Our Team

Charles Raison, M.D.

Principal Investigator
raison@wisc.edu

Charles L. Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare, and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.” With Vladimir Maletic he is author of “The New Mind-Body Science of Depression” published by W.W. Norton in 2017.

Dr. Raison received his medical degree from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha and won the Missouri State Medical Association Award. He completed residency training at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital in Los Angeles. In addition to his medical training, Dr. Raison obtained his Masters of English from the University of Denver.

Co-Investigators

Christopher Nicholas

Credentials: PhD

Position title: Co-Investigator, Lead Facilitator

Email: christopher.nicholas@fammed.wisc.edu

Stephanie Jones

Credentials: PhD

Position title: Co-Investigator

Email: sgjones2@wisc.edu

Matthew Banks

Credentials: PhD

Position title: Co-Investigator

Cody J Wenthur

Credentials: PharmD, PhD

Position title: Co-Investigator

Email: wenthur@wisc.edu

Team Members

Laura McCormick

Credentials: BA

Position title: Clinical Trials Program Manager

Email: ljmccormick2@wisc.edu

Tina Sauder

Credentials: MS

Position title: Regulatory Manager

Email: cjsauder@wisc.edu

Jordan Bialock

Credentials: BS

Position title: Clinical Research Coordinator

Email: bialock@wisc.edu

Rassamee Kahrs

Credentials: MS, MFT-IT

Position title: Facilitation Program Coordinator, Co-Facilitator

Email: kahrs@wisc.edu

Chantelle Thomas

Credentials: PhD

Position title: Lead Facilitator

Email: chantelle.thomas@fammed.wisc.edu

Alexander Einsman

Credentials: MS, LMFT

Position title: Lead Facilitator

Email: aceinsman@wisc.edu

Dana Goodman

Credentials: MS, LPC

Position title: Lead Facilitator

Email: dana.goodman@wisc.edu

Casey Wagner

Credentials: MA, LPC

Position title: Lead Facilitator

Email: cgwagner2@wisc.edu

Jimmy Barlow

Credentials: BS

Position title: Research Intern

Email: jjbarlow2@wisc.edu

Tess Durham

Credentials: MS

Position title: Research Coordinator

Email: tdurham3@wisc.edu

Emma Bublitz

Credentials: BS

Position title: PhD Candidate

Email: ebublitz@wisc.edu

Mika Hess

Credentials: MS

Position title: PhD Candidate

Email: mrhess2@wisc.edu

Michael Sutherland

Credentials: BS

Position title: Research Intern