Raising the Next Generation in the Age of AI Series is presented by the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology and CERES (Connecting the EdTech Research EcoSystem), in partnership with the UC Irvine Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences and Connected Learning Lab.
Youth and young adults are facing rising mental health challenges and increasing barriers to care. Many of them are turning online, seeking support. At the same time, new evidence-based solutions are emerging with the potential to expand access and improve outcomes. This session will explore what's working, what's next, and how these innovations can better serve young people across California.
Featured speakers are:
- Thomas R. Insel, M.D., psychiatrist and neuroscientist
- Michael Milham, M.D., Ph.D., chief science officer, Child Mind Institute
- Laura "Dr. Tully" Tully, Ph.D., vice president of partnerships, Kooth Digital Health
- Rebecca Sterling, MSW, assistant deputy director, California Department of Healthcare Services
Moderator: Stephen Schueller, Ph.D., professor of psychology and informatics, UC Irvine
Dr. Michael P. Milham is the founding director of the Center for Integrative Developmental Neuroscience at the Child Mind Institute, and he also serves as a research psychiatrist and director of the Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation the Nathan Klein Institute. He has revolutionized neuroimaging research through his pioneering open science approach, which aims to collect large-scale samples necessary for understanding psychiatric presentations. As co-founder of the 1000 Functional Connectomes Project and founder of the International Neuroimaging Data-Sharing Initiative (INDI), he has catalyzed major collaborative efforts including the Healthy Brain Network project, the Nathan Klein Institute Rockland Sample, Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE), and Consortium for Reliability and Reproducibility (CoRR). In addition, Dr. Milham was named a Thomson Reuters/Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher annually from 2014-2024, cementing his status as a leader in advancing mental health science. Beyond neuroimaging, Dr. Milham leads the Child Mind Institute's digital therapeutics research program, built in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services. This innovative initiative has developed evidence-based digital therapeutics including the Mirror Journaling App and Curious, a no-code platform for researchers and clinicians, both expanding access to mental health support through technology.
"Dr. Tully" (they/them) is a Harvard-trained clinical psychologist leading statewide efforts to embed Soluna, California’s free digital mental health platform for youth, into education and health systems. They bring 17 years of experience at the intersection of clinical science, digital innovation, and policy, and they are recognized internationally for advancing youth mental health through technology.
In the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the California Department of Health Care Services, Rebecca Sterling works across programs launched as a part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). Prior to this role she served as the director for California for All Women and Mental Health Programs for First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom in the Office of the Governor. From 2019-2022, Sterling served as a manager and then director of CalAIM for Community HealthWorks, where she managed operations for the Health Homes Program and the transition to Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports. She graduated with bachelor’s degrees in international relations and psychology from UC Davis, and a master's degree in social welfare from UC Berkeley. Sterling is a licensed clinical social worker in the State of California.
Dr. Tom lnsel has been a national leader in mental health research, policy, and technology. From 2002-2015, he served as director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). More recently, he led the Mental Health Team at Verily (2015-2017) and since 2017 has co-founded five mental health start-ups (Mindstrong Health, Humanest Care, NeuraWell Therapeutics, Vanna Health, Benchmark Health). He currently serves on the boards of Fountain House and the Peterson Health Technology Institute as well as being an advisor to several mental health start-ups. He is the author of Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health (Penguin Random House, 2022). Dr. Insel is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has received numerous national and international awards including honorary degrees in the U.S. and Europe. More info at www.thomasinselmd.com.
