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Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies Announces New Doctors of Behavioral Health

By March 5, 2018July 22nd, 2025No Comments7 min read

PHOENIX – March 5, 2018 – PRLog — Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI) is thrilled to announce the graduation of five new Doctors of Behavioral Health. Steven Byrd, Janine Fonfara, Margaret Kristin Guadiano-Elliott, Carolyn Latham-Shiflett, and Jackson Williams completed the requirements for the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program in November 2017 and were conferred to graduate in December 2017. We are honored to have worked with them during their studies and look forward to seeing the improvements they will make to healthcare.

The Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies Convocation Ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at the Camby Hotel, in Phoenix, Arizona recognizing the achievements of each recent graduate. Graduates will attend and be celebrated by their families, CGI faculty, staff, and the Board of Directors.

About our Graduates:

Steven Byrd, DBH

Steven Byrd entered the Doctor of Behavioral Health program as as a curious lifelong learner in 2015, with a goal of expanding his clinical and professional knowledge in the area of integrated behavioral health. Prior to attending CGI, he earned his Masters degree in Social Work at Southern University in New Orleans. Through his Culminating Project research, he investigated the impact of universal screening school attendance and office discipline referrals and discovered that screening school-aged children can increase school attendance and reduce office discipline referrals.

Since completing the DBH degree program in November 2017, Dr. Byrd has received over ten (10) job offers in the fields of higher education, healthcare administration, and as a clinician. You can learn more about his work by connecting with him on LinkedIn.

Janine Fonfara, DBH

Janine Fonfara began the Doctor of Behavioral Health program after completing her Masters in Social Work at University of Connecticut, School of Social Work. While working as a behavioral health clinician in two very busy primary care practices, she had the fortune of being introduced to Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies by another student. During her coursework at Cummings, she built pilot program into 12 locations with 10 providers, she now manages the program and is in the process of expanding into several more locations during 2018. Her Culminating Project investigated other Integrated Care Settings throughout the country, and she researched results of patients response to treatment as evidenced by depression and anxiety screenings, emergency department utilization, and all-cause inpatient stays. As a result of this research, there is compelling evidence that Integrated Care benefits the patients, the providers, the healthcare system as a whole, and the health of our population.

Having completed the DBH degree program, Dr. Fonfara plans to continue to grow the current work with Integrated Care within Hartford Healthcare, and to expand research and programs into other areas of Population Health. To learn more about her work visit: https://hartfordhealthcare.org/

Margaret Kristin Guadiano-Elliott, DBH

Margaret Kristin Guadiano-Elliott, a veteran of the US Marine Corps and graduate of Michigan State University, pursued the Doctor of Behavioral Health program with a vision to become an agent for change in how health care and mental health are administered. Her passion for the veteran population coupled with her research, resulted in a Culminating Project focused on finding alternative treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries co-occurring with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder where she discovered/determined that Neurofeedback is an efficacious and viable alternative to assist veterans experiencing resistance to traditional treatment methods.

With her completion of the DBH program, Dr. Guadiano-Elliott plans to offer Neurofeedback coupled with Neurosound programs in a format that is easily accessible as well as affordable.

Carolyn Latham-Shiflett, DBH

Carolyn Latham-Shiflett, an alumni of Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia, chose the Doctor of Behavioral Health program to develop a deeper knowledge base on integrated behavioral healthcare. During her studies, she was drawn to research prevalent co-morbid conditions in children with autism spectrum disorder and discovered that anxiety, gastrointestinal disorders and sleep disorders are common in this population and that there are few evidenced-based traditional therapies available to address these issues through her Culminating Project process.

Dr. Latham-Shiflett is employed by Aetna Better Health of Virginia as a Clinical Care Manager. She works with Medicaid members participating in the Long Term Services and Supports program and their families to make sure that members are receiving the needed services and supports in the hopes of improving health status and decreasing inpatient hospitalizations and emergency room visits. For more information about Aetna Better Health of Virginia, visit https://www.aetnabetterhealth.com/virginia/.

Jackson Williams, DBH

Jackson Williams joined the Doctor of Behavioral Health program after completing his Master of Arts in Professional Counseling at Liberty University, while working as a Behavioral Health Therapist with the State of New Mexico with an interest in exploring behavioral health interventions to more effectively treat mental health disorders in juvenile justice populations. During his Culminating Project research and coursework, he develop a treatment methodology that utilized guided meditations to treat sleep disorders and determined that participants benefited from having an intervention available to them during sleeping hours, aiding them in experiencing more productive and healthful sleep.

With his DBH degree complete, Dr. Williams plans to further explore opportunities to utilize the training and education he received as a DBH to research and develop other programs to treat the underserved juvenile justice population.

For those interested in starting their own Doctor of Behavioral Health journey, they can apply by Friday, July 27, 2018 to begin a 100% online doctorate degree program in September 2018, www.cummings.wpengine.com/apply/.

About the Founder

Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings is a visionary who, for half a century not only was able to foresee the future of professional psychology, but also helped create it. A former president of the American Psychological Association (APA) as well as its Divisions 12 (Clinical Psychology) and 29 (Psychotherapy), he formed a number of national organizations in response to trends. Since organized psychology resisted these inevitable changes, Dr. Cummings blazed the way, expecting others would follow. He launched the professional school movement by founding the four campuses of the California School of Professional Psychology that established clinicians as full-fledged members of the faculty. As chief of mental health for the Kaiser Permanente health system in the 1950s, he wrote and implemented the first prepaid psychotherapy contract in the era when psychotherapy was an exclusion rather than a covered benefit in health insurance. Presently, Dr. Cummings resides in Reno, Nevada with the one love of his life, Dorothy Mills Cummings. Together in 2015 they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. They maintain a winter home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He continues as Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and active president of the Cummings Foundation for Behavioral Health. He serves as the Vice Chair for the Board of Directors of Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies.

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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