The Beat

Live at HLTH: Accelerating Change in Mental Health —Featuring Malekeh Amini and Roshni Koli

Episode Summary

How important is the role of social determinants of health in the context of mental healthcare, particularly for children and adolescents? In this episode, Saul interviews Malekeh Amini, Founder & CEO at Trayt.Health and Roshni Koli, Chief Medical Officer Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, share their personal journeys and insights into the future of mental healthcare, shedding light on the crucial role of social determinants of health, the impact of data in mental healthcare delivery, and the need for policy changes to drive equitable access and early intervention. Malekeh Amini and Dr. Roshni Kohli emphasized the importance of understanding an individual's environment, recognizing that factors such as trauma, family support, and childhood experiences greatly influence mental health symptoms and treatment outcomes. Both guests highlight the need for comprehensive data collection and analytics in mental health, emphasizing the role of technology and AI as tools to empower clinicians and provide better, more informed care for patients. Dr. Roshni Kohli and Malekeh Amini underscore policymakers' need to focus on standardization, consistency, and equitable access to mental healthcare. Tune in for a compelling and insightful discussion that offers practical advice and calls to action in mental healthcare.

Episode Notes

About Malekeh Amini:

Malekeh Amini is the Founder and CEO of Trayt, a healthcare software company dedicated to improving diagnosis and treatments in brain-based disorders, including Autism, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, substance use, and Alzheimer's, among others. Before Trayt, Malekeh was the Senior Vice President of Products & Business Development at Base Health where she provided the vision connecting new breakthroughs in medical science to the needs of healthcare organizations and consumers. A former consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and the Parthenon Group, Malekeh has provided strategic, operational, and fundraising advice to healthcare and education organizations globally. Malekeh served on the fundraising Board of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Wings Learning Center in Redwood City. Malekeh has an M.B.A. from Harvard University. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Communication Sciences (Cognitive Science) and computer science and her master’s in Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California.

About Roshni Koli:

Roshni is a board-certified adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Before joining the Meadows Institute, she served as the inaugural medical director of the pediatric mental health service line for Dell Children’s Medical Center. In her role at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Roshni is a top decision-maker on all things medical. She anchors the executive team’s activities in contemporary, innovative, and evidence-based medical knowledge, with a special emphasis on children, youth, and families. Roshni oversees all medically-focused policy and practice guidance developed at the Institute, working closely with physicians and other clinicians across the organization. She brings decades of practical experience and deep caring for people and families affected by mental illness to help us always put people first as we pursue our mission and vision.

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