Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South

Bishop Gerasim was born in 1961, in Torrance, California. He graduated from University High School in Irvine in 1979. He studied at both UC Irvine and UC Santa Cruz, focusing on Spanish literature. He speaks fluent English, Spanish and Russian.

He entered the St Herman of Alaska Monastery in 1981, was tonsured a monk in 1992, ordained to the priesthood in 1995, and elevated as Abbot of the monastery in 2000. He served as Abbot until August 2009.

In 2012 he graduated from St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary magna cum laude with a Master of Divinity degree. He was the class valedictorian and also received commendations for contribution to community life and for his thesis, Russian Icons in a Native Church: Conflict in Culture in Western Alaska.

In 2013 Archbishop Benjamin elevated him as Archimandrite. Later that year he was assigned to Saint Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas, Texas, where he serves as cathedral dean. On May 18, 2021, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America elected Archimandrite Gerasim as Bishop of Fort Worth, Auxiliary to His Eminence Archbishop Alexander and the Diocese of the South. He was consecrated to the episcopacy on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at Saint Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas, Texas.

To read His Grace Bishop GERASIM’s extended biography with details of his journey to Orthodoxy and monastic life please visit, https://www.oca.org/holy-synod/bishops/the-right-reverend-gerasim

The Hagop S. Mekhjian, MD, Endowed Chair in Medical Ethics and Professionalism & Director of The Ohio State University Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities

The Rev. Dn. Sampson (Ryan) Nash, MD, MA is the Hagop S. Mekhjian, MD, Endowed Chair in Medical Ethics and Professionalism and the Director of The Ohio State University Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities. He also holds appointments as adjunct Professor of Christian Ethics at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Professor of Medicine at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. In addition to being an active educator, administrator, and serving as a healthcare ethics and clinical bioethics advisor and consultant, Dr Nash continues to be active in Palliative Medicine caring for patients primarily with advanced cancer. Dr Nash’s scholarship focuses on practical, procedural, and policy issues related to Medicine, Clinical Bioethics and Palliative Medicine. He also explores ethics foundations at the nexus of medicine, ethics, theology, religion, and culture. Dn Sampson serves at St. Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church (OCA) in Columbus, Ohio. He is the grateful husband of Sarah and proud father of four daughters. He occasionally helps them run their small farm north of Columbus.

Dr. Nash received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and his master’s degree in Bioethics from Trinity International University. He completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Medical School, a fellowship in palliative medicine at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and was a fellow and visiting scholar at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Nash has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care, and Fellow in the Academy of Fellows of the Center of Bioethics and Human Dignity. He has repeatedly been named to the “America’s Best Doctors” and “World’s Best Doctors” lists.

Archiepiscopal Vicar for the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

The Right Reverend Archimandrite Calinic Berger is the Archiepiscopal Vicar for the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Dogmatic Theology at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, and as visiting professor of dogmatic theology at St Vladimir’s Seminary in New York. His teaching, research and academic publications have concentrated on Chalcedonian Christology and contemporary Orthodox dogmatic theology, most especially that of Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae. He is a graduate of Santa Clara University (1988), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (1994) and the Catholic University of America, where he obtained his Ph.D. in historical theology (2003).

Founding Co-Chair of the Analytical Psychology and Orthodox Christianity Consultation

Dr. Pia Sophia Chaudhari holds a doctorate in theology from the department of Psychiatry & Religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York. She is the author of Dynamis of Healing; Patristic Theology and the Psyche (Fordham University Press 2019), as well as numerous articles, including on marriage and theosis, the unconscious and prayer, and healing and the Theotokos. Her research interests include theological anthropology, depth psychology, processes of healing, the feminine, aesthetics and beauty. She spent two years working as a chaplain intern in a psychiatric hospital, and has trained and worked extensively in Jungian psychoanalysis. She is a founding co-chair of the Analytical Psychology and Orthodox Christianity Consultation (APOCC) which was started in order to promote dialogue across the fields of Orthodox theology/pastoral care and analytical psychology after Carl Jung, and which has hosted several gatherings as well as having presented at OCAMPR in the past. Dr. Chaudhari served as a Steering Committee member of the Assembly of Bishops’ Mental Health Task Force.

Dr. Randa Anderson is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides psychotherapy to adults, adolescents and children in her private practice. As a member of the Orthodox Christian Counseling Institute, her practice serves primarily Orthodox Christians in the Chicagoland area. She also regularly offers workshops and seminars on topics at the intersection of psychology and the Orthodox faith with an emphasis on practical applications in everyday life. 

Dr. Anderson completed her Doctorate in Psychology at the University of Chicago and her clinical training in the University of Chicago Hospital’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and at Michael Reese Medical Center.

She currently serves as a consultant to the Mental Health Ministries of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, through which she co-chaired the working group that created the National Directory of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals. Additionally, she serves on the board of Thriving in Ministries, which offers peer learning groups for Orthodox clergy and clergy wives. 

Dr. Anderson has led multiple ministries within the Orthodox Church throughout her life and is inspired to lead OCAMPR because of its interdisciplinary foundation and its focus on offering collaboration, continuing education, and community for Orthodox Christians in the healing professions. She also loves the Pan Orthodox nature of the organization, as she herself was raised in the Antiochian Church, has been an active member of a Greek Orthodox parish for the past 31 years, and has close family members in the OCA. Moving forward in 2024, Dr. Anderson notes, “OCAMPR is in an exciting period of growth in membership, in programming, and in mission. I feel very blessed to begin another term leading this exceptional organization.” 

Susan Zacharia is a licensed clinical social worker and is the Program Manager of Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital’s Addiction Treatment Program. In the last 8 years, her specialties have included substance use treatment, suicide prevention, and general outpatient mental health treatment using CBT and DBT. She was raised Indian Orthodox and she served for 6 years as its Diocese of South-West America Secretary for the Department of Counseling where she has advocated for mental health awareness and increased access to mental health resources. She also served on the Assembly of Bishops Mental Health Task Force developing the Needs Assessment that surveyed the mental health needs of the pan-Orthodox population in America. She currently attends St. Makarios the Great Orthodox Mission in Chicago with her husband and daughter. She is most excited about the opportunity that OCAMPR affords her to promote interdisciplinary dialogue within the context of a truly pan-Orthodox community. 

Dr. Sarah Byrne-Martelli is a Board Certified chaplain who has served in Acute Care and Hospice since 2002. She is the Senior Chaplain for the Massachusetts General Hospital Division of Palliative Care in Boston, MA and the author of “Memory Eternal: Living with Grief as Orthodox Christians” (Ancient Faith, 2022). She is on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care and a Cambia Sojourns Scholar Leader.

Sarah is endorsed as a chaplain by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. She oversees the chaplaincy group within OCAMPR and mentors new chaplains from various Orthodox jurisdictions. She also co-hosts the Ancient Faith podcast “The Wounded Healer: Visiting Christ, Visiting the Sick, Visiting Ourselves.” She regularly leads parish retreats, women’s retreats, and workshops related to spiritual care, grief, and bereavement.

Sarah attends St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA, with her husband, Dr. Peter Martelli, and their son Rafael. Sarah holds a Doctor of Ministry from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School.

Fr. Andrew is the Assistant Pastor of St. Nicholas Antiochian Cathedral in Los Angeles. He received his BA degree from Cal Poly Pomona in Agricultural Business Management with a minor in Computer Information Services. He also has a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership from the University of California, San Francisco.  He completed the St. Stephen’s Course of Study receiving a Certificate in Applied Orthodox Theology from the Antiochian House of Studies in 2005. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at the hands of Metropolitan JOSEPH on July 3, 2005 in San Francisco, CA.  After serving over fifteen years as a deacon first at St. John the Evangelist Church in Orinda, CA and later at St. Timothy Church in Fairfield, CA he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at the hands of Metropolitan JOSEPH on December 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA.  Fr. Andrew was attached to St Timothy Church until his assignment to St Nicholas Cathedral in August of 2020.

Father Andrew has served many roles in his lifetime in the Orthodox Church including Teen SOYO President, Director of Camp St. Nicholas and Camp St John summer programs; was the founding Chairman of the Archdiocese Department of Communication and Information; and was registration chairman for two parish life conferences. Fr. Andrew is a former Board of Directors member of the St. Herman Orthodox Theological School in Kodiak, AK as well as Project Mexico and the St. Innocent Orphanage. He is also a life member in the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch. 

In his secular career, Fr. Andrew worked as the Director of Information Services for Sutter Health, an Integrated Healthcare Delivery System in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Valley for fifteen years.  He retired from the Healthcare industry and began full time pastoral ministry in January of 2021.  Prior to this, Fr. Andrew served as Director of Applied Professional Services for an information technology consulting firm specializing in large scale system implementations, business process improvement, and technology / process integration.  He began his computer career in High School writing and publishing game software for the Apple II computer.  His hobbies include umpiring little league baseball and playing rock and roll keyboards.

Dr. Ioana Popa is trained in all 3 disciplines represented in the OCAMPR organization: medicine, psychology and religion, and is currently serving as the Medical Chairperson. She is a physician – psychiatrist, Christian spiritual care life coach, educator, speaker, workshop presenter and trainer, who completed her MD degree at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest Romania and her Psychiatry Residency Program at University of Rochester, Rochester NY. She completed her MTS degree at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline MA with a focus on spiritual direction.  At Hellenic College Holy Cross she has provided psychological & faith formation to the college students and seminarians, has taught multiple courses and also created new ones: ‘Stages of Faith’ and ‘Self-care for Helping Professionals’.  Dr. Ioana has completed 2 CPE (Clinical Pastoral Care Education) units and holds multiple professional certifications such as Internal Family Systems Certified Practioner, Psychosynthesis Certified Life Coach, National Board Certified Life & Leadership Coach (BCC) to name a few. She is also an Advanced Grief Recovery® Specialist through the Grief Recovery® Institute which offers the only evidence-based grief program. 

Dr. Ioana is co-founder of the Team For The Soul®, Coaching, Consulting and Spiritual Care, with her husband, Sebastien Falardeau, where she helps compassionate Christian women professionals and servant leaders to regenerate daily, prevent burnout, move from grief to hope & transform toward higher potential in Christ through online interdisciplinary programs, workshops, trainings, groups, 1-on-1 spiritual care life coaching, and membership programs. She provides training to the public through her ‘Thriving In Christ’ Podcast and Youtube show and presents at conferences, leads workshops and retreats at churches, and other organizations.  

She  presented multiple times at the OCAMPR Conferences and published several articles on topics such as Healing the Healer, Watchfulness, Christ as the Healer’s Prototype – all at the intersection of science, psychology and theology.  In her medical career she was the Chief Resident in the Long-term Care Unit, the Medical Director of the Bath VA Medical Center Behavioral Health Careline, has provided care in outpatient clinics & partial programs and has currently a small private practice. She is licensed as a physician in NH and MA and is a member of the CMDA – Christian Medical & Dental Associations®. She is also a professional member of the Orthodox Coaching Network.  

Dr. Ioana has served in many volunteering capacities for Orthodox Christian churches and organizations. She co-founded ‘Witness to Christ – A Spiritual Journey’, a program organized by the Antiochian Diocese of Worcester and New England under Bishop JOHN. She was part of the Directory Working Group for the Mental Health Task Force, under the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, was a Board Member in the Theophany School, Needham MA, Church School Director at St. Demetrios Church, Weston MA, chanter at St. Mary Antiochian church, Cambridge MA, and one of the founders of the Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church, in Rochester, NY.

Fr. Sean Levine serves on active duty with the U.S. Army as a military chaplain, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He previously served as a Protestant Chaplain before leaving active duty in November of 2006, after two combat tours in Iraq, in order to convert to Orthodoxy and attend St Vladimir’s Seminary. Graduating in May of 2010, Fr. Sean re-entered active duty during the surge in Afghanistan, deploying to southern Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012. In addition to an M.Div. from St Vladimir’s, Fr. Sean has M.A. degrees in Theological Studies and Biblical Studies from Asbury Seminary (2003, 2008), a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas A&M University–Central Texas (2017), and a Doctor of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary (2023). Fr. Sean’s D.Min. dissertation, entitled “Pastoral Guidance: Theological Anthropology and the Art of Pastoral Care,” describes intersubjectivity and the dynamics of interpersonal encounters within an Orthodox understanding of human personhood. Fr. Sean has presented papers and workshops at OCAMPR’s Annual Conference and has published several articles and book chapters both through OCAMPR and in other venues. Working closely with the Orthodox Church in America’s Office of Pastoral Life, Fr. Sean and his wife, Mka. Jennifer, assisted in the writing of the Lilly Sustainability Grant for Thriving in Ministry, a peer-learning initiative for clergy and clergy spouses, and Fr. Sean has presented multiple times for the OCA’s clergy and clergy spouse online retreats on the topic of clergy/spouse/family care and wellness. Fr. Sean has been actively engaged with the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops’ Mental Health Ministries as a steering committee member and a consultant. Presently, in his role as a chaplain, Fr. Sean works for the Office of the Command Chaplain at the Installation Management Command, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, his and Mka. Jennifer’s home city.

Joel Klepac is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been working in a college counseling center in central Kentucky and teaches adjunct in the MA in Counseling program at Asbury Theological Seminary. He also worked in community mental health, a state psychiatric hospital and in a detention center setting providing psychotherapy and skills training. He has also led workshops on appropriate empathy, honesty and collaboration within the church and at annual OCAMPR conferences.  He became Eastern Orthodox while living and working in Romania for 8.5 years and has been on the parish council at St. Andrew Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lexington, KY where he also sings in the choir.  He has recently written a book incorporating psychology, spirituality and memoir of his time in Romania called Miserere Mei: A Journey of Self-discovery through the Art of George Rouault. 

Mena Mesiha is an orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty practice in Fall River, MA that is dedicated to the operative and nonoperative management of shoulder problems. He also holds a masters degree in theology from Boston College, which he completed in 2021 and included course work at the Hellenic College of Holy Cross in Brookline, MA. One of the many things that Mena loves about OCAMPR is that it is a place that unifies many of his diverse interests by creating a space where members share experiences on the spirituality of clinical practice. He has presented at the annual conference on Surgeons and the Unsolvable Problem and on Spiritual Exile as a Path to Discernment. As OCAMPR grows and broadens its mission, Mena hopes to facilitate communication with and encourage engagement with fellow Oriental Orthodox Christians, physicians, surgeons, and other potential associate members from the diverse pool of people that can benefit from and contribute to the mission of OCAMPR.

Dean brings over a decade of experience as a licensed mental health therapist and addiction counselor, serving diverse populations in Minnesota and Illinois. His expertise lies in the specialized treatment of addiction and trauma, garnered through clinical roles in Christian-based and secular treatment centers. Currently immersed in academic pursuits, Dean is enrolled at Pacifica Graduate Institute, working towards an M.A./Ph.D. in Depth Psychology with a Specialization in Jungian Psychology and Archetypal Studies. Beyond his academic endeavors, Dean is on the board of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion. Notably, he has been a featured speaker at their annual conference multiple times, contributing significantly to the discourse within the field.

Dean is a Mental Health Therapist at Northland Therapy Center in St. Paul, MN, where he actively applies his extensive knowledge and experience to benefit his clients. His commitment extends to the community, where he is an engaged member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, further emphasizing his holistic approach to well-being. Dean shares his life outside the professional realm with Leigh-Ann, his wife and fellow mental health therapist. Together, they are proud parents to two sons, Theo and Nehemiah.