts to address gaps in behavioral healthcare, while The Work Behind the Words explores Dr. Fink-Samnick’s accomplishments as a published author and influential voice in professional case management, including her recently published book, Behavioral Health for Case Management. Their achievements demonstrate how CGI alumni are advancing healthcare through innovation, scholarship, and professional leadership.

Together, these stories remind us that meaningful progress is driven by people willing to question existing systems, pursue new possibilities, and remain committed to the communities they serve.

Dr. Pauline Pablo, Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) alumna, wearing a white coat in front of a Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies backdrop.
Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick, , Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) alumna, wearing a white lab coat in front of a Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies backdrop.

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Legacy

Twelve years after CGI’s founding, the vision of Drs. Nicholas and Janet Cummings continues to shape the institution’s work and inspire its community.

The milestones of 2026 demonstrate the many ways that vision continues to evolve: through the publication of scholarship that advances integrated care, educational innovation that prepares future healthcare leaders, partnerships that address urgent health needs, and graduates whose work extends CGI’s impact into communities and systems of care.

As CGI celebrates Founders Day 2026, we extend our gratitude to the students, alumni, faculty, staff, partners, and supporters who have contributed to the institution’s journey.

Our founders established a vision for transforming healthcare. Our community continues the work of bringing that vision to life.

Here’s to 12 years of vision, innovation, and impact, and to the work still ahead.

Testimonials

“As a member of the AAPI community, I’m very familiar with the barriers to mental health services and the need to break through the glass wall of cultural stigma that prevents many from receiving potentially life–saving treatment. I was the only Asian American person in my master’s cohort, the only Asian American person in many of my clinical work settings, the only Asian American person to walk into many of the professional settings that I pushed myself to show up to. In my current practice, I’m constantly reminded by my patients of how difficult it is to find an Asian American mental health provider, though this reminder constantly informs me that more needs to be done for my community. Day after day, I read stories of Asian American people who die by suicide as a consequence of our culture’s avoidance of mental health topics. As a DBH, my biggest goal is to use my expertise in whole–person care to amplify the conversation around mental health and help my community understand that mental healthcare is not a privilege that we are not entitled to, it is a crucial part of our healthcare that will manifest differently in us than what many Western psychology or psychiatry textbooks will describe, and that our unique experience of mental health issues are valid, important, and is time to be part of the larger conversation.”

Willam Chum, LMHCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 16, 2022

“The Doctor in Behavioral Health (DBH) program has changed my understanding of the subject and career path. Before this academic journey, my knowledge of behavioral health was primarily theoretical, including essential ideas and methods. However, the DBH curriculum combined intense academic research with practical application, helping me understand behavioral health from multiple angles. Recognizing mental health as part of total health changed my perspective. The biopsychosocial model, which showed how biological, psychological, and social variables affect mental health, was stressed in the DBH curriculum. This comprehensive approach made me realize how complex human behavior is and how important it is to address mental health issues. Effective interventions must target the individual’s surroundings, relationships, and life experiences, not just symptoms. The curriculum also gave me enhanced evidence-based practice training to execute successful solutions. Studies methods and data analysis classes improved my critical thinking and allowed me to evaluate and apply behavioral health studies. This gave me the confidence to contribute to the field’s knowledge base through practice and research.”

Dr. Rhea Hill, DBH, LPCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 17, 2025

“This program will change how you present to the world, not just as a professional but as an individual. Understand this is work but the work is worth it and the journey is undeniably transformative. If you are seeking a doctorate for the title, this is not the program for you. If you are seeking a doctorate to interrupt and disrupt the course of healthcare, then this is the program for you. You won’t find a more supportive program with professors who are dedicated to your success and your education. This program is not about the regurgitation of information. It is about the appropriate applied application of knowledge and information to push forward and become an advocate for equitable and quality care for all.”

Brandy K. Biglow LMHC, CCTP, QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 5, 2024

“The Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program has definitely transformed my understanding of behavioral health. Understanding the links between physical and mental health has taught how to make better treatment decisions. The DBH program has also given me insights that otherwise would not be possible and allows me to view individuals through a lens that I was previously ignorant of. This program has helped me grow into a more confident individual, provider, and parent.”

Cory H. Cannady, BCBA, LBADBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 13, 2024

“The DBH program has reinforced my vision of viewing behavioral health (BH) as an integrated component of the healthcare system rather than a siloed service. As a practitioner in the focused BH realm of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, I observe on a regular basis how identifying and serving SUD patients is often missed, ignored and stigmatized in primary healthcare, despite the fact that early intervention at these check-points often has the potential to intervene earlier and lessen the negative SUD outcomes frequently seen by the time a patient reaches specialty SUD services. Reinforcement received in my DBH program has motivated me to promote integration as a leader in my workplace and is a primary factor in considering the long-term trajectory of my individual career path.”

Kenneth L. Roberts, MPS, LPCC, LADCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 5, 2024

“Graduating from the DBH program has influenced and enhanced my approach to addressing behavioral health challenges and making a difference in the field by preparing me to become a serious business owner. Through the DBH program, I understand now that becoming a business owner not only assists me in reaping the financial benefits of working for myself, but the program also offers me a sense of freedom to make a difference in an individual’s life.”

Dr. Rebecca K. Wright, DBH, LBA, BCBA, QBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 18, 2024

“I have always wanted to pursue a higher degree but never found a program that met my needs. When I investigated the DBH program, I can honestly say I was excited. It was a program that would expand my knowledge in behavioral health but also how it relates to physical health. The philosophy of treating the whole person was exactly what I was looking for.”

Elizabeth Nekoloff, M.Ed., LPCC-S, NCCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 16, 2025

“Prior to obtaining my DBH, I practiced behavioral health within the boundaries of behavior analysis. The DBH degree has given me the ability to broaden my scope of competence allowing me to provide a higher quality of care to my clients through a person-centered approach, while still staying within my scope of practice. I was in the beginning stages of opening my business when I enrolled in the DBH program which set my trajectory towards being a stronger leader. The program equipped me with essential healthcare leadership and entrepreneurial skills, allowing me to ensure high-quality services for my clients and foster a supportive work environment for our staff. It has also given me the confidence to expand my business and pursue other healthcare ventures, reaching a broader range of patients in need.”

Dr. Pauline Tolentino Pablo, DBH, BCBA, IBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 21, 2025

“Although I have worked with many patients who have mental health diagnoses, or behaviors which make managing their medical diagnoses and day to day life difficult, the DBH program at CGI is broadening that knowledge and providing a deeper understanding of behavioral health and how best to help these individuals manage their health and improve their quality of life. This will allow me to provide and advocate for more meaningful and seamless integrated care, providing new tools for my intervention toolbox, and the confidence and skills to collaborate within and lead whole person focused interdisciplinary teams. I also anticipate building upon my knowledge as a nurse case manager and long time caregiver, as well as my personal passions and professional vision, learning about processes and operations, to be in position to start up and lead my own company one day, offering the services and care I know every person should have access to.”

Hollie Wilson, MSN, RN, CCMDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 11, 2025

“The DBH program will open opportunities for me to contribute to healthcare system innovation, particularly through trauma-informed care and integrated behavioral health settings. I will be better positioned to advocate for and implement holistic care models that improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Ultimately, this program will help me transition into higher-level roles, such as a director or consultant in behavioral health, where I can influence broader system changes and contribute to the future of healthcare delivery.”

DeKyn Rashad Peters, MPH-CHES,BSW/BA,APCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 4, 2025

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