Elaine Weiner, MD
Medical Director
410-402-7694
eweiner@som.umaryland.edu
Dr. Weiner has been at the MPRC for almost 30 years, working with people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders to make gains in their recovery from what can be a devastating illness. As Medical Director in both the Outpatient Research Program and First Episode Clinic, it is her responsibility to ensure that patients obtain individualized, person-centered, state of the art psychiatric care. She provides direct patient care, supervision of clinicians, and psychiatrist training, as well as performs a myriad of administrative tasks. As part of MPRC’s mission, Dr. Weiner supports the ongoing success of the research agenda by facilitating the recruitment of subjects and working with the investigators to ensure the safety of subjects as they move through protocols. Helping patients to quit cigarette smoking has been both a clinical goal and research interest of Dr. Weiner’s over the last many years.
Robert W. Buchanan, MD
Clinical Professor, Psychiatry
Josh Chiappelli, MD
Psychiatrist
410-402-6827
jchiappelli@som.umaryland.edu
Dr. Chiappelli is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He earned his MD from Drexel University College of Medicine in 2008 and completed his psychiatry residency training with the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Hospital program in 2012. His hobbies include gardening and painting.
Jacqueline Clauss, MD, PhD
Psychiatrist
Dr. Clauss is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She earned her MD and her PhD in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University. She completed her adult psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. Prior to coming to the MPRC, she was the founding medical director of the Resilience Evaluation-Social Emotional Training program at Massachusetts General Hospital, a clinical and research program for individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. Her research focuses on neuroimaging and biomarkers of risk and resilience for adolescents and young adults. She is also interested in testing novel preventions and treatment strategies for psychosis risk and early psychosis. Outside of work, she enjoys exercising, spending time with her family, travel, and trying new restaurants.
Beth Steger, LCSW-C
Lead Counselor
410-402-6833
bsteger@som.umaryland.edu
Beth is a licensed clinical social worker and an approved clinical supervisor in the state of Maryland who graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She came to MPRC in 2005 and currently has 18+ years of experience in direct clinical practice and research, specializing in schizophrenia. Beth believes in an integrative approach, drawing upon various theories of psychotherapy to best meet the needs of each individual and where they are at any given time. Personal interests include yoga, travel, and anything that involves her golden retriever.
Judy Liu, RN, MS
Counselor, Nurse
410-402-6832
jliu@som.umaryland.edu
Judy earned her MS degree from the University of Maryland School of Nursing and graduated from the Psychiatric Nursing Department. In her time at UMB, she specialized in adult psychiatric patient care. Judy has been a member of our clinic since 1998. She enjoys spending time with her family when she is not working.
Krissa Rouse, LCPC
Senior Counselor
410-402-6829
KMRouse@som.umaryland.edu
Krissa is a licensed clinical professional counselor, who earned her MA degree in clinical psychology from Towson University with a focus on severe psychopathology and psychosis. Prior to obtaining her graduate degree, she worked in the medical field for more than 20 years, a portion of which was spent in clinical research. Krissa has experience working in community mental health as a child, adolescent, and adult therapist, as well as in inpatient settings as an occupational therapy assistant. Understanding the importance of healthy work-life balance, Krissa spends her time outside of the clinic gardening, hiking, running, camping, backpacking, skiing, and crabbing, as well as enjoying leisure time with family and friends.
William (Will) Touchette, BA
Peer Support Specialist
Will was first diagnosed with schizophrenia at Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, MD, in the fall of 2005 at the age of 25. After being diagnosed, Will’s father helped connect him to the First Episode Clinic, where he initially received treatment until being transferred to the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC) outpatient research program. Over the next 17 years as a patient of the MPRC, he moved up and down in terms of living a stable, productive life. Eventually, Will earned his GED and worked part-time while fulfilling his dreams of attending the University of Baltimore, where he received his BA in Digital Communications. Not long after graduation, he married his wife whom he had been dating for six years. Shortly thereafter, they had their first child in the summer of 2021 and purchased a house in northern Baltimore. Will can honestly say that his mental health journey has been long and tedious, but also revealing and inspirational to himself, his family, and his peers. His future goals revolve around completing his Master’s in teaching, and then moving into a career of teaching in the public schools of the greater Baltimore area.