Meet The Research Team
Michelle Hudasko, MA, LPC, IBCLC
Michelle Hudasko has dedicated her career to nurturing the mental and emotional well-being of mothers and their newborns. Her extensive background as an Interntional Board Certified Lactation Consultant and psychotherapist has equipped her with a unique perspective on the interplay between lactation challenges and maternal mental health. Her commitment to evidence-based practice led her to pursue certifications in lactation as well as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy which she incorporates into her therapeutic approach.
Her tireless work and continuous education in the field have made her an expert in combining perinatal lactation support with innovative psychotherapeutic modalities, ensuring that mothers and their infants receive comprehensive, compassionate care during one of the most transformative periods of their lives. With over 18 years of professional infant care experience, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge from her experiences helping diverse families in their varying parenting styles.
Sofija Jovic, PhD, MBA
Dr. Sofija Jovic is a clinical psychologist and an entrepreneur, holding multiple advisory, mentorship, and board roles with the focus on helping businesses commercialize innovation, grow, and succeed. She was a co-founder and CEO of ProPhase, a clinical research specialty service provider, where she drove business growth and a successful exit by harnessing the power of data to revolutionize how we understand and evaluate treatment outcomes.
Sofija was a Managing Board Member at ProPhase and CRA Assessments; Chair of the Strategy Committee at Integrated Behavioral Health; Vice Chair of Gilda’s Club of New York City and an independent board director at Inflexxion. In 2016, Sofija was selected as one of top 20 executives in biopharma for the Boardroom Ready program by Women in BIO and as a National Association of Corporate Director (NACD) Board Governance Fellow.
Sofija began her career as a clinical psychologist, professor, and researcher. She has published works in peer-reviewed journals and presented at professional and industry conferences. She is the founding member of CNS Summit, an advisor for Springboard Enterprises Life Science Council, and is a Mentor-in-Residence at The University of Pennsylvania PCI Ventures program. Sofija earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University and her MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management.
Mark Opler, PhD
Dr. Mark Opler is the Executive Director of the PANSS Institute and Chief Research Officer at WCG Inc. where he directs scientific research and development of new methods for assessing behavioral health and functioning in psychiatry and neuroscience clinical trials.
Dr. Opler has previously served on the faculty in the Departments of Psychiatry and Environmental Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and in the Department of Neuroscience at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. His academic research focuses on the etiology, phenomenology, and treatment of serious and persistent mental disorders. He is a co-author and developer of several clinical assessment tools, including the SNAPSI, CGI-DS, and NY-AACENT. He is also a contributor to the latest edition of the PANSS Manual©.
Dr. Opler has received research support from the US NIMH, the Brain & Behavior Foundation (formerly NARSAD), the Stanley Medical Research Institute, and the Qatar National Research Fund. He has co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and review articles on clinical assessment, research methodology, and mental health.
He received his PhD and MPH from Columbia University and his BSc from SUNY at Stony Brook. He is a graduate of the Psychiatric Epidemiology Training Program at Columbia University and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Gail Serruya, MD
Gail Serruya, MD, is the Founder and Medical Director of Voyage Healing, a compassionate ketamine and wellness clinic. Dr. Serruya is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience in multiple therapeutic modalities, including ketamine assisted psychotherapy, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, and internal family systems therapy. She completed a doctor of medicine at Rush Medical College, residency at Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania and fellowship training with Dr. Aaron Beck. Dr. Serruya is passionate about integrating evidence-based practice with cutting-edge tools like ketamine to help individuals heal deep traumas and embrace a more meaningful, joyful life.
Charlotte Chun, PhD, MS
Charlotte Chun, PhD, MS is a licensed psychologist with 9 years of clinical expertise, specializing in ketamine assisted psychotherapy at Voyage Healing clinic in Philadelphia. She has 20 years of experience conducting research on physical and mental health. Charlotte completed a Master of Science in Applied Cognition & Neuroscience at Université Paul Sabatier, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is dedicated to helping people transform their lives through self-connection and psychedelic medicine.
Chelsea Kinney, MBA, PhD Candidate
Chelsea Kinney is a PhD candidate in Integrative Health Sciences, specializing in neurological rehabilitation and neuropsychology. With six years of experience in clinical research, her work focuses on exploring patient-centered outcomes and health interventions. She is passionate about developing research-driven solutions that enhance clinical care and improve health outcomes. As part of the Empowered Postpartum Project, she contributes to literature reviews, study design, and research strategy to support maternal health initiatives.
Kendra Prescott, M.S.Ed, LPC
Kendra Prescott is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and experiential modalities. She began her clinical career 15 years ago as an equine-assisted psychotherapist, went on to facilitate experiential leadership development programs, and for the past three years has engaged in psychedelic-assisted therapy. She has received comprehensive training from MAPS, Polaris Insight Center, Fluence, and other leaders in this innovative field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Kendra is honored to support clients with evidence-based modalities, providing deep and meaningful experiences that lead to healing.
Kendra received her M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania after working as a Research Assistant at Cornell University, a job that ignited her appreciation for the research process and desire to help improve the human condition. She is passionate about exploring novel and effective treatments, especially for new mothers as they navigate the life-changing and critical role of motherhood.
Emily Adams
Emily Adams is a strategy consultant with 15 years of experience across the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Starting her career at Ernst and Young as part of the Performance Improvement Practice, Emily then pursued her MBA in Germany at Munich Business School, specializing in Innovation and Emerging Markets. After graduation, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector, working as a Senior Consultant at Community Resource Exchange in New York City, a nonprofit capacity building firm with a strong foundation in social justice principles. For the last 8 years, Emily has helped lead the consulting practice at Social Ventures Australia, Australia's largest social impact consultancy, supporting clients to address their challenges and pursue opportunities that deepen their impact. Outside of these roles, Emily is also a trained birth and end-of-life doula, has supported a number of social purpose start-ups, and has served on several Boards.