About BHC : CalEQRO

William Holcomb, PhD, MBA

President & CEO

Dr. Holcomb is the CEO of BHC (Behavioral Health Concepts, Inc.) and founded the company in 1994. He is a licensed psychologist in California, Colorado and Missouri and a Diplomate of Forensic Psychology by the American Psychological Association. In addition to his doctorate in psychology, he also has a master's degree in Public Administration and an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago. For over 25 years he maintained an active clinical practice and was a national consultant on mental health service systems. Administrative positions include being the CEO of a private psychiatric hospital, Superintendent of a large State Hospital and treatment director of a large community mental health center. His current research focuses on community collaboration to enhance mental health services and prevention services for child abuse and neglect.

Kristina Eriksen, MBA

Chief Financial Officer

Kristina Eriksen has over 30 years’ experience as a corporate financial and organizational management professional in technology and consumer packaged goods brands, building organizations with a product/service focus in wellness and healthy lifestyles. During her career she has taken on across all corporate life stages from entrepreneurial launch, corporate renewal, to aggressive corporate growth endeavors, with notable success in guiding high potential organizations through their organizational development, rapid growth, debt and equity financings, private equity, IPO, and M&A transactions. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics/Statistics from the University of California Irvine and an M.B.A. from the Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine. Kristina has been a featured speaker at industry conferences, a university adjunct faculty, and business finance training course instructor. She actively serves on multiple social service non-profit boards including Domestic Violence Solutions of Santa Barbara County, Women’s Economic Ventures providing microenterprise development services to women along California’s Centra Coast, and the American Red Cross – Central California

Samantha Fusselman, LCSW, CPHQ

Executive Director

Samantha Fusselman brings over 25-years of experience in public behavioral health, with a focus on strategic planning, organizational leadership, clinical quality, and equitable access to healthcare across populations. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1998 and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality since 2011, Samantha has spent her career working in County Behavioral Health and External Quality Review. Collaborative and authentic, Samantha leads with transparency, responsive communication, and collective problem-solving in the pursuit of continuous quality improvement.

Patrick Zarate

Assistant Director

Patrick Zarate has worked in the behavioral health field for nearly 40 years, stepping into executive leadership positions since 2006 with a focus on optimizing care by utilizing data to drive opportunities for improvement. Previously the Alcohol and Drug Administrator of Ventura County Behavioral Health, he completed his county career as the Acting Director. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, Mr. Zarate’s work has received state and national recognition as a leading proponent of community-based substance use treatment and prevention initiatives specifically involving impaired driving, the impact of marijuana on the developing adolescent brain, and the opioid crisis.

Laura Bemis

Consumer/Family Member Reviewer Coordinator

Laura is not only a professional photographer, but a mental health advocate who’s mission is to fight the stigma of having a mental health or a substance use condition. Because of her passion for photography and having her own mental illness, Laura has used her photographic skills to help with her mental health recovery and uses her photographic knowledge to teach others to see the world in a new way. Laura is also a speaker for Stop Stigma Sacramento Speakers Bureau. She is very involved in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) where she shares her personal journey towards recovery, facilitates support groups and helps teach a class called Peer to Peer. Laura enjoys writing and is a published author. She has always been very active in her community holding a positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to be the best they can.

Leah Hanzlicek, PhD, MSW

Information Systems Reviewer Supervisor

Leah worked in County human services and child welfare programs until becoming increasingly interested in research and evaluation while pursuing her MSW at University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Since then, she has contributed to research and evaluation projects examining a variety of programs, including mentoring for system-involved youth, juvenile probation camp interventions, First 5 California initiatives, and a health careers pathway program administered under the ACA. She has also earned a BA in sociology from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Social Welfare from UCLA and taught for 10 years in a large MSW program.

Sandra Sinz, LCSW, CPHQ

Performance Management Administrator

Sandra is an LCSW and CPHQ, and she brings a 25-year career of direct service and executive leadership in behavioral health in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Most recently, for five years, she served as the Solano County Behavioral Health Director, following her role as Administrator overseeing Solano's adult system of care and systemwide quality management. Sandra's approach to leadership in Solano County was influenced greatly by the learning experiences over ten years with the Mental Health EQRO. While in Solano County, Sandra led improvement initiatives focused on timely access to care, engagement and retention, and post-hospitalization care, among other data driven quality of care initiatives. She is passionate about systems improvements that produce better care and client outcomes.

Bill Walker, LMFT

Legislative and Policy Administrator

Bill Walker began his behavioral health career in 1977 as a suicide prevention hotline volunteer. He has over 20 years' experience in the private sector managing inpatient, outpatient and residential programs for minors and adults in mental health and substance use systems of care. In 1998 he began his career with Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (KernBHRS), the Kern County Mental Health and Substance Use MediCal plans, as the Crisis Services Administrator. From 2013 to 2020 Bill Served as the KernBHRS Director. As a County Behavioral Health Director, he was integrally involved with the California Behavioral Health Directors Association (CBHDA) and CALMHSA JPA. Bill has served as co-chair of the CBHDA Information Technologies, Legislation and Crisis Services committees. In addition, Bill taught in the CADAC program, at CSUB Bakersfield, for 25 years.

Kimberlee Cathey

DMC Operations Manager

Kimberlee Cathey has an extensive background of administrative, executive, and operational responsibilities in a variety of settings. She specializes in efficiency and effective management to facilitate successful day to day office operations and productivity for all staff. She is resourceful, tech savvy, and enjoys granting all staff with the tools and resources they need to be successful and dynamic at their job.

Angel Smith

Administrative Assistant

Experienced administrative assistant with a demonstrated history of working in the computer industry. Skilled in Computer Repair, Microsoft, Administration, and Management.

Rachel Phillips

Reporting Manager

Rachel Phillips currently works as the Reporting Manager for BHC-EQRO. She is a content expert in the following areas: programming, analysis, statistics, reporting, and problem solving. She has a background in technical research projects and applying various algorithms and techniques. She has also presented at several mathematics and science conferences. Rachel received her B.S. in Mathematics from Saint Mary’s College of California, and her M.S. in Analytics from the University of San Francisco.

Saumitra SenGupta, PhD

Quality Reviewer

Saumitra SenGupta has worked in mental health services research for over 20 years. Dr. SenGupta is an expert in quantitative and qualitative research methods and utilizing information systems data for mental health services research. He has served on several federally funded mental health initiatives, the American Evaluation Association, and the San Francisco Bay Area Evaluators. He continues to serve on various statewide mental health evaluation committees, as well as on the editorial board of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Ewurama Shaw-Taylor, PhD

Quality Reviewer

Ewurama Shaw-Taylor is a research psychologist with 15 years of experience in bio-behavioral health. She has worked in mental health and human services—including two state correctional mental health systems and a child resettlement program—to improve service delivery, client outcomes, and quality. Ewurama has expertise in continuous quality improvement, policy development, compliance monitoring, evaluation, and proposal development.Ewurama holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Chicago.Ewurama Shaw-Taylor

Robert Walton, RN, MPA

Quality Reviewer

Robert Walton has worked as an EQR lead quality reviewer for nine years. His mental health experience began with the state hospital system, which included work with the developmentally disabled as well as the mentally ill. He worked at both California Neuro-psychiatric Institutes, located in San Francisco and Los Angeles, in acute settings that involved both adult and youth populations. He also worked within a county mental health system for 34 years, initially in mobile crisis, and later as division chief for crisis and acute services. He facilitated implementation plans for major transitions in mental health service delivery, with responsibilities that included compliance, quality improvement and assurance and utilization management. Over the course of his career, he acquired a bachelor of science in nursing and a masters degree in public administration.

Jan Tice, PhD

Quality Reviewer

Jan Tice has over 30 years of experience in the mental health/substance use treatment field which includes work as a service provider and clinical director; clinic administrator; health and wellness researcher; and, senior analyst for the County of Santa Cruz. Jan has also been an adjunct professor of Psychology and Human Services at Cabrillo College and California State University East Bay and continues to provide Drug Medi-Cal and best practices related training throughout the state.

Sharon Loveseth, LAADC, HSE

Quality Reviewer

Ms Sharon Loveseth became professionally active in the field of addiction treatment in 1987 and is a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LAADC). Sharon has an extensive background in treatment program design and management. From 1998 to 2018 she was co-owner and administrator for Healthy Partnerships, Inc., a Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitative Facilitates (CARF) accredited organization, which provided outpatient behavioral health (MH & SUD) treatment and DUI Program services. From 2014-2020 she assisted with development of the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC ODS) services for Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services. She continues in her role, since 2014, as a CARF Surveyor.

Kiran Sahota, MA

Quality Reviewer

Kiran Sahota has over 25 years of experience within the mental health treatment field. She has a master's degree in Clinical and Community Psychology and has worked as a service provider within Child Welfare, Community Based Organizations, and trained law enforcement in crisis intervention techniques. Most recently, Kiran retired as a Senior Behavioral Health Manager with a County Mental Health Plan. Her implementation and leadership within Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)/MediCal funded programs are showcased with skills in project design and implementation. Based on her achievements, her areas of expertise extend into community engagement, budget development, quality and performance measures, and project management. As a previous co-chair of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, MHSA statewide committee, she advocated and influenced counties to "tell their story," which she continues to encourage throughout her engagement with counties.

Rowena Nery

Quality Reviewer

Rowena Nery has over twenty-five years’ experience in external quality review, clinical psychology, program evaluation, and strategic planning in the public sector regarding ethnic minorities, mental health and substance abuse services, prevention services, social services, and primary care related research. Rowena worked as a Lead Reviewer in California for the specialty mental health External Quality Review Organization, has managed NIMH and SAMSHA funded research studies in the academic environment, and conducted random clinical treatment trials evaluating mental health and substance abuse services for older adults. Her work also includes prevention services for postpartum women, primary care interventions, and geriatric psychiatry with a focus on Latino and African American populations. Her most recent research examined patient outcome measurement issues in mental health. Rowena has also worked as a senior consultant with The Lewin Group to The California Endowment Mental Health Initiative Evaluation. In San Francisco, Rowena was a director on the board of a large community-based organization. While Chair of Program, she focused on increasing program evaluation, use of evidence base practices, establishing academic partnerships, and diversifying funding. Rowena’s primary evaluation and research interests are ways to develop and deliver effective mental health and educational interventions in public health.

Anita Catapusan, BSN

Quality Reviewer

Anita Catapusan is a Quality Reviewer. She recently served as the Plan Manager for Ventura County Behavioral Health’s Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) overseeing all aspects of program development, implementation, and operations. She also assisted with the local implementation of the Behavioral Integration Project and the Medication for Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. She is a Certified Clinical Supervisor (SUDCC-III-CS) in the field of Addiction and has worked for over 30 years in the areas of Mental Health and Substance Use Services and with a strong background in Utilization Review, program development, compliance monitoring, and evaluation. She previously worked in medicine as a nurse and has her Bachelor’s in Nursing.

Brett O'Brien, LMFT

Quality Reviewer

Brett O’Brien has over 35 years of experience in the behavioral health field, 32 of which were with the County of Orange. He worked as a marriage & family therapist in the County’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services before becoming the service chief of the County’s Drug Court treatment services. He was instrumental in implementing drug court as well as DUI court treatment services throughout the county. Brett eventually became the Division Manager for the County’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, also serving as the County AOD Administrator for seven years. He concluded his county career serving eight years as the Director of Children, Youth and Prevention Behavioral Health Services. He is a past Vice President of the County Alcohol & Drug Program Administrators Association of California (CADPAAC), and past Chair of CADPAAC’s Criminal Justice Committee. He recently co-chaired the Children System of Care Committee of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association.

Lisa Farrell, BS

Information Systems Reviewer

Lisa Farrell has served as an External Quality Information Systems Reviewer since 2004 and also worked as a Data Analyst. She spent several years performing IT programming and Quality Assurance in the banking industry, plus six years as a Systems Engineer performing mainframe program development and maintenance and data quality assurance at EDS on the California Medicaid Management Information System (Medi-Cal).

Joel Chain

Information Systems Reviewer

Joel Chain has served over seven years in the public behavioral health sector, most recently as the Assistant Director of Behavioral Health, Administration. He brings experience in oversight of the fiscal, contracts, IT, billing, research/evaluations, and HR support services in public behavioral health. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and is passionate about system improvement, synergy between clinical and administrative teams, and creating a solution-focused culture.

Zena Jacobi

Information Systems Reviewer

Zena Jacobi has been working in healthcare IT since 1986. She started in the private sector working for a hospital system and a large home medical equipment company on integration and HIPAA projects. She then worked at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health for 10 years implementing the revenue components of an electronic health record and managing Billing and the Revenue Cycle in their Central Business Office.

Rita Samartino

Information Systems Reviewer

Rita has 15 years of experience in the behavioral health sector working as a Systems Analyst and System Software Specialist for the County of Yolo. She implemented and administered both revenue and clinical components of an electronic health record and developed hundreds of reports. She is a proud veteran who served 20 years in the US Air Force as an Information Manager and Paralegal. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from St Leo University and a Master of Business Administration from Phoenix University.

Lorrie Sheets

Information Systems Reviewer

Lorrie has more than 20 years experience working in healthcare information technology within California with the majority in the county behavioral health system. Lorrie worked for multiple bay area counties with a focus on reporting, data warehousing, and software implementation. Lorrie held a management position responsible for the implementation and maintenance of their electronic health record and became the Director of Business Intelligence, where she led the implementation of a unique patient identifier and a health information exchange.

Brian Deen

Information Systems Reviewer

Prior to joining BHC, Brian Deen worked over 5 years as a Senior Analyst for Butte County Behavioral Health. During that time, he worked alongside Quality Management and IT to develop new forms and reports for the county Electronic Health Record, extracted and analyzed data for leadership, and lead the submission of all mandated State Reporting. Brian also holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Corey Davin

Director, Information Systems and Technology

Corey Davin leads BHC’s technology department by architecting, implementing and overseeing the technology systems and strategic planning; and supporting daily operations. He has extensive IT experience and has held leadership roles at various companies in industries such as healthcare, insurance, technology startups, and non-profits.

Amy McCurry Schwartz, Esq, MHSA.

Consultant to CalEQRO

Amy Schwartz is a healthcare outcomes and evaluation consultant and a performance improvement project expert. She implemented performance-based contracting and outcomes evaluation in her work of 6 years in the public sector. She then started her own consulting firm, McCurry Schwartz Consulting, and now consults on External Quality Reviews for physical and behavioral healthcare in three states. Amy has a Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law and a Masters of Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas.

Vandana Joshi, PhD

Statistical Consultant

Vandana Joshi has over 18 years of experience conducting program evaluation of national studies and statistical analysis of statewide and local county data systems. She has evaluated nationwide studies on Drug Treatment Outcomes Systems and developed performance indicators for mental health, health and social services. She has managed complex data systems needed to accurately develop clinical and administrative performance indicators related to quality of care, care coordination, care integration, timeliness of services, access to care and consumer satisfaction. She received her doctorate in Sociology from University of California - Los Angeles.

Rama Khalsa, PhD

Quality Reviewer

Rama K Khalsa, PhD has worked as a psychologist in delivery and management of care systems and health policy for over thirty years at the local, county and statewide levels. She has also served on the Board of the Central Coast Alliance for Health supporting the expansion of Medi-Cal plans to serve at risk populations and worked on legislation such as the Mental Health Act and the Mental Health Rehabilitation Act Expansion. She has now been the lead within BHC helping to design and launch quality service reviews for the DMC-ODS and is a strong advocate for quality of care in substance use disorder prevention and treatment as well as science-based care for those with serious mental health disorders and their families.