We are delighted to announce that Kari Stephens, PhD, will be the new Associate Director for BeST. Kari’s current work includes Biomedical Informatics research related to linking electronic health records (EHR) and building tools across the WWAMI Practice and Research Network to improve health, as well as clinical training and intervention work to disseminate EBTs in integrated care settings. Kari will be guiding the BeST program’s strategic planning as well as promoting connections between BeST and researchers outside PBSCI, via her roles in ITHS and eSciences Institute.

We are equally excited that Kristin Bumgardner has joined BeST as a program coordinator. Kristin has been heavily involved with PBSCI faculty at Harborview Medical Center over the last 10 years, serving as research coordinator for Dr. Peter Roy-Byrne’s CALM and BI trials. She brings a wealth of experience in managing and running research studies and will be working with BeST program faculty on their grant and research pursuits.

In addition to Kari and Kristin, a small group of PBSCI faculty have been meeting to help define the mission and purpose of BeST and outline research and collaborative interests, including: Patricia Areán, PhD, Amy Bauer, MD, MS, Aaron Lyon, PhD, Jeff Munson, PhD, Roger Vilardaga, PhD, and senior fellow Jennifer Villatte, PhD. Peter Clasen, PhD, will also be participating in the BeST program (and Targeted Treatment Development program; Director: Patricia Areán, PhD) as he joins the PBSCI faculty in September