Faculty & Staff

headshot of a man with curly black hair wearing a suit with a red polka dot tie

Michael de Arellano, Ph.D.

Senior Associate Dean for Diversity, College of Medicine
Director of Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
dearelma@musc.edu

Dr. Michael de Arellano is the the founding director of the Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program at MUSC. He serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity within the College of Medicine and is also the Director of the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center's Hispanic Outreach Program.

Regan Stewart

Regan Stewart, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program
stewartr@musc.edu 

Dr. Stewart is an Associate Professor and bilingual (English/Spanish) licensed clinical psychologist in the Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program and is also the Director of the Telehealth Outreach Program (TOP). Her clinical and research interests center on addressing mental health disparities for underserved trauma-exposed youth (e.g., ethnic/racial minority, economically disadvantaged, rural/urban), particularly through the use of innovative service-delivery models, including community-based and telehealth technology. Additionally, Dr. Stewart currently serves as Co-Investigator on multiple projects in the U.S. and in Latin America focused on improving access to and completion of evidence-based trauma-focused treatment for Latino/a populations.

Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo Headshot

Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo, Ph.D. 

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program
orengoaa@musc.edu

Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo is an Associate Professor and bilingual licensed Clinical Psychologist at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVRTC) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. Orengo-Aguayo’s research focuses on: (1) addressing mental health disparities among underserved, trauma-exposed youth and adults (with a specific focus on Hispanic populations) through innovative treatment dissemination methods and (2) the cultural adaptation and international dissemination of trauma-focused assessment and intervention. Dr. Orengo-Aguayo directs the Puerto Rico Outreach Model in Schools- Esperanza (PROMISE), a SAMHSA-funded program aimed bolstering resiliency and promoting psychological recovery among Puerto Rican children and adolescents after the devastation of hurricane Maria. She also co-directs the Supporting Trauma Treatment and Resiliency Services (STTARS) project, a USAID-funded program aimed at creating trauma-informed systems and services for children in El Salvador. She is the co-director and clinical supervisor of the Community Outreach Program - Esperanza (COPE) and the Hispanic Outreach Program - Esperanza (HOPE). Dr. Orengo-Aguayo has also been funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Science Foundation (NSF), Ford Foundation, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Orengo-Aguayo has expertise in training lay-providers and mental health professionals in trauma-focused interventions (TF-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).  She has a special interest in dissemination of evidence-based self-care strategies for professionals experiencing secondary traumatic-stress and is committed to providing excellent research and clinical training, mentorship, and supervision. 

Alyssa Rheingold

Alyssa Rheingold, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program
rheingaa@musc.edu

Dr. Rheingold is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor at the National Crime Victim's Research and Treatment Center (NCVRTC) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is the Director of Clinical Operations at the NCVRTC and Co-Director of the Sleep and Anxiety Treatment and Research Program and has an appointment within the Mental Health Disparities and Diversities Program. She completed her undergraduate coursework in 1996 at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Cum Laude and with Honors in Psychology. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from MCP Hahnemann University (currently known as Drexel University). Dr. Rheingold completed a Pre-Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology at the Charleston Consortium Psychology Internship Program and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the NCVC, Medical University of South Carolina. Her expertise includes evidence-based treatment of trauma related mental health issues, child sexual abuse prevention, anxiety disorders and traumatic grief. Dr. Rheingold is the PI of several federally funded service grants to improve resources for survivors of homicide and underserved victims of victims.  She is also the Co-PI on an OVC AEAP grant to provide ongoing resiliency and recovery services for those impacted by the Charleston Emanuel AME Church shooting, is the PI on an OVC funded grant to develop community response to intra-familial homicide as well as Co-PI on an NIH grant developing and evaluating screening and brief interventions for domestic violence victims within primary care settings. Dr. Rheingold has published over 60 peer reviewed articles and book chapters in the area of trauma and victimization. She has provided a number of clinician and victim-related trainings including Loss by Homicide, Traumatic Grief, Impact of Witnessing Domestic Violence, Stress Management, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD.

Cristina Lopez

Cristina López, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program
lopezcm@musc.edu

Dr. Cristina M. López is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and the Mental Health Disparities and Diversity 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), followed by an Instructor position with Family Services Research Center (FSRC) from 2012-2013.  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), increasing visibility and access of trauma related services to Latino and other underserved populations (e.g. Telemedicine), and assessment of provider-level factors that affect youth and family involvement in outpatient community-based therapy. In addition to her role as a researcher, Dr. López is a licensed clinical psychologist and serves as a clinical supervisor for pre-doctoral psychology interns at a school-based MUSC mental health clinic at Stall High School in North Charleston. Dr. López also holds leadership positions through CON Diversity and Inclusion Officer as well as the Assistant Director for the University's Office of Gender Equity. She also sits on several committees that address recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented ethnic minorities in academia. Dr. López has been honored as a National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Scholar and serves as Associate Editor for the Clinician’s Research Digest, a publication distributed monthly by the American Psychological Association. 

Angela Moreland Headshot

Angela Moreland, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

moreland@musc.edu

Angela Moreland, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVRTC) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Moreland’s research interests focus on prevention, treatment, and consequences of interpersonal violence among disadvantaged populations. She recently completed a NIDA K12 on addressing risk factors and consequences related to opioid use among women, with particular emphasis on trauma exposure and parenting stress among opioid-using parents. Dr. Moreland serves as a core member of South Carolina’s 21st Cures Initiative to improve access to treatment for opioid use disorder in South Carolina. Dr. Moreland serves as the Director of the Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center, an OVC-funded initiate to evaluate previous response to mass violence incidences, as well as develop effective response for future mass violence events.  In addition to research productivity, Dr. Moreland sought out ways to become involved in health disparities research and is involved with the MUSC Center for Diversity and Mental Health Disparities Program, where she actively promotes the inclusion of health disparities in research, teaching, and practice. She also serves on the ARROW Diversity and Ethnic Relations Committee, which focuses on the advancement of minority women faculty across all mission and colleges of MUSC. She was awarded the NIH Loan Repayment Program Health Disparities Grant (2010-2012) and renewal (2012-2014), which focused on prevention of child maltreatment related to mental health disparities. Finally, she recently established a local chapter of the Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and serves as the chapter president. 

Meg Wallace
Meg Wallace, LISW-CP

Clinic Coordinator, National Crime Victims Center 
Lead Coordinator and Clinician, Telehealth Outreach Program

wallam@musc.edu

Ms. Wallace is a Licensed Independent Social Worker for the State of South Carolina. She is the Clinic Coordinator 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) and the Lead Coordinator and Clinician for the Telehealth Outreach Program (TOP) within the Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program (MHDDP). She completed her undergraduate coursework at the College of Charleston, graduating with a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology. Ms. Wallace earned her Master's in Social Work from the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina. She completed her generalist practice internship at the NCVC and her advanced practice internship at the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center. Ms. Wallace has been trained in evidence-based treatment of trauma related mental health issues, specifically focusing on child abuse and loss by homicide. For the last six years, Ms. Wallace has served as the coordinator for a federally funded Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) service grant aimed to improve resources for survivors of homicide and victims of crime with barriers to traditional, office-based treatment. In addition, for the last four years, Ms. Wallace has served as the Lead Coordinator and Therapist providing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to children and adolescents across the state through the Telehealth Outreach Program (TOP). Ms. Wallace has expertise in traumatic loss, evidence-based trauma treatment, and community based mental health approaches.   

Former Staff and Postdoctoral Fellows

Aubrey Dueweke, Ph.D.
Aubrey Dueweke, Ph.D., is a former Postdoctoral Fellow at the Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program. She is passional about reducing health disparities by investigating the success of various treatment modifications and nontraditional service delivery models.

Katherine Satizabal-Parra Teefey, MA
Katherine Satizabal-Parra Teefey is a former Program Coordinator at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVRTC) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Katherine completed her undergraduate studies at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia, South America, and received a Master of Arts in Psychology with emphasis in Culture, Health, and Human Development form the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. Katherine's research interests focus on the intersections between culture and mental health in the Latin American population that have been exposed to trauma and violence, and on the improvement and development of mental health programs for minorities and underserved populations. 

Sarah Moran, BA
Sarah is a former Program Coordinator of the TOP Program. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology at Georgia State University. 

Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Juventino is a former Postdoctoral Fellow. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. 

Bianca Villalobos, Ph.D.
Bianca is a former Postdoctoral Fellow. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. 

Former Interns

Fall 2017
Delisa Brown, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow - MUSC
Samuel Peer, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor - Idaho University 

Spring 2018
Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Marlen Gonzalez, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor - Cornell University 

Fall 2018
Aubrey Dueweke, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow - MUSC
Lucy Guarnera, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow - University of Virginia 

Spring 2019
Nada Goodrum, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow - MUSC
Andel Nicasio, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow - MUSC