Guest Faculty

Marilyn L. Sampilo, PhD, MPH

Marilyn L. Sampilo, PhD, MPH is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in integrated behavioral health and health equity for underserved communities. She currently works as a pediatric psychologist at an academic health center in the Midwest. She received her doctoral degree (PhD) in clinical child psychology, with specialization in pediatric psychology, and a Master of Public Health, with specialization in social and behavioral aspects of public health, from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Sampilo’s pedigree in education and training have allowed her to develop extensive experience in prevention, health promotion and intervention for diverse populations. Dr. Sampilo is particularly passionate about addressing structural and systemic drivers of behavioral health inequity in partnership with communities. Nationally, she provides consultation, training and professional development in the areas of health equity and affirming, culturally responsive health care, with over 100 invited presentations and trainings in these areas. She serves on several national committees and work groups focused on promoting culturally and linguistically appropriate health service delivery and has held various leadership roles in the areas of health equity and cultural competency at several organizations over the last decade.

Dr. Sampilo has received several local and national awards for her work in service to communities including the 2024 APA Committee on Children, Youth, and Families Early-career Award for Outstanding Contributions to Benefit Children, Youth, and Families, the 2023 Su Casa Hispanic Center Latino Leadership Award, the 2022 Roger Harrison IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, and Excellence in Advocacy and Social Justice) Award, and the 2022 SPP Award for Distinguished Contributions to Diversity in Pediatric Psychology.

Community Expert Panel

Elisa Aucancela, MA is the Executive Director of El Grupo Vida, a nonprofit that advances the well-being of immigrants with disabilities and their families through direct advocacy and community support. Originally from Puerto Rico, Elisa has called Colorado home for the past 20 years. Her work centers on early childhood education, special education, leadership, and advocacy. Elisa holds a bachelor's degree in Education with a minor in History from the University of Puerto Rico and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago. She also completed graduate-level studies in Special Education and Early Childhood Special Education. Elisa pursued doctoral studies in Psychology at the University of Granada (ABD, emphasis in early childhood intervention) and in Infant and Early Childhood Development at Fielding Graduate University (ABD, emphasis in mental health). Her professional background spans Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools, where she served as a bilingual Early Childhood Special Education specialist. She has taught as an Affiliate Professor of Psychology at Regis University and currently provides home-based services as a developmental interventionist. A bilingual Spanish–English professional, Elisa brings deep cultural competence to her work with immigrant families and individuals with disabilities. She is driven by a commitment to teaching, therapeutic support, and advocacy that expands equitable access and opportunity for underserved communities. 

Veronica Laveta, LCSW, is the Clinical Manager for the Refugee and Immigrant Clinic at Aurora Mental Health and Recovery (AMHR). Ms. Laveta has worked with children, adolescents, and families throughout her career in many different settings and roles including schools, outpatient clinics and international contexts. She specializes in working with refugees and immigrants using trauma and attachment focused interventions. In addition to clinical work, Ms. Laveta has a passion for supervising and building the capacity of clinicians to provide quality services to children and families. In her international work, she co-developed several counseling manuals on working with children, adolescents, and their caregivers. 

Daniel Savin, MD has worked with immigrants and refugees for over 30 years, beginning in the early 1990’s as a volunteer psychiatrist for Cambodian refugees at the Thai-Cambodia border. He founded our Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Program in 1999 and is currently the medical director. Dr. Savin, a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist, is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and has also taught for many years at the University of Health Sciences, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Additionally, he is a staff psychiatrist at the Asian Pacific Development Center. He speaks and provides treatment in Spanish and Khmer.    

Nai Chieh (Geri) Tien, Ph.D, LP, LMFT is a Counseling Psychologist and also Marriage and Family Therapist, also a proud immigrant herself originally from Taiwan, has been working in the community mental health center setting for over 15 years and has always focused on serving the AANHPI underserved refugee and immigrant community, she particularly enjoys working with refugee and immigrants families and youths. It brings her motivation when seeing the community thrive and individuals finding a sense of belonging now they live in this new country ." 

Erin Twiehaus, LCSW, is a clinical leader and advocate dedicated to transforming mental health care for newcomer communities. As the Bilingual Clinical Director at the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center, she leads a comprehensive wellness program serving immigrants, refugees, and first-generation Americans across the Denver metro area. With over eight years of experience, Erin serves as a vital bridge between behavioral health and the legal system. Fluent in English and Spanish, she possesses specialized expertise in guiding immigrant families through the juvenile justice system. Her approach transcends traditional therapy, delivering culturally responsive, trauma-informed care designed to dismantle systemic barriers. Erin holds an MSW with a concentration in Hispanic Children and Families and is a Colorado Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has dedicated her career to bridging systemic gaps and redefining accessible, dignified mental health care for marginalized populations. 

Talie Watzman, LCSW has over ten years of experience supporting individuals and communities through trauma, transition, and healing. She earned her Master’s of Social Work from MSU Denver in 2019 and joined Jewish Family Service of Colorado in 2021 as a Refugee Mental Health Therapist. She now leads the program as the Refugee Mental Health Program Manager. Talie specializes in trauma-informed care, adjustment and acculturation challenges, anxiety, and depression. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is passionate about culturally responsive, client-centered therapy. Since 2016, Talie has worked closely with refugee communities in Colorado, including children in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program. Her work spans case management, youth support services, and individual psychotherapy. Today, she provides therapeutic care to refugees of all ages and backgrounds as they navigate resettlement and recover from the impacts of forced displacement and trauma.