CO-FOUNDER AND PSYCHIATRIST

Sander Koyfman, co-founder of Languages of Care, is a dual board-certified psychiatrist with a focus on Disaster Mental Health. He Co-Chairs the Disaster Mental Health Committee at Vibrant Emotional Health and serves on the Board of Supervisors of Lifeline Ukraine. Dr. Koyfman has extensive experience in disaster responses worldwide, including NYC 9/11, Katrina, Sandy, and international events such as Sri Lanka post-tsunami, Haiti, China, and Nepal earthquakes, among others. He's actively involved in various psychiatric associations and recently received the Bruno Lima Award for his contributions to disaster mental health.

ACTOR & PHYSICIAN

Dr. Yvonne Chan has over 20 years of experience as a physician-scientist, focusing on digital health, emergency medicine, and clinical research. Dr. Chan was the Founding Director of the Center for Digital Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. At Otsuka Pharmaceutical, she was Senior Director of Digital Medicine, developing products for patients with serious mental illnesses.

Dr. Chan is now a bilingual film and TV actor. She is motivated to bring authenticity to Asian-American stories, proudly represent the voices of under-represented groups, and aims to leverage the highly influential film medium to heal, promote understanding, and positively impact the world.

PSYCHIATRIST + PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Dr. David Jiang is a trilingual academic community psychiatrist at the Harlem Health Center of Mount Sinai and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine.

In addition to working clinically with adults from a great diversity of backgrounds, he is an enthusiastic lecturer and supervisor of psychiatry residents. His teaching centers on trauma-informed care and deep growth in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. An active speaker at national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals, he advocates for human and holistic mental health approaches.

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Fara White is a board-certified psychiatrist who practices psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. She specializes in treating patients with anxiety and depression, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, and attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD).

From an early age, she was fascinated by hearing people’s stories and understanding their behavior. She is interested in helping to destigmatize mental health and is proud to be a part of the UDMHFF, which supports artists and spreads the message of compassion and understanding for all.

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT

Divendra Jaffar currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Public Relations & Engagement at Vibrant Emotional Health, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing the organization's mission of promoting emotional well-being for all. With a background rooted in public relations and engagement, Divendra has cultivated a reputation for excellence in navigating complex communication landscapes and championing causes close to his heart.

FOUNDER

Dr. Flo E. Starks is a certified DE&I leader and founder of Grason Consulting Global, LLC. Formerly SVP and Chief Diversity Officer at Pearson, she led inclusive strategies reaching thousands globally. With a background in companies like Conagra Brands and Verizon Communications, she's transformed recruitment, retention, and philanthropic efforts. As a sought-after speaker, she's addressed organizations worldwide and her work featured in Forbes and Ed Week.

PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Joshua has conducted research on religious responses to 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, focusing on disaster expertise. He's also worked with Nunatsiavut Inuit communities on inequality and identity, and researched migration and homelessness in the Northwest Territories. He's collaborated with Philadelphia community and environmental organizations, including the US Forest Service, to develop youth-driven environmental curricula. Joshua's anthropological work explores spirituality, mental health, and community response to disaster.

PARTNER

Rachel A. Fernbach is a partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, serving as Co-Chair of the firm’s Not-For-Profit practice group. Specializing in not-for-profit and health care law, particularly in psychiatry and mental health services, she represents various health care providers, including those for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With expertise in corporate transactions for not-for-profit corporations and laws governing licensed health care professionals, Ms. Fernbach also serves as the Executive Director and General Counsel of the New York State Psychiatric Association.

MUSICIAN

Jude Obermüller, a British musician, specializes in composing for Theatre and Recorded Media. Notable scores include works like Romeo & Juliet (BYMT) and Beauty & the Seven Beasts (The Opera Story, London). His contributions extend to Film and TV, including projects for Vogue and Comedy Central. Jude's tap-dance-led film-short DATELEAP was nominated for Best New Music at the Fastnet Film Festival. Jude holds degrees from London’s Royal College of Music and NYU’s Tisch and is a fellow of the Johnny Mercer Songwriters’ Project. He also serves on the committee for the Urban Dreams Mental Health Film Festival.

Professor and Medical Director

Jeff Katzman is Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico, Department of Psychiatry Director of Education at Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut, Adjunct Professor at the Yale Dept of Psychiatry, and is the medical director for the Project ECHO Resiliency programs. He is a longtime student and teacher of psychodynamic psychotherapy, attachment and the role of play in our lives. He has held multiple leadership roles in the American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis and is currently in advanced training at the Bowen Center for Family Systems.