Our Team

Carla Kmett Danielson, Ph.D.

Program Director

Dr. Carla Kmett Danielson is the Founding Director of the EMPOWERR Program, which is dedicated to reducing HIV infection and substance use among local at-risk young people. Broadly, Dr. Danielson's research interests and clinical work focus on treatment and prevention with high-risk adolescent and traditionally underserved populations, including basic and translational science studies that inform applied clinical research. Her particular areas of research and clinical expertise are in: 1) evaluating and disseminating integrated treatments for comorbid PTSD and substance use problems, as well as HIV sexual risk behaviors, among trauma-exposed adolescents, and 2) understanding the pathways from trauma and stress exposure to mental health problems. Dr. Danielson has been continuously extramurally funded (e.g., NIDA, NIMH, NIAAA, Brain & Behavior Foundation, SAMHSA) as an MUSC faculty member. Her studies include randomized controlled trials (RCTs), assessment and lab-based studies that focus on biomarkers and mechanisms underlying the etiology of PTSD, addiction, and other psychopathology among trauma-exposed young people (e.g., recent NIMH R01 examining threat-related negative valence systems, child victimization, and anxiety), and mixed methods investigations related to m-Health intervention development and evaluation.

 

 

Alyssa Rheingold, Ph.D.

Program Co-Director

Dr. Rheingold is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Professor at the NCVRTC. She is the Co-Director of the EMPOWERR Program’s latest SAMHSA funded grant. Dr. Rheingold has been involved with the EMPOWERR Program since its inception in 2008. Her expertise includes treatment and prevention of health risk behaviors and interpersonal violence. She is the PI on several Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funded and Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) funded service providing intensive case management and community based trauma focused mental health counseling to victims of crime with specialized services for survivors of homicide. Dr. Rheingold is responsible for overseeing the day to day activities of the EMPOWERR Program along with Dr. Danielson.

 

 

 

Angela Dawn Moreland, Ph.D.

Co-Director of Environmental Strategies

Dr. Moreland is an Assistant Professor at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVRTC) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Purdue University in 2009 and completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship and post-doctoral research fellowship at the NCVRTC. Dr. Moreland’s research interests focus on primary and secondary prevention of child abuse and risk factors for maltreatment among high risk parents of young children (i.e., substance use, teen pregnancy); as well as dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practice for victims of interpersonal violence and their families. Dr. Moreland also examines the link between early victimization and high-risk behaviors, such as substance use and delinquency, among children and adolescents. Currently, her primary projects focus on prevention of maltreatment, as well as other negative consequences, among substance-using parents; as well as several other projects focused on dissemination and implementation of evidence-based trauma-focused treatments.

 

 

Cristina M. López, Ph.D.

Cultural Adaptation Co-Director

Dr. Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and the Mental Health Disparities Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She received her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Florida State University. She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston Consortium). She is a member of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Society for Advancement of Chicanos, Latinos, and Native Americans in Science. Dr. López’s research interests include identification of barriers to treatment engagement in mental health services, the use of culturally tailored interventions as a means of engaging specific high-risk ethnic groups in prevention and behavioral health services (e.g., HIV prevention, prevention of child maltreatment). Dr. López is involved in several community and faculty support organizations to enhance the recruitment, retention, and advancement of underserved students, faculty, and staff.

Austin Hahn, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Dr. Hahn received his bachelor's degree in child psychology from the University of Minnesota and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Dakota. He completed a predoctoral internship in Clinical Psychology at the Charleston Consortium Psychology Internship Program at MUSC followed by a NIDA-supported postdoctoral fellowship in the Addiction Sciences Division. Dr. Hahn's program of research is focused on (1) identifying malleable risk factors underlying substance use and risky sexual behavior; (2) innovative intervention approaches for reducing substance use and risky sexual behavior; and (3) advanced analytic approaches to understanding complex risk behavior. In addition to his research, Dr. Hahn is also a licensed clinical psychologist.

 

 

 

Megan Wallace, MSW, LISW

Director of Clinical Operations

Ms. Wallace is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-CP) for the State of South Carolina and a Board Approved Supervisor. She is a Clinical Instructor and the Director for Clinical Operations for the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVRTC) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Ms. Wallace also serves as the Director for the MSW Field Placement Program at the NCVRTC and the Associate Director for the Community Outreach Program-Esperanza (COPE). She completed her undergraduate coursework at the College of Charleston, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Spanish. Ms. Wallace earned her Master’s in Social Work from the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina. Wallace is a nationally certified provider of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and a certified trainer for Components for Enhancing Clinician Experience and Reducing Trauma (CE-CERT). Ms. Wallace has expertise in traumatic loss, evidence-based trauma treatments, telehealth service delivery, and community-based mental health approaches.

Kayla Visser, MPH, CHES^®

Program Coordinator II

Kayla Visser is the Program Coordinator for the EMPOWERR Program. Kayla holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from MUSC with a concentration in Health Behavior and Health promotion. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and brings over five years of expertise in adolescent health, risk reduction, and family-based interventions. In her role with EMPOWERR, Kayla leads efforts to ensure that teens and their caregivers are connected with essential services through their prevention programming and substance use treatment program, facilitates evidence-based prevention programming, and trains youth-serving professionals in evidence-based communication techniques, including Motivational Interviewing and SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment). Kayla is particularly passionate about serving vulnerable populations- including teens in foster care, the justice system, and transitional housingwhere she has mentored youth for years. She is a co-developer of FIRRE (Finding Identity & Relationship Enhancement to Reduce Exploitation), a program specifically designed for teens already engaging in behaviors that increase their vulnerability to commercial sexual exploitation. Having witnessed firsthand the profound impact of honest, supportive conversations and trusted relationships, Kayla’s approach is rooted in the belief that empowering teens to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, substance use, and online behaviors through open, supportive conversations, is crucial for reducing risk and fostering long-term health and success.

 

Madison Lance

Health Educator II

Madison Lance is the Health Educator for the EMPOWERR Program at the Medical University of South Carolina’s National Crime Victims Treatment and Research Center. She holds a degree in Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies from Bucknell University. In her role, Madison has earned her Tobacco Treatment Specialist certification, trained Charleston County School District Health Educators on best practices, and facilitated inclusive, evidence-based substance use and sexual health programs for hundreds of students. She is also a co-developer and facilitator of the FIRRE (Finding Identity and Relationship Enhancement to Reduce Exploitation) Program, where she helps teens and caregivers build trusting relationships and develop harm reduction skills to prevent exploitation. Having partnered with teens from Title I schools, transitional housing, and the Department of Juvenile Justice, she has a unique ability to connect with youth and make sexual health and substance use education engaging. Madison remains committed to expanding her impact through caregiver engagement, social media outreach, and a trauma-informed approach.

 

 

Tiarra Deleston

Human Services Coordinator- Family Tree Youth Recovery Support Specialist

Tiarra Deleston is the Youth Recovery Support Specialist for Family Tree at the MUSC National Crime Victims’ Research & Treatment Center. Tiarra graduated with her bachelor’s in public health and human services and is a current candidate for her MSW. She has been a case manager with a history of working with vulnerable children and adolescents in total for 6 years. Prior to her employment at MUSC, Tiarra was an intensive foster care case manager for the Department of Social Services.

 

 

 

Michaela Buckhannon, LISW-CP, MAC

Human Services Coordinator II- Family Tree SUD Therapist

Michaela Buckhannon, is a full time clinical social worker at MUSC’s Addiction Sciences Program within the Institute of Psychiatry. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-CP), Masters Addiction Counselor (MAC), Certified Prevention Consultant (CPC), and approved to Supervise Social Workers with LLR in the State of South Carolina. She graduated with her Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2017. She has previously worked in community settings, non-profits, county government, hospitals, and school systems within the State of Michigan. She has provided cognitive behavioral therapy and substance use treatment since 2017 at two different health systems. Michaela is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Risk Reduction Through Family Therapy (RRFT). Michaela believes that people are not solely defined by their experiences or identities, but that they are resilient and have the power to adapt and grow. She has experience working with adolescents, adults, and families and the unique challenges they face. As a social work professional, she provides a safe and confidential environment, is a voice of compassion, and a facilitator of opportunities for growth in the process of change.

 

Ciara Robinson, MA

Human Services Coordinator  II- Family Tree SUD Therapist

Ciara Robinson is a Human Services Coordinator II with Family Tree. She works with families and treats adolescents struggling with substance use. Previously, she worked for the Department of Mental Health, for over 6 years, as a school-based clinician working with youth from elementary to high school and later working with adults. Ciara earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in family therapy modalities and is currently working on her license to be a Marriage and Family Therapist. In her career she has used several modalities to support youth and adults such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Solution Focused Behavioral Therapy, and most recently Risk Reduction Through Family Therapy.

 

 

Carly Polk, LPC-A

Human Services Coordinator II - Family Tree SUD/PTSD Therapist

Carly Polk, LPC, currently works full time at MUSC’s National Crime Victim Research and Treatment Center as a Human Services Coordinator II. She completed her Bachelor of Science at Clemson University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology in 2016, and completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling at the Citadel in 2019. Prior to MUSC she worked as a forensic interviewer/Child and Family Therapist at Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center, providing trauma treatment to children and their families. She is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Commercial Sexual Exploitation Components (TF-CBT-CSEC), Problematic Sexual Behavior Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Risk Reduction Through Family Therapy (RRFT).

 

 

Erin Bisca, LPC

Human Services Coordinator II- Family Tree SUD/PTSD Therapist

Erin Bisca, LPC currently works part-time at MUSC’s National Crime Victims’ Research & Treatment Center as a Human Service Coordinator II, and part-time at the College of Nursing as a project therapist. Erin also is a part of the REACH program - providing trauma and substance use treatment to adults with HIV or at risk of contracting HIV. She completed her BA in Biology with a minor in Neuroscience from the College of Charleston, and received her Masters degree in Clinical Counseling from The Citadel in 2017. Prior to MUSC, she worked as a forensic interviewer and therapist at Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center, providing trauma treatment to children and their families. She is trained in multiple trauma treatment modalities, to include Risk Reduction Through Family Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Alternatives for Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.