MIRECC / CoE
Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention - Clinical Core Staff
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Our Mission & Vision
The mission of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC is to study suicide with the goal of reducing suicidal ideation and behaviors in the Veteran population. Towards this end, the work of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC is focused on promising clinical interventions, as well as the cognitive and neurobiological underpinnings of suicidal thoughts and behaviors that may lead to innovative prevention strategies.
The vision of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC is to increase information and treatment options available to Veterans, their families and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) so that care decisions and care provided are aimed at decreasing suicide risk.
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments, please reach out to us via email: RockyMountainMIRECC@va.gov
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Staff
Clinical Core Leadership

Bridget B. Matarazzo, PsyD (she/her/hers)
Director of Clinical Services, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Email: Bridget.Matarazzo@va.gov
Publications: PUBMED | Google Scholar
Bridget B. Matarazzo, PsyD is the Director of Clinical Services at VA's Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. She is Co-Director of VA's Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and leads a team that provides implementation support for multiple national VA suicide prevention programs, such as the VA Suicide Risk Identification Strategy. She is also an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine.

Hal S. Wortzel, MD
Director VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness - Psychiatry
Director of Neuropsychiatry Consultation Services
Co-Director of the Suicide Risk Management (SRM) Consultation Program
Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Phone: 720-723-6481
Email: Hal.Wortzel@va.gov
Publications: PUBMED | Curriculum Vitae
Clinicians & Clinical Core Staff

Lisa M. Betthauser, PhD, MBA (she/her/hers)
Clinical Research Psychologist, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Phone: 720-723-4867
Email: Lisa.Betthauser@va.gov
Publications: PUBMED | Google Scholar
Lisa M. Betthauser, Ph.D., MBA, is a Clinical Research Psychologist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. Her primary research interests are the intersection between rehabilitation, trauma, complementary and integrative health approaches and suicide outcomes. She also serves as a Trainer in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention national Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention program.

Georgia Gerard, LCSW
Social Worker, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Phone: 720-723-6563
Email: Georgia.Gerard@va.gov
Publications: PUBMED

Christie Machan, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Licensed Clinical Research Social Worker, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Phone:303-562-4340
Email: Christie.Machan@va.gov

Suzanne McGarity, PhD
Clinical Pscyhologist, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Email: Suzanne.McGarity@va.gov
Dr. McGarity is a Clinical Psychologist serving multiple roles in the Rocky Mountain MIRECC. She provides technical assistance as a member of the VA Risk ID and SPED implementation team and consultation services for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC's local and national Suicide Risk Management consultation program. She is also a consultant with the Advanced Safety Planning Intervention Training Program and supervises postdoctoral fellows in group-based safety planning services on the Rocky Mountain Regional VA's inpatient psychiatric unit.

Carolyn Gass, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Program Specialist, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Phone: 720-723-6708
Email: Carolyn.Gass@va.gov

Megan Harvey, PhD (she/her/hers)
Clinical Research Psychologist, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Email: Megan.Harvey2@va.gov

Tiara Peterkin, LCSW
Senior Program Analyst (she/her/hers)
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Email: Tiara.Peterkin@va.gov

Ann Weatherby, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Clinical Social Worker, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Phone: 720-322-5428
Email: Ann.Weatherby@va.gov

Liz Velasquez (she/her/hers)
Program Support Assistant, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC
Aurora, CO
Phone: 720-723-7442
Email: Elizabeth.Velasquez3@va.gov
Site Map
Last Updated 13 April 2022