Change Starts With You

Latasha Ellis, PhD, LCSW, LISW-CP

President

Dr. Ellis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, teaching faculty member, and presenter with over 24 years of post-graduate experience. Her extensive background spans a wide range of populations and settings—including schools, maximum security prisons, community mental health centers, and various medical environments. She holds a certificate in Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care from the University of Michigan, a master's degree from University of Maryland at Baltimore, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago, IL. Currently, she serves as a Regional Mental Health Director of a national Advance Primary Care company. A proud graduate of Leadership North Carolina, Dr. Ellis leads with both compassion and integrity. Originally from Maryland, she has a deep love for seafood, especially blue crabs. In her free time, she enjoys connecting with nature through landscaping, bird watching, and hiking, as well as indulging her passions for interior decorating, traveling, and spending quality time with family.

Mona Ismail, MD

Dr. Ismail is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from Cairo University, where she also completed her neurology residency at Cairo University Hospitals. Following this, she pursued psychiatric training at New York Medical College at St. Vincent’s Hospitals, where she was appointed Chief Resident and recognized as Resident of the Year. Dr. Ismail further specialized with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UMDNJ/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Her career includes multiple leadership roles, notably serving as Chief of the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs (PHP) at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, where she provided direct care to young patients. She has also held Medical Director positions across various clinical settings, including child and adolescent inpatient units, outpatient programs, and intensive outpatient services for both adolescents and adults with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders. An active educator, Dr. Ismail has been a teaching faculty member, delivering lectures and providing supervision and evaluations for medical residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. Her academic contributions extend to research, where she has served as a principal investigator on multiple studies. Throughout her career in leadership and teaching, Dr. Ismail maintained an integrative private practice in New Jersey, serving residents of the NJ and NY metropolitan areas before relocating to North Carolina. Dr. Ismail is passionate about integrative medicine, which combines evidence-based alternative therapies with conventional treatments to optimize outcomes. Her approach focuses on promoting overall wellness, keeping both the body and mind in harmony.

David Roundtree, LCSW, LISW-CP

David brings over 30 years of experience in the field of mental health, with a deep commitment to breaking down stigma—particularly within minority communities where shame often stands in the way of receiving quality care and support. A former Marine, David leads with authenticity, integrity, and compassion. He is especially dedicated to improving the emotional and psychological well-being of men in our society, advocating for open dialogue, access to care, and holistic support systems.

Shannon Brinkley, BSW

Shannon is a seasoned social worker and registered yoga teacher with 30 years of local government experience in North Carolina's child welfare system. She is committed to delivering high-quality care to families across the state, consistently leading with strong ethics, professionalism, and compassion. As a mother and social worker, she understands the value of strong leadership in families and communities.

Tammy Lake

Tammy is a disabled Army veteran with 22 years of experience in the healthcare field. A dedicated mother to three young men, she leads with unwavering compassion and honor for all human beings. Her values are deeply rooted in both her military service and personal life commitments. Outside of her professional commitments, Tammy enjoys expressing her creativity through cooking and crafting.