Clinician Investigators
Davida M. Schiff, MD, MSc
Dr. Schiff is a general academic pediatrician, addiction medicine physician, and health services researcher focused on improving care for families impacted by substance use disorder (SUD). She is the Director of Perinatal and Family-based SUDs Care at Mass General Brigham for Children, where she founded the HOPE Clinic, a multidisciplinary program caring for pregnant and parenting people with substance use disorder and their families from the time of conception through the first two years postpartum. Dr. Schiff completed her undergraduate training at Columbia University, medical training at the Boston University School of Medicine, pediatrics residency in the Boston Combined Residency Program at Boston Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital, general pediatrics research fellowship at Boston Medical Center, and master’s program in health services research from the Boston University School of Public Health. She has received federal funding from NIDA, SAMHSA, and the Department of Justice. Her scholarship has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Addiction, among other journals. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Her research can be found here.
Sarah Bernstein, MD
Dr. Sarah Bernstein is a board certified maternal fetal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, obstetrical director of the MGH HOPE clinic, co-director of the MGH Diabetes in Pregnancy Program, medical director of the MGH obstetrics clinic and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Bernstein’s areas of interest and/or research include: The diagnosis and management of fetal growth restriction, optimizing care for pregnant women with substance use disorders and diabetes in pregnancy. Her research can be found here.
Jessica R. Gray, MD
Dr. Jessica Gray is a dually board certified family medicine physician and addiction specialist in the departments of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Pediatrics in Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC). She is associate program director for the MGH Addiction Medicine Fellowship and director of the HOPE Clinic at MGH, where she cares for women with substance use disorders and their families from time of conception through the first two years postpartum. She also sees patients at the MGH Bridge Clinic, a low-threshold outpatient substance use disorder treatment clinic.
Dr. Gray is passionate about caring and advocating for marginalized populations and supporting clinicians and others who care for patients with substance use disorders. Her research can be found here.
Leela Sarathy, MD
Dr. Sarathy is a board-certified pediatric hospitalist at Mass General for Children, the medical director of Newborn Nursery Services, and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sarathy is passionate about providing safe, equitable, family-centered care to all children. Her academic interests include perinatal cannabis exposure, care of substance-exposed newborns, and quality improvement initiatives aimed at safely reducing unnecessary interventions for hospitalized children and newborns. Dr. Sarathy earned her undergraduate degree at Columbia University and her medical degree at Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her pediatrics residency at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital and her pediatric hospital medicine fellowship at Tufts Children’s Hospital. Her research can be found here.
Edwin Raffi, MD
Dr. Edwin Raffi is a board certified psychiatrist at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Women’s Mental Health, and the MGH HOPE clinic and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Harvard Medical School’s South Shore Adult Psychiatry Residency Program and his fellowship in Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry at the MGH Center for Woman’s Mental Health.
Dr. Raffi’s areas of interest and/or research include: Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry, Addiction & Substance Use Disorders, Geriatric Psychiatry, Trauma, Mind Body Medicine, Health and Technology. His research can be found here.
Collaborators
Julia Reddy, PhD, MA
Julia Reddy is a PhD student at the UNC-Chapel Hill Gilling’s School of Global Public Health. She has over ten years’ experience in government and policy administration on issues including perinatal substance use, gender-responsive treatment, and family welfare. Her research focuses on the application of empirical epidemiologic analysis to immediately relevant inquiries related to parenting and substance use, through an Intersectional and systems-focused lens. She currently works as a research assistant with the Children’s Data Network, utilizing linked administrative data to learn more about child protective services systems involvement and family outcomes.
Trainees
Galya Walt, MPH
Galya is a PhD student in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department at Brown University School of Public Health. Her interest in substance use disorders stems from undergraduate research focusing on how healthcare providers utilize and experience Section 35 in Massachusetts. She worked as the project coordinator for the Implementation Science Core of the MA HEALing Communities study at Boston Medical Center and continued her studies by completing an MPH at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health with a concentration in Women, Gender and Health. She hopes to pursue a research career focusing on the intersection of harm reduction, substance use and parental and child health.
Leah Schwartz, MD, MSc
Leah is currently completing her OB-GYN residency at MGH after graduating from Harvard Medical School. Previously, she earned a BA in the History of Science from Harvard College and a Master’s in Medical Anthropology from University of Oxford.
Julie Langlois, BSc
Julie is currently studying medicine at Université Laval. She previously earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at Université de Montréal. She is eager to work on understanding the role of Recovery Community Centers and how they provide family support.
Estelle Burkhardt, BSE
Estelle is currently a medical student at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She previously earned her degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and worked in biotech consulting. Outside of medical school, she volunteers at a low-barrier needle exchange program in Portland, Maine and serves as President of Medical Students for Choice. Her interests include reproductive health, harm reduction, and improving care for families impacted by substance use disorder.
Leah Balter, BA
Leah is a current medical student at Harvard Medical School. She earned her B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University in 2023. She later completed a Fulbright research fellowship in Norway examining health systems resilience during public health and humanitarian crises. Broadly, she is interested in interdisciplinary models of care, healthcare access, and maternal and child health.
Sarah Perret, MS, BA
Sarah Perret is a medical student at Rush Medical College. She earned her B.A. in Behavioral Biology from Johns Hopkins University and later completed a Master of Science in Medical Sciences at Boston University. At Rush, she is a Health Equity and Social Justice Fellow and serves as an Associate Editor for Nature Women’s Health. Sarah’s interests center on maternal mental health, health equity, women’s health, and the development of innovative, patient-centered models of care that improve access and outcomes for women and families.
Alice Serenska, BAH, AS
Alice is a medical student at Stanford University, where she also completed bachelor’s degrees in Human Biology and Feminist, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. (She’s also a proud community college alumna.) Alice is active in legislative advocacy across multiple societies of organized medicine, and comes to addiction medicine with lived and loved experience. Between academic engagements, Alice enjoys unassigned reading and making regular use of her student discount to the symphony.
Research Staff
Adrian Caiazzo, BA
Adrian is a graduate of Duke University, where he studied Public Policy and Global Health. He is dedicated to understanding the factors that ensure children get the best start in life and has conducted research across various contexts to advance this goal. In the future, Adrian aims to blend clinical practice with policy development to further enhance early childhood wellbeing.
Chris Shi, BS
Chris is a graduate of Tufts University, where he studied Biochemistry. He is dedicated to improving care for all people affected by substance use and previously worked as a case manager at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Looking ahead, Chris aspires to work at the intersection of clinical care and policy to continue advancing care within this population.
Consultants
Latisha Goullaud
A mother of 3 children in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder. Also, the Lead Perinatal Recovery Coach with the Moms Do Care Grant at the Institute for Health and Recovery funded by SAMHSA, the MA Department of Public Health and BSAS. Has years of experience helping mothers and families find recovery on a path that is most suitable for them. An enthusiastic harm reduction advocate that believes in strategies of loving folks and reducing harm and death for people who use drugs. Experienced with victims of interpersonal violence, coordinating care with outside agencies, and supporting mothers through labor, delivery and post-partum. A skillful program developer and strategic planner. Has managed projects such as the Lynn Community Health Center Recovery Council. An accomplished public speaker who has spoken on national and local events such as the National Council for Wellbeing and the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts Conference.
Katie Raftery
Katie Raftery struggled with addiction and post-partum depression after the birth of her first child. Over the next ten years she was exposed to the many harms perpetuated by the very systems created to help her. In 2016 while incarcerated and pregnant with her second child, she decided to seek recovery again. Today, she proudly identifies as a Mom in recovery whose path is supported by the use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder. Katie utilizes these lived experiences in her work as a Perinatal Recovery Coach with the Moms Do Care Grant at the Institute for Health and Recovery funded by SAMHSA, the MA Department of Public Health and BSAS. She is dedicated to challenging stigma & promoting all pathways of recovery. Katie is a BSAS Recovery Coach Facilitator, Certified MAT Advocate, and consultant for recovery oriented program development, training, capacity building, and research projects.
Julyvette Vasquez, MSW
Julyvette Vazquez received her BSW from Bridgewater State and her MSW from Simmons University. Currently, she is working as the lead therapist for an adolescent IOP and providing consulting services for various community organizations. In addition to her social work background, Julyvette is a Reiki practitioner and holistic-focused, always integrating her work as a shame buster and narrative disrupter. With her diverse experience and background, Julyvette brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the panel. Her passion for holistic-focused social work and facilitating clinical groups make her an excellent resource in the field of mental health and substance use.
Interns and Volunteers
Perinatal Substance Use Research and Advocacy at Mass General 