Integrated Health Services was one of 2 cohorts in CT working with 2 cohorts in NY to pilot the standards. IHS was the only CT site to complete the pilot and designated as a level 2! This led to a proposal to have SBHC standards approved by NCQA which occurred in June 2017!
IHS developed the first national evidence-based preschool behavioral health screening, assessment, and therapeutic intervention program called “ADAPT”.
Psychologist
Laura M. I. Saunders, Psy.D. ABPP is a staff psychologist working at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital and is also Board Certified in Clinical Psychology. She is the Director of the new initiative, the Center for Gender Health at Hartford Healthcare. In 2015, Dr. Saunders was named Employee of the Year for Hartford Hospital and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Ned Graffagnino Award for distinguished service in the areas of community-oriented work and collaboration with other mental health professionals.
Her areas of expertise include LGBTQ mental health, child psychopathology, behavior management, parent training, and family therapy. She appears regularly in local TV news to provide psychological input on topics relevant to youth and families and currently has two weekly segments on WFSB/Ch. 3 Great Day CT, related to child mental health.
Dr. Saunders received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton, a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford and has been a board member at Integrated Health Services since 2019.
Dr. Saunders has resided in Wethersfield for the last 25 years. Her two children are currently in college, her son is a senior at Purdue University and daughter is a freshwoman at Rutgers University.
Secretary | Dental Hygienist
Kareen Wilson is a team leader, owner, and patient-therapist at Contemporary General Dentistry in West Hartford, CT, and Smile Studio Dentistry in Hartford, CT. Kareen also works as an adjunct professor in the leadership program at Goodwin University. She has over twenty-five years of experience in clinical dental hygiene and office management.
Kareen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Goodwin University. She is passionate about dental health care and teaching future leaders how to be assertive yet empathic guides of the future.
Kareen is involved in organizations that believe in spreading the message of equal health opportunities for everyone. In addition to serving on the board of Integrated Health Services and Bethesda Medical Mission, she is a vital member of the Women of Strength organization that helps women deal with and survive breast cancer. When she is not serving, you can find her enjoying life in Bloomfield with her husband, Dr. Bryan Wilson. She also enjoys long-distance running, skiing, challenging her peloton, and raising two extraordinary young ladies, Kierra and Bryana.
Family Services Consultant
For over 25 years Doug Edwards has been a family services consultant who designs and facilitates fatherhood-focused programs. He provides professional development and training for family workers at state and non-profit human services agencies.
Doug earned certificates in Pastoral Counseling and Care, Infant Mental Health Home Visiting, Trauma Informed Family Support Practice, and Men’s Trauma and Recovery. And he is a Certified Family Development Credential Trainer and Parent Leadership Training Institute Master Facilitator.
Doug is the founder and director of Real Dads Forever, a Fatherhood Strategies Development organization. He serves on the advisory boards of the CT Maternal Child Health Coalition and ECHN’s Family Development Center. He is also a board member of the CT Association for Infant Mental Health. He enjoys spending time with his family in his hometown of Manchester.
IHS BOD Chairman | Vice President
Joe Murphy is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Gateway Financial Partners. He has over 40 years of experience in Wealth Management and Investment Planning, including working with teams in the bank investment arena.
Joe earned degrees in Sociology and Mathematics at Colgate University, a master’s degree in Financial Planning from Northeastern University, and the Certified Financial Planning designation from The Center for Financial Planning. He has a passion for teaching and helping others pursue their financial goals.
Joe believes in getting involved in the community and making a difference.
Besides serving as Board Chair for Integrated Health Services, he is a Board Member of the 21st Century Tolland Fund that serves disabled individuals who participate in sports. Joe and his wife, Sharon, are proud parents and reside in South Glastonbury, Connecticut.