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DBH Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Sara Schuch, DBH, LPC, MS, NCC, CAADC

By June 18, 2025No Comments6 min read

Breaking Barriers with Technology and Compassion: Dr. Sara A. Schuch’s Mission to Expand Access Through Integrated Behavioral Health

Dr. Sara A. Schuch is a Licensed Professional Counselor and 2024 graduate of the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program at Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies. While completing her DBH, she also earned certificates in Integrated Behavioral Health Leadership and Gerontology. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College. Currently serving as an Integrated Behavioral Health Counselor in primary care at Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Health, Dr. Schuch brings extensive experience in behavioral health case management, outpatient mental health, and substance use disorder treatment. She has also led trainings on a range of behavioral health topics. Driven by a commitment to equity and innovation, she focuses on improving access to effective care—especially through the use of emerging technologies. Her DBH culminating project explored the potential of artificial intelligence and other technologies in behavioral health diagnosis and treatment, as well as the ethical questions they raise. In this interview, Dr. Schuch discusses her path to integrated care, the impact of the DBH program on her career, and her vision for more accessible and equitable behavioral health services.

How has the DBH program enhanced your approach in addressing behavioral health challenges and making a difference in the field?

My master’s degree focused on clinical mental health counseling, providing me with a strong foundation for working in outpatient mental health and substance use settings. However, when I began working in primary care, I realized how much I had been missing while siloed outpatient behavioral health. This program helped me fill in the gaps concerning how physical health impacts emotional well-being and vice versa. The most significant influence it had on me was enhancing my ability to collaborate effectively with a comprehensive treatment team, as well as deepening my understanding of physical health concerns that can drive behavioral health symptoms.

What are your primary professional interests within behavioral health, and how do these align with your career goals?

My primary professional interest is ensuring equitable access to effective healthcare. My greatest frustration is when patients are unable to obtain the treatments they need. Barriers to accessing effective care—such as geographic location, lack of insurance, inadequate insurance coverage, or limited availability of providers—contribute to poor physical and mental health outcomes. This not only increases costs for patients but also burdens the healthcare system. In my culminating project, I explored the use of technology as a solution to alleviate these challenges, but I am continually searching for effective ways to bridge the gaps in patient care.

What was memorable experience or turning point in your DBH journey that shaped your perspective on integrated care?

I worked on a project that reviewed an evidence-based primary care intervention for children with ADHD and similar behavioral concerns. This project had a significant impact on me because it highlighted how much more effective integrated care is due to its accessibility. The research behind this program indicated that 99% of children and families referred to the integrated program followed through with the referral, compared to only 46% who followed through with referrals to external supports. Additionally, 77% of children and families completed treatment in the integrated program, while only 12% completed treatment when referred externally. This clearly demonstrated to me that people want care and treatment; however, they also need it to be accessible. Integrated care reduces many of the barriers associated with specialty treatments that often make accessing care nearly impossible.

What impact do you aim to make with your DBH degree to change behavioral health and your community?

I aim to promote integrated care, advocate for underserved populations, and implement evidence-based practices to improve health outcomes in my community. The DBH emphasizes integrated care models that help bridge the gaps between mental and physical health care. These models are particularly effective for reaching underserved populations, whose best entry point to care is often through primary care. Ensuring equitable access to effective care is one of my professional passions.

What motivates you to advance behavioral health, especially in integrated care?

Being part of an integrated team motivates me. I can’t imagine working without the daily support of a patient’s medical team. The deep commitment that primary care providers (PCPs) have for their patients’ well-being, along with the challenges they face in managing complex behavioral health concerns with limited resources, inspires me to improve access to effective care and advance treatment knowledge.

What advice would you give to prospective students or professionals considering the DBH program?

I encourage anyone to thoughtfully consider what they want to achieve with an advanced degree and the specific problems they hope to solve. While you will undoubtedly discover new motivation and interest throughout this program, having a clear goal will help you stay focused on your journey. The emphasis of this program is on applied practice, real-world application, systemic change and advocacy, as well as developing leadership skills. It’s essential to ensure that this program aligns with your career goals. Take the time to honestly evaluate your reasons for pursuing the degree and what you hope to achieve both professionally and personally, ensuring that it aligns with your aspirations. That being said, whatever your motivations, the support from everyone at CGI is incredible and I can’t recommend this program enough.

Dr. Sara A. Schuch is a powerful example of how clinical expertise, systems thinking, and a passion for equity can come together to transform care. Through her DBH journey, she gained the tools to bridge the divide between mental and physical health, advocate for underserved populations, and explore technology as a force for good in reducing barriers to treatment. Whether collaborating with medical teams in primary care or leading conversations about ethical innovation, Dr. Schuch is committed to reshaping behavioral health into a more accessible, integrated, and effective system for all.

Dr. Sara Schuch on Making an Impact with Her DBH Degree

Check Out Dr. Sara Schuch on the Disruptors at Work Podcast

Disruptors at Work: an Integrated Care Podcast, episode: The New Battle Ground for Reproductive Healthcare Access, explores how the overturning of Roe v. Wade has reshaped the legal and healthcare landscape across the United States, creating a complex patchwork of reproductive rights that varies widely from state to state.

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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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