This issue begins by celebrating McLean’s groundbreaking work in addiction. You’ll meet the remarkable team in our Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, led by Roger D. Weiss, MD, who are advancing both treatment and research to help countless individuals and families.
We also shine a light on Dr. Kate McHugh, McLean’s chief of psychology, whose early, philanthropically funded fellowship helped launch her research career. The donors who established this fellowship also share their motivation for supporting McLean in this vital way.
You’ll read about another extraordinary gift from our steadfast partners at the Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation—whose generosity spans generations and continues to shape McLean’s future. We also introduce you to the incredible nurses who are the heart of our hospital, through a conversation with Chief Nursing Officer Christine Tebaldi, DNP, MPH.
And finally, we’re thrilled to share the story of a newcomer to our community who turned her passion into action, running a half marathon to support the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program.
Thank you, as always, for being part of our story—and enjoy these inspiring glimpses of the difference your support makes every day.
Read the Articles
Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction: Going Forward To Help Patients Recover
Until the 1980s, treatment for alcohol use was separate from treatment for drug use, and neither had ever been integrated with psychiatric care. Research at McLean Hospital was highly influential in bringing them together as a single therapeutic paradigm. “At that time, offering addiction treatment within a psychiatric program was quite innovative,” said Roger D. Weiss, MD.
Enduring Partnership: A Quarter Century of Philanthropy
Sometimes an organization is fortunate enough to forge a long-term partnership with a foundation or donor—one that reflects a trusting and collaborative relationship. McLean Hospital’s connection with the Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation is such a bond.
Early Support Leads to Lasting Gains
In 2015, Jay and Marilyn Sarles established the Sarles Young Investigator Award for Research on Women and Addiction. The goals of the annual fellowship are right there in the name: to advance the careers of researchers just starting out in the field, and to promote translational and clinical investigations into the woefully under-studied impacts of substance use on women.
The Art and Science of Caring: Nursing at McLean Hospital
Christine Tebaldi, DNP, MPH, is chief nursing officer at McLean Hospital and vice president of nursing for Mass General Brigham Behavioral and Mental Health. During her nearly 20-year career at McLean, she has filled diverse roles, including guiding a team in the Middle East that was establishing an addiction treatment program and serving a stint as interim associate chief operating officer.
Read more in the full issue:
Running To Support Mental Health Care
Running the New York City Half Marathon was more than a fitness goal for Esha Karia. It was a powerful way to advocate for something she’s passionate about: access to mental health care.
As a therapist, Esha regularly saw the financial barriers her patients faced when seeking care. “Insurance options are limited, and cost is often the biggest deterrent,” she explained. “I really wanted to support people with financial challenges.”
This motivation inspired her to fundraise for McLean’s Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP), a pioneering clinical program for children and adolescents with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Esha often saw patients with secondary or coexisting anxiety diagnoses, making MAMP’s mission especially meaningful. The program’s scholarship opportunities also aligned with her goal of expanding access to care.
With support from family and friends, Esha raised an incredible $5,586 for MAMP, while balancing full-time work and marathon training. When asked what kept her going through it all, Esha had no doubt the answer was her patients.
“Their courage and bravery to seek treatment and do the hard, intensive work required was a huge source of motivation for me. Running also helped me de-stress and create a work-life balance as a clinician.”
Esha hopes to continue spreading the mental health awareness message through her clinical career—she currently provides OCD and anxiety treatment—and as a member of McLean’s Board of Visitors.
“I’d love to run a race in Boston, as it’s a city that’s near and dear to me,” she said. “I also want to grow my practice beyond eating disorders, and work toward expanding mental health access for marginalized communities.”
