Session Type: Keynote
Session Title: Burnout as a Breakdown in Relationships of
People at Work
Speaker Bio: Dr. Michael P. Leiter is currently an
Organizational Psychologist and Consultant for Michael
Leiter Consulting and an Adjunct Professor at Acadia
University. He is also an Honorary Professor of
Organisational Psychology at Deakin University in
Melbourne Australia, where he was a Professor from 2016-
2020. He previously held the Canada Research Chair in
Occupational Health at Acadia University.
He has published widely on job burnout, work
engagement, and workplace civility. His recent initiatives
have focused on improving the quality of work-life through
enhancing the level of civility and respect among
colleagues. His intervention work on improving respect
and civility at work has demonstrated a close link of
improved collegiality with greater engagement with work.
Michael P. Leiter, PhD
(Keynote Speaker)
1
2022 Speaker Bios
Adapting to the Changing Workplace
Workplace Mental Health Conference
Adapting to the Changing Workplace
August 17, 2022
Dyan Jenkins-Ali, MHSA
2
Session Type: Panel Discussion
Session Title: Avoiding the “Great Resignation”--
What Today’s Employees Expect from Their Workplace
Speaker Bio: Dyan Jenkins-Ali is a Senior Project Manager for
University HR Strategy and Planning, managing administrative
and operational projects that impact the development of goals
and initiatives designed to enhance multiple student, staff,
patient and faculty health benefits and experiences. Her health
care career spans more than 25 years, in which time she has
worked in an executive capacity with M-CARE, Delta Dental,
Providence Hospital and Health Alliance Plan. Dyan has held a
State of Michigan Agent//Producer License in Life, Health and
Disability, and is a certified phlebotomist. Dyan received a
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master's degree from the
School of Public Health both from the University of Michigan-Ann
Arbor.
Cynthia Castro Sweet, PhD
Session Type: Panel Discussion
Session Title: Avoiding the “Great Resignation”--
What Today’s Employees Expect from Their Workplace
Speaker Bio: Cynthia Castro Sweet, PhD, is a Clinical
Psychologist and Senior Director of Clinical Research at
Modern Health, a digital health platform that provides
comprehensive mental health services around the globe. She
designs and executes studies that generate evidence of the
clinical and economic value of Modern Health's platform,
particularly showing the value for employers.
Workplace Mental Health Conference
Adapting to the Changing Workplace
August 17, 2022
Session Type: Breakout Session #1
Session Title: Negotiations of Authenticity in the Workplace & Code-
Switching Costs to Communities of Color
Speaker Bio: Maria Flores is the Senior Business & Operations
Specialist at the Eisenberg Family Depression Center. An honors
graduate of the University of Michigan, she is an action-oriented
administrator, leader, and DEI strategist, with the goal of developing
infrastructure, and systems to create and sustain inclusive institutions
where employees are engaged, valued and innovation thrives. A
regular presenter on the topic of authenticity in the workplace, and
moderator of panels such as WCTF’s “Building a More Inclusive, Anti-
Racist Workplace”, and “Toward a Culturally Inclusive Workplace”;
she is looking forward to empowering leaders and teams to create
the inclusive workplace of the future.
Maria Flores
3
Session Type: Panel Discussion
Session Title: Avoiding the “Great Resignation”--
What Today’s Employees Expect from Their Workplace
Speaker Bio: Robin Woodall Klein recently retired after spending
her professional career in two organizations as a Senior Vice
President in industry and as a Principle with Root Inc. Her
consulting specialties include organizational transformation,
culture, strategy, talent development, and human resources. She
continues to consult in retirement as part of the Riverbank
Consulting Group. Robin lives in Charleston, SC. She and her
husband have four wonderful daughters in their teens and
twenties. She loves shopping, theatre, and cooking. She stays in
contact with her clients and will always love problem solving and
making a difference where her expertise matters.
Robin W. Klein
Workplace Mental Health Conference
Adapting to the Changing Workplace
August 17, 2022
Session Type: Breakout Session #3
Session Title: A Practical Guide to Creating a Workplace Mental
Health Program
Speaker Bio: J.W. is a lifelong resident of Midland Michigan. He
has worked for the Fisher family businesses throughout his life
and for Fisher Contracting since 1979, becoming president, and
serving in that role since 1990. He also serves as Chair of the
Board of Directors for all of the Fisher Companies. J. W. has a B.
S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University
and is a registered professional engineer in the State of
Michigan. J. W. has been married to Yvonne for 33-years and
they have four children. Together J.W. and Yvonne serve on
several boards for local for-profit and non-profit organizations.
J.W. Fisher
4
Session Type: Breakout Session #2
Session Title: MoodLifters in the Workplace
Speaker Bio: Patricia Deldin, Ph.D., CEO, is currently a Professor at
the University of Michigan in the Departments of Psychology and
Psychiatry. Before that she was a professor, for 9 years, at
Harvard University. She is the Deputy Director of the University of
Michigan Depression Center. She has published nearly 120 peer-
reviewed articles on depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia with a
focus on the neural correlates. Dr. Deldin created Mood Lifters to
help people who aren’t receiving sufficient mental health care. Her
intention is to provide people in pain, wherever they are and
whatever their means, with instant, broad access to effective,
evidence-based mental health treatment.
Patricia Deldin, PhD
Workplace Mental Health Conference
Adapting to the Changing Workplace
August 17, 2022
Session Type: Breakout Session #4
Session Title: Using Talking Circles to Support Workplace
Wellness, Diversity & Inclusion
Speaker Bio: Syma Khan received her Master of Social Work from
the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She is the Lead
Social Worker for Child Psychiatry Hospital Section and a Clinical
Social Worker on the Pediatric Consultation and Liaison
Psychiatry Service. Syma has extensive experience in hospital
based psychiatric services including consultation, inpatient, and
emergency services. Syma also serves as Co-Implementation Lead
for the Department of Psychiatry Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Committee. In this role, she works with Psychiatry Leadership
and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion to promote DEI
efforts within teams, the department, and across Michigan
Medicine.
Syma Khan, MSW, MPH
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Session Type: Breakout Session #4
Session Title: Using Talking Circles to Support Workplace
Wellness, Diversity & Inclusion
Speaker Bio: Dr. Polly Y. Gipson is a Clinical Associate Professor,
Associate Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Director
of the Trauma and Grief Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry.
She is the principal investigator for a Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation Clinical Scholars award focused on the promotion of
resilience and implementation of trauma-informed interventions
in an urban Southeastern Michigan school/community. She is a
licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in child and family
evidence-based clinical practices; trauma- and bereavement-
informed assessment and intervention; suicide risk assessment
and intervention; universal screening; brief interventions; and
community-based participatory research approaches.
Polly Gipson, PhD
Workplace Mental Health Conference
Adapting to the Changing Workplace
August 17, 2022
Session Type: Closing Plenary
Session Title: Resilience & Finding Meaning at Work: An
Interactive Session
Speaker Bio: Denise Williams, PhD, MS, SPHR, SHRM-CP is an
Organizational Effectiveness Consultant in Michigan Medicine
Human Resources. In this role, Denise collaborates with
leadership, employees, faculty, and learners across the university
to create and promote a positive workplace culture of inclusion,
equity, and diversity that prioritizes the wellbeing of our diverse
workforce. She has worked at UM since June 2011. Denise earned
a PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education from the
University of Michigan School of Public Health and a Master of
Science in Behavioral Psychology from Eastern Michigan
University. She also holds two senior-level certifications in Human
Resources.
Denise Williams,
PhD, MS, SPHR, SHRM-
CP
6
Session Type: Breakout Session #4
Session Title: Using Talking Circles to Support Workplace
Wellness, Diversity & Inclusion
Speaker Bio: Deirdre Conroy, PhD is a Clinical Professor at
Michigan Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. She attended
Simmons College where she studied biopsychology. She studied
psychology and sleep disorders medicine at The City University of
New York and completed clinical rotations at various sleep
disorders centers throughout New York City. After receiving her
doctorate, she completed a T32 post-doctoral research fellowship
at the University of Michigan on the relationship between
insomnia and alcohol use disorder. She then transitioned to the
clinical faculty where she has been involved in patient care,
research, education, and administration in the Behavioral Sleep
Medicine Clinic. She is passionate about workplace wellness and
pursues this interest through her work as the department of
Psychiatry’s Wellness Advocate.
Deirdre Conroy, PhD
Workplace Mental Health Conference
Adapting to the Changing Workplace
August 17, 2022
Session Type: Opening and Closing Remarks
Speaker Bio: Michelle B. Riba, M.D., M.S. is Clinical Professor in
the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. She
is Co-Director of Workplace Mental Health Solutions at the
Eisenberg Family Depression Center and Director of
the PsychOncology Program at the UM Rogel Cancer
Center. She is founding chair of the National Network of
Depression Center’s College Mental Health Task Force and chairs
the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Panel on Distress
Guidelines. She is a past President of the American Psychiatric
Association. She has received many honors and awards for her
leadership, clinical acumen, teaching, and service at the
University of Michigan and beyond.
Session Type: Opening and Closing Remarks
Speaker Bio: Sagar V. Parikh, M.D., FRCPC is the John F. Greden
Professor of Depression and Clinical Neuroscience at the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and co-director of Workplace
Mental Health Solutions. He has been active in workplace mental
health for over two decades, with experience in corporate
consulting, creating and delivering innovative interventions, and
workplace research. He is Medical Director of the National
Network of Depression Centers and has multiple awards for
research and teaching. Dr. Parikh is the author / editor of three
books including "Mental Health in the Workplace” (Springer,
2019) and over 200 peer reviewed articles and book chapters.
Sagar V. Parikh,
MD, FRCPC
Michelle B. Riba, MD, MS
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