Officers and Representatives
The CALACAP Officers and Board of Delegates provide governance and leadership for the organization. The Board of Delegates oversees the management and activities of CALACAP to ensure decisions align with the organization’s mission and priorities.
The Board includes delegates appointed by the Regional Organizations of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ROCAPs) in California, along with CALACAP’s Principal Officers serving as ex officio members. Together, they guide CALACAP’s efforts in advancing advocacy, collaboration, and policies that support child and adolescent mental health across California.
Jan 2025-Dec 2025
Dr Ijeoma Ijeaku is a dynamic, passionate, and dedicated child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist, an astute clinician, a committed educator, a mental health advocate and a physician leader. She is a creative problem solver who sees beyond circumstances. She inspires her patients and their families to embrace recovery and to take on challenges with hope and vigor. She utilizes the strengths of individuals, organizations, and communities to create solutions and opportunities. She teaches and mentors trainees and junior faculty through a strength-based approach, which maximizes their strengths while working with them to address their deficits.
Dr Ijeaku has a medical degree from University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and a Master of Public Health degree from Loma Linda University, with emphasis on Epidemiology. She completed her general psychiatry residency at Loma Linda University and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of Southern California. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in general psychiatry as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. She is a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association as well as distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She was recently promoted to clinical professor at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine and she is an attending child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist with the Riverside University Health System. Her primary practice caters to an underserved population whose mental health challenges are often complicated by psycho-social factors. Her recent research has focused on lifestyle and its intersection with mental health, trauma-related issues as well as social justice and its intersection with psychiatric practice.
She is the current president of the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CALACAP), Southern California Psychiatric Society (SCPS) Representative to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Assembly, Assembly Representative to the APA Council on Children, Adolescents and their Families and past president of SCPS. Her work in organized psychiatry has led to development of action papers and position statements that affect youth mental health as well as sponsorship of bills that affect school mental health and increased accountability among health insurance providers. She serves on the board of a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliate.
She is the founder and president of the non-profit organization; The Whole Person Foundation Inc. (www.thewholepersonfoundation.org) which provides access to education, healthcare and other resources to vulnerable individuals, with a primary focus on Nigerian communities.
Ijeoma plays many roles including her favorites -daughter, sister, wife, mother and most recently grandmother. She is a woman of faith who believes that ‘we are all called to a life of purpose and impact’, and strives through a reflective approach, to live her best possible life. She loves to read, travel, and spend quality time with her family.
Rishi Parikh, MD, MPH, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and Assistant Medical Director for the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, where he provides clinical and administrative leadership within one of the largest public mental health systems in California. His work focuses on expanding access to high-quality care for children and families, with an emphasis on early intervention, workforce development, and building systems that reliably improve outcomes.
Dr. Parikh serves as President-Elect of the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, where he helps guide statewide advocacy, strengthen the physician workforce, and advance policies that improve the mental health of children and adolescents. He also serves as editor of the organization’s newsletter, contributing to communication and engagement across the membership. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
He is deeply committed to education, mentorship, and public service, with a strong commitment to addressing the national shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists. His leadership emphasizes clarity, collaboration, and accountability, grounded in building strong teams and driving sustainable improvements in care.
Dr. Dawn Sung was born in San Francisco to Korean immigrant parents and grew up in the SF Bay Area. She trained at UC Davis for medical school, at NYU for residency and child psychiatry fellowship training, and at UCSF for a public psychiatry fellowship.
She worked at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland as Medical Director of Outpatient Psychiatry prior to joining Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center. She was an Assistant Program Director for the psychiatry residency training program for 5 years and continue to teach and mentor psychiatry residents, pediatric residents, and UCSF medical students. Her current projects are on a pediatric psychiatric consultation clinic in addition to working in the child psychiatry clinic, with Young Adult Psychiatry Clinic, and the Adult ADHD clinic.
Dr. Sung is committed to delivering high-quality care, reducing stigma surrounding mental illness, and providing culturally sensitive services. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults from diverse backgrounds, including individuals with early and complex trauma, developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, depression and anxiety, eating disorders, OCD, and members of the LGBTQ community.
Outside of work, she enjoys practicing yoga and spending time with her partner and three children in Oakland. Together they enjoy hiking, cooking at home, spending time with friends and family, traveling and exploring local neighborhoods and cuisines.
Teresa Frausto, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Chair of the Well-Being Committee for Loma Linda University Health. She is triple board-certified in Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Addiction Psychiatry.
Dr. Frausto retired from the County of San Bernardino County following 22 years of distinguished service. During her tenure, she served as Chief Psychiatric Officer for the Department of Behavioral Health and Medical Director of Alcohol and Drug Programs. She also held key clinical leadership roles, including Clinic Medical Director for Juvenile Detention and Assessment Centers, and provided care across outpatient behavioral health settings.
Her leadership extended across multidisciplinary and interagency collaborations with partners such as Inland Empire Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, county schools, probation, juvenile courts, the Coroner’s Office, and the Child Death Review Team. Notably, her quality improvement initiatives led to the County’s first accreditation by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.
Dr. Frausto completed the Physician Leadership Program at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She received fellowship training in Addiction Psychiatry at Northwestern University, completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry residency at Children’s Memorial Medical Center in Chicago, and her General Psychiatry residency at UCLA Harbor Medical Center in Torrance, California. She earned her MD from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and her BA from the University of Michigan.
She currently serves as Immediate Past President of the California American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Previously, she was Co-Chair of the Medical Services System of Care for the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (2018–2024). Dr. Frausto is also an active member of the California Medical Association and the San Bernardino County Medical Society, where she serves as Treasurer (2024–2025).
Dr. Mallorca completed General Psychiatry Residency as well as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at UC-Davis Medical Center. After completing Fellowship, she joined the Department of Psychiatry as a staff psychiatrist with the UC Davis CAARE Center and the Medical Director of the Pediatric Psychiatry Consult-Liaison Service at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. As the medical director of the Pediatric Psychiatry CL Service, Dr. Mallorca was heavily involved in medical student education as well as psychiatry trainee education. Dr. Mallorca later spent time as a staff psychiatrist for mental health services for the UC Davis undergraduate and graduate programs. Currently, Dr. Mallorca focuses on providing psychiatric care at community outpatient mental health programs in Sacramento. She is also the current President of the Central California Regional Organization for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CCROCAP), as well as the CCROCAP representative for CAL-ACAP. When not practicing psychiatry. Dr. Mallorca enjoys spending time with her family and 2 dogs, one of which is a 160 lb Newfoundland who enjoys taking up lots of space on the couch.
Dr. Alejandra Postlethwaite is a board-certified community, adult, adolescent, and child psychiatrist and serves as Director of Psychiatry at Neighborhood Healthcare, supporting clinics across San Diego and Riverside Counties.
She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico, and subsequently lived and worked in San Juan Teitipac, Oaxaca, as a family practitioner. Dr. Postlethwaite completed her general psychiatry training at Harvard Medical School and UC San Diego, followed by subspecialty training in child and adolescent psychiatry at UCLA. She also completed advanced psychoanalytic psychotherapy training at the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute. Her research career has focused on childhood trauma and parental bonding within Hispanic populations.
Dr. Postlethwaite has received numerous honors recognizing her leadership, teaching, research, and commitment to service, including the UC San Diego Chair Research Award, the UC San Diego Medical Student Teaching Award, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Chief Resident Leadership Travel Award, the APA Minority Fellowship Award, the UCLA Gertrude R. Greenblatt, MD Award for humanitarian work, and the American Psychoanalytic Association Fellowship Award.
She has been actively involved in professional leadership and advocacy through the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Diversity and Culture Committee, as well as the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ACAP) and the San Diego ACAP Chapters, serving as president of both state and local organizations. Prior to joining Neighborhood Healthcare, Dr. Postlethwaite served as Behavioral Health Services Director at La Maestra Community Health Center, where she worked extensively with medically underserved children and families. She continues this mission at Neighborhood Healthcare and also serves as a staff psychiatrist in the inpatient and emergency psychiatry services at Rady Children’s Hospital.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Postlethwaite was Associate Training Director of UC San Diego’s Community Psychiatry Fellowship Program, contributing to the education and mentorship of future psychiatrists committed to community-based care.
Dr. Postlethwaite lives in San Diego with her husband, their three sons, and their dog, Nira. She was born and raised in Mexicali, Baja California.
Cory Patrick, MD, MS is a child and adolescent psychiatrist currently working at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Patrick completed his medical degree at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. Simultaneously, he completed a master’s degree in genomic medicine, where he expanded on his interest in utilizing genetics to advance clinical care. He completed his psychiatry residency at Washington University in St. Louis, and his Child and Adolescent Fellowship at UCSF, where he stayed as faculty after graduation. Dr. Patrick spends the majority of his clinical time working in the UCSF Center for ASDs and NDDs where he sees a mix of children and adults. His clinical interests include autism spectrum disorder, rare genetic disorders, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dr. Patrick was drawn to psychiatry as a field in part due to the intersection between medicine, culture, and institutional/legal frameworks that has an immense outsized influence on psychiatric practice, and is eager for the opportunity to shape this intersectionality in ways that positively impact patients and families in the state of California.
Roger Wu, MD is a child and adolescent psychiatrist working in San Francisco’s community mental health system. As staff at the Chinatown Child Development Center in San Francisco and former assistant clinical faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, he works children and families withing the public health system. Dr. Wu graduated from Princeton University in 1986, received his MD from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1991 and completed internship, residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of San Francisco, CA School of Medicine, 1991-1997. He has been part of DPH/CBHS since 1998.
Dr. Fletcher completed his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the University
of Arkansas and worked in industry for a few years before starting medical school.
Midway through medical school he spent two years in the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute – National Institutes of Health Research Scholars program. He is certified by
the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. (ABPN) in both Adult and Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry.
He went to medical school at UAMS in Little Rock, AR. He did his Adult Psychiatry
residency at the University of Utah and completed his Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
fellowship at UCSF.
Many of his current patients are still in the Bay Area, where he practiced before moving his private practice to San Diego in 2018.
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Yanni Rho, MD, MPH, is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist and . Psychiatry Director at UC Berkeley Student Health Services and is the psychiatric primary care consultant with the Behavioral Health Collaborative Care Team. She is also a Clinical Professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences where she is a consultant with the Cal-MAP program (California Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal).
Dr. Rho obtained her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Texas and her child, adolescent, and adult psychiatric training with Harvard-affiliated training programs. She also obtained her Master of Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health, furthering her commitment to improving systems and the lives of the individuals within them, specifically advocating for prevention of illness while focusing on increasing the agency and capacity of our children, their families, and the providers/systems that support them through a culturally inclusive and equitable lens.
Robert Holloway, MD DFAACAP, is an associate professor of psychiatry and anesthesiology at Keck USC School of Medicine, working at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in psychiatry and chronic pain management. He has always been drawn to populations that face significant hardship, including the LGBTQ+ population, homeless youth, and migrant communities. In addition to his professional roles, he volunteers advocating for legislative changes in how healthcare is provided both in California and nationally. Past leadership roles include President of Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and President of California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Alonso Cardenas, MD, is a psychiatrist based in San Diego, CA, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. He completed his medical education and psychiatry residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, finishing in 2014. Dr. Cardenas currently works at Golden Valley Health Centers, an FQHS in a rural area through Iris Telehealth focusing on conditions such as autism, ADHD, psycho-pharmacology, neuro-psychiatry, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression and bipolar disorders. His research includes publications on neuropsychological evaluations for children with limited English proficiency and depression prevention interventions for adolescents, which have garnered multiple citations. Dr. Cardenas is also involved in San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent psychiatry currently president elect as well as California Academy of child and adolescent psychiatry Government Affairs and Advocacy committee Co Chair.
Christopher R. Thompson, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, as well as forensic psychiatry. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry, and by the American Board of Preventive Medicine in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Thompson is widely recognized for his clinical expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality, ethical care.
Based in Austin and Los Angeles, Dr. Thompson maintains a private practice where he provides comprehensive psychiatric services to children, adolescents, and adults. His clinical work includes individual psychotherapy, family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychotropic medication management, with a focus on personalized, evidence-based treatment.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Thompson is a nationally respected forensic psychiatrist. He provides expert witness and consultative services across a broad range of complex legal and psychiatric matters, including juvenile justice, violence risk assessment, competence to stand trial, PTSD and substance use disorder evaluations, and issues related to criminal responsibility. His work is known for its objectivity, depth of knowledge, and adherence to the highest ethical standards.
Dr. Thompson’s career reflects a dedication to both patient care and the thoughtful application of psychiatric expertise within the legal system.
Elicia earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Dominican University of California, and later earned her M.D. from Creighton University School of Medicine. She completed psychiatry residency at UCSF Fresno and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training with Loma Linda University Health Education Consortium Program. She provides direct patient care and supervises residents and fellows at the UC Davis Children’s Behavioral Health Clinic and the UC Davis MIND Institute. Her clinical interests include ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, behavioral challenges, and mental health care for youth with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Jan 2023-Dec 2024
President: Teresa Frausto, MD
President-Elect: Ijeoma Ijeaku, MD MPH DFAPA
Secretary-Treasurer: Rishi Parikh, MD
Immediate Past President: Alejandra Postlethwaite, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Stewart Teal, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Joshua Feder, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Marcy Forgey Borlik, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: Marcia Mallorca, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: Roger Wu, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: Alonso Cardenas, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: William Arroyo, MD
Ad Hoc Member: Hanu Damerla, MD
Ad Hoc Member and CARE Co-Chair: Huey Merchant, MD
Ad Hoc Member: Christopher Thompson, MD
Ad Hoc Member and CARE Co-Chair: Yanni Rho, MD, MPH, FAPA
Central California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ECP Representative: Apurva Bhatt, MD
Northern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Jan 2021-Dec 2022
President: Alejandra Postlethwaite, MD
Secretary-Treasurer: Teresa Frausto, MD
Immediate Past President: Christopher Thompson, MD
President-Elect (Jan 2020-Dec 2022): Sonia Gaur, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Stewart Teal, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Irene Sung, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Neha Bahadur, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Marcy Forgey Borlik, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: Marcia Mallorca, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: Roger Wu, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: Alonso Cardenas, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Alt. Rep: William Arroyo, MD
Ad Hoc Member: Hanu Damerla, MD
Ad Hoc Member: Jagannath Nayak, MD
Ad Hoc Member and CARE Co-Chair: Huey Merchant, MD
Ad Hoc Member and CARE Co-Chair Ijeoma Ijeaku, MD MPH FAPA
Resident Representative: Richard Hadi, DO
Central California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ECP Representative: Tricia Roberts, MD
Northern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ECP Representative: Janani Venugopalakrishnan, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ECP Representative: Rishi Parikh, MD
Jan 2019-Dec 2020
President: Christopher Thompson, MD
Secretary-Treasurer: Sonia Gaur, MD
Immediate Past President: Hanu Damerla, MD
President-Elect (Jan 2019-Dec 2020): Alejandra Postlethwaite, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Stewart Teal, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: William Arroyo, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Roger Wu, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rep: Alejandra Postlethwaite, MD
Resident Representative: Ritika Kaula, MD
Jan 2017-Dec 2018
President: Hanu Damerla, MD
Secretary-Treasurer: Alejandra Postlethwaite, MD
Immediate past President: Robert Holloway, MD (SC-ROCAP)
President-elect (Jan 2017-Dec 2018): Christopher Thompson, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Representative: Lally Pia, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: William Arroyo, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Roger Wu, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Alejandra Postlethwaite, MD
Resident Representative: Anjam Bahl, MD, MD
Jan 2015-Dec 2016
President: Robert Holloway, MD (SC-ROCAP)
Secretary-Treasurer: Roy Eyal, MD (NCROCAP)
Immediate past President: Marcy Forgey, MD (SC-ROCAP)
President-elect (Jan 2015-Dec 2017): Hanu Damerla, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Representative: Lally Pia, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: William Arroyo, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Roger Wu, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Alejandra Postlethwaite, MD
Resident Representative: Anjam Bahl, MD, MD
Jan 2013-Dec 2014
President: Marcy Forgey, MD (SC-ROCAP)
Secretary-Treasurer: Petra Steinbuchel, MD (NCROCAP)
Immediate past President: Roger Wu, MD (NCROCAP)
President-elect (Jan 2013-Dec 2014): Robert Holloway, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Representative: Fawzia Ashar, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: William Arroyo, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Roger Wu, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Jeffrey Rowe, MD
Jan 2011-Dec 2012
President: Roger Wu, MD
Secretary-Treasurer: Robin Randall, MD
Immediate past President: Stewart Teal MD
President-elect (Jan 2011-Dec 2012): Marcy Forgey, MD
Central California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Representative: Fawzia Ashar, MD
Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Marcy Forgey, MD; alternate—William Arroyo, MD
Northern California Regional Organization of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Roger Wu, MD
San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Jeffrey Rowe, MD
Jan 2010-Dec 2010
President: Stewart Teal, MD
Secretary-Treasurer: Marcy Forgey, MD
President-elect (Jan 2011-Dec 2012): Roger Wu, MD
Prior to 2007, with the restart of CALACAP
President: Basil Bernstein, MD
Secretary-Treasurer: Jeff Rowe, MD
Immediate past President: CALACAP had been quiescent for approximately a decade prior to its restart in 2008
President-elect (Jan 2011-Dec 2012): Stewart Teal, MD