Meet the Staff

Executive Director, Center for Behavioral Emergency & Addiction Research

Dr. Langabeer is a tenured full professor with joint appointments at the McGovern Medical School in both Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, and holds the Robert Graham Professorship in Entrepreneurial Informatics at McWilliams SBMI. He is the Executive Director of the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. → Read more

Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer, PhD, RDN, FHIMSS
Deputy Director, Center for Behavioral Emergency & Addiction Research

Dr. Champagne-Langabeer is an Associate Professor at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics and the School of Public Health at UTHealth. She is the Director of Research for the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research and the Heroes Program, a collaborative partnership with the Houston Fire Department, Houston Police Department, and Memorial Hermann Hospital. → Read more

Andrea Yatsco, PhD, CADC, LCDC
Director of Operations

Dr. Andrea Yatsco is the Director of Operations of the HEROES project. She is an internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, a state Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, and a Certified Medication Assisted Treatment Advocate. She provides clinical supervision to the HEROES direct patient care staff and provides oversight to grant-funded expansions of the program, including the Heroes Helpline for first responders, and the application of the HEROES model in other populations and expansion into extended geographic areas. Dr. Yatsco has worked in corrections, human services, and as adjunct faculty teaching on topics of psychology, substance use, criminology, and criminal justice. → Read more

Medical Director

Dr. Shabana Walia is the medical director for the HEROES program. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. She completed her Emergency Medicine residency from Johns Hopkins Hospital & completed a Masters in Public Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, focusing on Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

Clinician

Maria is one of our Heroes clinicians. As a licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC) and a licensed professional counselor associate (LPCA), she specializes in individual therapy of adults and adolescents seeking relief and guidance with addictions, depression, anxiety, domestic violence, life transitions, low self-esteem and more. Her treatment philosophy is to create an environment that helps patients feel safe, supported, and cared for. Her approach draws on a range of psychological, cognitive, and behavioral treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.

Peer Support Specialist

Johnny is a state certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist and accredited Mental Health Peer Specialist. He is an advocate for individuals with Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders, and supports evidence-based care with Medication Assisted Treatment. Johnny entered long-term recovery in 2019 and his personal experience informs a deeply compassionate approach to always helping the next person suffering. He possesses exceptional listening and interpersonal skills from coaching and mentoring participants to discover their own path. He uses motivational interviewing to understand participants and build a rapport to help individuals cope with challenging emotions, face limiting beliefs, and set boundaries that protect their sobriety. Johnny’s passion is to deliver inspiration and hope to guide others battling the disease of addiction to disconnect from their inner critic, find a healthy balance in their lives, and reconnect with their inner wisdom.

Peer Support Specialist

Kelly is a state-certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist. She is in long-term recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) and is passionate about helping individuals who suffer from OUD.

Associate Professor

Dr. Nash is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing and the adolescent provider for the Young HEROES program. A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with board certifications in pediatric primary care, pediatric mental-behavioral health, and addictions advanced-practice nursing, she has been working with youth who have substance use disorders (SUD) since 2011. A Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing, Dr. Nash’s areas of expertise include pediatric primary care and mental-behavioral health; treatment and recovery for adolescent SUD, and health problems related to prenatal alcohol and opioid exposure. A qualitative and mixed-methods researcher, her research focuses on Alternative Peer Groups and other recovery-support treatment models for adolescents with SUD and reduction of stigma for patients with alcohol or drug-related problems.

Advanced Practice Provider

Advanced Practice Provider with over 10 years of clinical experience in Emergency Medicine and Virtual/Telehealth settings. Experienced in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of both acute and chronic conditions across diverse patient populations. Known for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care in evolving clinical environments.

Coordinator of Patient Services

Geneva is our Coordinator of Patient Services. She is the project leader for Young Heroes. Geneva is a highly experienced Certified Medical Administrative Assistant with extensive hands on experience in providing administrative support to complex medical groups and health clinics. She is proficient in medical office protocols and procedures. Geneva is skilled in front office management, records management and meticulous in administrative duties. Geneva will be starting her BS in Business, Human Resource Management in the fall of 2024.

Peer Support Specialist

As a dedicated Recovery Support Peer Specialist, Crystal is passionate about helping individuals on their journey toward healing and sobriety. Crystal’s own lived experience has shaped her commitment to fostering hope and resilience in others. Having overcome personal challenges, she understands the complexities of addiction and the transformative power of connection. She strives to provide unwavering support, empathy, and encouragement to those grappling with substance use disorder.

Counselor

Counselor experienced in patient care and recovery strategies.

Peer Support Services Supervisor

Jessica is an award winning national and state certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist. She has collaborated with juvenile specialty courts, family courts, and criminal courts. Her advocacy for recovery programs over punishment has successfully helped others establish a life in long term recovery, decrease recidivism, and decrease the number of children sent to foster care, meanwhile, reuniting families that have been separated due to substance use disorder. She is a Harris County Star Drug Court graduate who is a powerful recovery community leader who thrives for innovative change to create purpose in our broken system to help others heal while delivering the message of hope.

Michelle Alezano is a Community Health Liaison serving the Liberty County and Cleveland area at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research at UTHealth, where she joined the team in March 2026. In her role, she advances the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON) by building strong partnerships with local stakeholders, increasing access to opioid prevention resources, delivering substance use education, and helping connect individuals and families to recovery support services and evidence-based treatment.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Texas A&M University. She is deeply committed to reducing barriers to care and empowering communities through education, collaboration, and compassionate outreach. Her work focuses on helping individuals and families navigate pathways toward stability, recovery, and improved quality of life.

Valerie Adames is a Certified Community Health Worker from Victoria, Texas, and serves as a Community Health Liaison with Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON) at UTHealth Houston. She supports Victoria County and the surrounding Golden Crescent region by connecting individuals and organizations to prevention, risk reduction, and recovery resources, and by providing education on substance use risks, overdose prevention, and recovery pathways.

Before joining UTHealth Houston in 2025, Valerie worked with Texas A&M University College of Nursing as a Maternal Child Health Navigator for the Golden Crescent Management of Opioid Risk in Mothers (GC-MOMS) program, supporting mothers affected by or at risk for substance use. Valerie is deeply rooted in the community she serves and is committed to reducing barriers to care and supporting individuals and families as they navigate pathways to stability and recovery.

Community Health Liaison

Mary started with UTHealth in July 2023 and is a Community Health Liaison at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is responsible for our efforts in Jefferson County/Beaumont, Texas, as part of the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON). Mary is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with clinical experience in MAT/MOUD, drug intervention programs, and residential and outpatient treatment. She enjoys connecting people to services and organizations that help them enhance their lives and recover from addiction.

Diana is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with over 27 years of experience in the chemical dependency field. Her background includes inpatient and ambulatory medical detoxification, as well as residential and outpatient treatment settings. For more than a decade, her work has focused on individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders across both residential and outpatient programs.

Diana has dedicated her career to supporting men, women, and families affected by mental health and substance use challenges. From 2021 to 2025, she worked with the Houston ER Opioid Engagement System (HEROES), and she currently serves as a counselor with the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON). Both programs are housed within the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research at UTHealth Houston, where she brings extensive clinical experience to community-based opioid response and recovery support efforts.

Community Health Liaison

Brandie started with UTHealth in February 2023 and is a Community Health Liaison at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is responsible for our efforts in Bastrop County/Bastrop, Texas, as part of the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON). Brandie has lived experience with substance use disorder and mental health as a caregiver to multiple family members living with addiction. She has worked in residential treatment, medical detoxification, and outpatient treatment settings. She has also worked as a CPS liaison and family crisis advocate, teaching nurturing parenting classes. Brandie hopes to become a licensed chemical dependency counselor and eventually obtain a degree in psychology. To Brandie, helping others help themselves is the greatest feeling ever.

Program Manager

Meredith O’Neal started with UTHealth in March 2019 and is a Program Manager at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research. She is the program lead for the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON) and the Heroes Helpline. Meredith has a Master’s in Cultural/Medical Anthropology (2019) and a forthcoming Master’s in Business Administration (August 2024). She has experience designing and implementing sociocultural and public health research and delivering community-centered programming for underserved populations, particularly for those experiencing substance use disorder and mental health concerns.

Payton Lykes is a Research Coordinator and Counselor at the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research at UTHealth Houston, where she has worked since January 2025. Payton supports multiple research initiatives focused on substance use disorder, behavioral emergencies, and mental health, including community-based and statewide efforts.

Payton holds a Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin. Her work includes coordinating research initiatives, supporting data collection and analysis, engaging with participants and community partners, and providing counseling-informed support. With experience spanning research coordination and direct client support, Payton is committed to advancing evidence-based practices that improve access to behavioral health services and support long-term stability and recovery.

Assistant Professor

Christine Bakos-Block is an alumna of the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, where she focused on interprofessional research and clinical practice in healthcare. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow with the HEROES Program. Christine lives in Houston with her husband of 18 years, 5 children, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. In her capacity as a postdoc, Christine is helping to advance the goals of HEROES through expanding research and pursuing additional grant funding.

Program Manager

Alisha Campbell has a bachelor’s degree in social science, a master’s degree in public health, and will begin a doctorate program towards a degree in Addictive Disorders Fall 2024. She also is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor as well as a Certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist. Alisha has worked as a peer, facilitated Intensive Outpatient groups, and transitioned into Substance Use and Overdose Epidemiology before joining the Heroes research team in 2023. Alisha is committed to supporting recovery from SUD and improving the overall health of individuals in the community.

Senior Statistician

Mary Lou is our Senior Statistician with vast experience in healthcare information analysis and synthesis. Her specific research experience includes health services, emergency medicine, oncology, and cancer care supporting areas such as Palliative Care and Intensive Care. She excels at forging new partnerships with clinical researchers both nationally and internationally.

Assistant Project Manager

Sarah is an Assistant Project Manager at CBEAR. She supports the research team, the Heroes Program, and general operations. Sarah has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and a Master’s in biomedical informatics. She has over 7 years of experience in clinical research and has a strong interest in mental health and substance use.

Data Management Analyst

Bhanu is our Data Management Analyst who handles our large datasets, analyzes, and provides insight. She is skilled in data analysis and visualization. She completed a Master's degree in Biomedical Informatics at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth.

Research Coordinator

Simone Joannou is our Research Coordinator, providing novel insight to ensure our program runs smoothly and successfully. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Master's in Philosophy, focusing on Ethics in Mental Health Care.

Research Coordinator

As Research Coordinator, Audrey Lopez assists the HEROES team with their research, grant funding, and operational pursuits. Audrey holds a dual Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Business Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and she is currently working on her Doctoral Degree in Health Informatics at the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston. Audrey has worked within the field of Healthcare Administration since 2006, and her professional interests include improving health services within underserved health populations.

Graduate Research Assistant

Francine Vega is a Ph.D. candidate in Healthcare Management and Policy with an MS in Speech-Language Pathology. Her healthcare leadership experience includes over 15 years of healthcare leadership positions within the healthcare continuum. Francine's expertise includes leadership development, coaching, staff training, organizational management, marketing, strategic planning, budgeting and finance, and consulting. Francine has successfully engaged in community outreach programs and collaborative strategies to develop several patient care initiatives including many projects that have resulted in new development and growth within the healthcare organizations she has led. Francine's background in healthcare management sparked her interest in healthcare delivery policy and research. Her research interests includes health systems science, health policy law analysis, and the impact of healthcare policy.

Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Kristina is a state-certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Kristina works mainly on our mobile health unit as part of Project Integra - a part of the HIV Treatment and Prevention Network. Kristina is a woman in long-term recovery.

Community Peer Advocate

Yami works mainly on our mobile health unit as part of Project Integra - a part of the HIV Treatment and Prevention Network. Yami is a woman in long-term recovery.