Our Team

David J. Kolko, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Pediatrics
412-246-5888
kolkodj@upmc.edu

Dr. Kolko is the senior developer of AF-CBT, and is involved in the dissemination, evaluation, and refinement of AF-CBT across the U.S., and internationally. His treatment research interests include the study and treatment of child abuse/family conflict, child behavior disorders, firesetting, and adolescent sexual offending, and the integration of behavioral health services in pediatric primary care and family health centers.

Barbara L. Baumann, PhD
Senior Trainer and Consultant
412-246-5887
baumannBL@upmc.edu

Dr. Baumann is the senior trainer and consultant for AF-CBT, and has conducted over 30 trainings. She has extensive experience consulting with agencies on the integration of AF-CBT with evidence-based practices currently being implemented, tailoring AF-CBT to the needs of bilingual clinicians and families, and adapting AF-CBT for us with foster or resource families. Additionally, she developed Alternatives for Professionals to address the needs of direct service providers who are not charge with providing mental health counseling. Her academic interests include the development of consultation and training models for community practitioners, the dissemination of evidence-based treatment to community settings, the cultural adaptation of child and family treatment, and adapting EBP for foster care.

Elissa Brown, PhD
Professor of Psychology, St. John's University
browne@stjohns.edu

Dr. Brown is co-developer, trainer, and supervisor of AF-CBT. She is a Professor of Psychology and Executive Director of the Child HELP (Heal, Empower, Learn, Prevent) Partnership at St. John’s University in Queens, NY. Her primary clinical and research interests include the prevention and treatment of child trauma. She has participated in research on the assessment and treatment of sexual assault, child physical abuse, domestic violence, and bereavement related to traumatic circumstances, with a focus on culturally-diverse and economically-disadvantaged populations. She is the Director of a Category III affiliate site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, housed at Child HELP Partnership.

Komal Sharma-Patel, PhD
Assisstant Director, Clinical Research Psychologist, St. John's University
sharmak@stjohns.edu

Dr. Komal Sharma-Patel is the Assistant Director of Child HELP Partnership. She oversees the daily research and clinical operations of a clinical-research program and an affiliate site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (Brown, PI), based in the Department of Psychology at St. John’s University that focuses on providing evidence-based treatments (TF-CBT; AF-CBT) to youths with trauma histories and their caregivers. She is a national AF-CBT trainer and certified AF-CBT and TF-CBT supervisor and therapist.

Eunice Torres, MS
Program Coordinator
412-246-5286
torreseb@upmc.edu

Ms. Torres is the Program Coordinator for Dr. Kolko's programs with advanced clinical training and experience in diagnostic assessment and in the treatment of child and adolescent sex offenders and other behavior problems as well as affective symptoms including ADHD, ODD, CD, Depression and Anxiety. Eunice is from Puerto Rico and is fully bilingual (Spanish/English). She provides a vital service by translating Spanish treatment audio submitted by trainees during their consultation period. She is also working with Sammie Walker, a Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate intern, to translate the AF-CBT session guide (parent topics) and handouts into Spanish.

Kevin Rumbarger, BA
Assistant Research Coordinator
412-586-5225
rumbargerkm@upmc.edu

Mr. Rumbarger is the Assistant Research Coordinator for Dr. Kolko's various programs. He provides administrative support to the trainers by drafting agreements, processing payments, and designing the visual media used to advertise and present AF-CBT to the public.

Jeff Rounds, BS
Research Systems Specialist
412-246-5892
roundsj@upmc.edu

Mr. Rounds is the Research Systems Specialist for Dr. Kolko's programs. He maintains a variety of program websites and provides the data infrastructure necessary to track AF-CBT trainees' progress from training to certification.