Out & About: Mental health advocates honored at 'Innovations' dinner

Shirley McMarlin, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

May 7—Dr. Lisa Issac said she was "honored, humbled, shocked and overjoyed" to receive the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from Mental Health America of Southwestern PA, but her resume speaks for itself.

A Monroeville resident and former chief of medical services at Torrance State Hospital, Issac continues to serve various organizations in her retirement years.

She is president of Gateway Medical Society, an MHA-SWPA board member and an officer with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and the Women's Missionary Society of the A.M.E. Church.

She was recognized at the annual MHA-SWPA Innovations Awards dinner on April 27 at Antonelli Event Center in Irwin.

The awards go to people who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of those affected by behavioral health issues. Other awards announced by the organization's CEO Laurie Barnett Levine included:

—Community Advocacy Award to Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio, who presides with President Judge Christopher Feliciani over the county Adult Drug Treatment Court.

—Curtis Upsher Jr. Recovery Award to Vito DonGiovanni, a retired clinical psychologist with nearly 40 years of experience in community mental health.

—Education Award to Beth Dolinar, a producer and writer at WQED Multimedia whose documentaries have explored various social and mental health issues.

—Media Excellence Award to "The Catholic Accent," a television program, news website, magazine and newspaper of the Diocese of Greensburg.

—Mental Health Advocate Award to Amy Herschell, senior director of research strategy and outcomes management at Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, UPMC Insurance Services Division.

—Prevention Award to Hadara Katarski, adjunct professor of sociology in sport and sport psychology at Seton Hill University and Saint Vincent College and coordinator of student athlete well-being at Seton Hill.

In addition to Barnett Levine and Issac, the MHA-SWPA special events committee includes board President Adam Quatrini, Regan Chemski, Josie Funari, Michelle Gordon, Don Lawry, Anita Leonard, Heather McLean, Marybeth Grandinetti Pultz, Molly Robb Shimko, Kim Sonafelt, Richard and Joanna Stillwagon, Joan Stairs, Bev Stonick, Christine Vitale and Deb Wasilchak.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .