MIRECC / CoE

Clinician Input Committee (CIC) | South Central MIRECC

Description of CIC

The CIC was created in 2023 and is comprised of six-ten Veterans Health Administration (VHA) providers and leaders who deliver direct clinical care to Veterans. The CIC is responsible for providing input on how to strategically advance SC MIRECC programs to ensure these programs address high priority VHA clinical needs. Feedback from these “frontline” providers is critical and allows clinical perspectives and priorities to be incorporated across the SC MIRECC core portfolios (Clinical Care, Education, Research, and Research Training). Recent CIC meetings have included discussion of projects ranging from suicide and lethal means counseling for Veterans to feedback on VHA provider-focused implementation tool. Consistent with the SC MIRECC’s mission, the CIC focuses on addressing the needs of rural and underserved Veterans.

CIC Processes

CIC Meetings and Processes

The CIC meets on a quarterly (Wednesdays from 12-1 CST) via Teams to discuss strategic ways to improve the clinical alignment of SC MIRECC programs and to review select SC MIRECC projects. However, the CIC will convene outside reviews to accommodate presenters as needed.

Information for Presenters

Types of Presentations

• Presentations should focus on Veterans mental health.
• It is recommended that presenters keep their formal presentation to no longer than 20 minutes to allow the CIC to discuss, interact with the presenter(s) and provide feedback. Shorter presentations are also appropriate as some projects may not require the entire hour-long meeting.
• Consistent with the SC MIREC portfolios (Clinical Care, Education, Research, and Research Training), presentations range from educational, research, clinical programming, and program development.
• Projects across all stages are welcome (e.g., developmental, implementation, sustainment).
• The CIC places a priority on projects that address rural and underserved Veteran populations and/or VHA workforce development and retention.

Before Presenting

• Presenters will complete a pre-survey to communicate to CIC members important information about their project and expected feedback.
• Presenters will also be asked to provide “pre-read” documents for CIC members who will review these materials prior the presentation.
• Brief biographies will be exchanged between presenters and CIC members, so that each party can know the other’s relevant background.

How to present to the CIC

• Please email the CIC Administrative Team contacts listed at the bottom of the page.
• The CIC Administrative team will send a Needs Assessment to gain a better understanding of your project, timeline, and the feedback you are interested in.
• The CIC Administration Team will determine if your project is appropriate for CIC feedback and what type of review (i.e., during or outside of the quarterly meeting) is the best fit.

List of Members

1. Chelsea Ennis, PhD – PTSD Clinical Team Program Manager, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
2. Wendy Leopoulos, MD
3. Danielle Newman, PhD – STARS Program Manager, Alexandria Veterans Affairs Health Care System
4. Veronica Siffert, LCSW – Mental Health Senior Supervisory Social Worker, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center
5. Eva Woodward, PhD
6. Marie Wyatt, RN – Mental Health Nurse, Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

Administrative Team Contacts

1. Mary Shapiro, PhD; SC MIRECC Assistant Director for Improving Clinical Care – Clinician Input Committee; Mary.Shapiro1@va.gov
2. Darrell Zeno, MS; SC MIRECC Senior Program Manager; Darrell.Zeno@va.gov
3. Jeffrey Cully, PhD; SC MIRECC Associate Director for Improving Clinical Care; Jeffrey.Cully@va.gov

Last updated: June 28, 2024

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