Faculty and Staff

Faculty/Staff Member	Bio
Tanya Sorrell Associate Professor	Tanya R. Sorrell, PhD, PMHNP-BC is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, Director of the $3 million Illinois SOR funded grant, “Illinois Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence – SUD-COE,” and the Assistant Director of the Great Lakes NIH NIDA Great Lakes Clinical Trials Network. Dr. Sorrell’s doctoral work is in rural and urban underserved Mental Health and Substance use services research, with a minor in Complementary and Integrative Behavioral Health practices for Latino groups. Continue clinical research in best practices for SUD outcomes in the development or rural substance treatment facilities led to a $2.5 million grant in Colorado for improving access to MAT in rural counties. Her clinical and education work led to state and national accolades as she has served on national SAMHSA committees for Cultural Competence in Nursing Care. Additional research work focuses on culturally based Behavioral Health and Substance use treatment services, with a current NIH grant to incorporate traditional Latino care practices in SUD treatment. She’s published articles on increasing behavioral health/substance outcomes of rural/urban under-served populations by promoting culturally based approaches to increase access, engagement, and outcomes in care.
Avelina Padin Assistant Professor	Avelina Padin, PhD, is a clinical health psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Ohio State University and completed residency and fellowship training in the Women's Health and Trauma Psychology program at Rush. Dr. Padin has expertise in the assessment and treatment of behavioral health concerns related to women’s reproductive health, sexual health, and psychological trauma. She is an attending psychologist in the Outpatient Psychotherapy Services clinic, where she provides individual psychotherapy and co-directs the Rush DBT group therapy program. Dr. Padin serves as co-principal investigator for the BRIDGES program, a grant-funded effort to improve systems of care for families of young children impacted by trauma on the West Side of Chicago. She is also the director of the Rush Perinatal Narrative Exposure Therapy (p-NET) training program, which aims to equip interdisciplinary providers and students with the skills and support needed to deliver this evidence-based trauma treatment to pregnant and postpartum patients.
Image Deanna Doss Social Worker & Administrative Assistant	Deanna Doss, MSW, LSW, is the administrative assistant and social worker in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Section of Community Behavioral Health. She completed her undergraduate degree in Community Health at Chicago State University as well as her Masters in Social Work. Her education and career have always focused on her passion for working with children and families. Deanna is continuously seeking to gain more skills and broaden her education. She will soon be engaged in supervision to obtain her clinical hours to take the exam and become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Deanna believes that change happens when people are given the guidance they need to draw on their own strengths and realize their potential to live fulfilling, happy lives.
Image Janel Draxler Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner	Janel Draxler, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She has nearly a decade of experience in psychiatric nursing serving patients across the lifespan in various treatment settings. Additionally, she has advanced training in public health nursing. Janel strongly values the intersection between education, research, and evidence-based clinical practice. Her professional interests include working with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, examining social determinants of mental health, and reducing healthcare disparities in youth with socially complex needs.
Octavia Daniels Operations Manager	Octavia Daniels, is the Operations Manager in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Section of Community Behavioral Health. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University. After spending 14 years working at a leading global financial services firm in various roles, Octavia began a path in non-profit. Prior to this role, Octavia was a Project Manager at an executive search and consulting firm where she partnered with non-profit clients nationwide performing candidate outreach and interview processes. Currently, Octavia is a Board Member with Girls Like Me Project, Inc, a mentor program catered to African -American girls aged 11-17. She's also currently a mentor with One Million Degrees and has been a dedicated volunteer and mentor throughout Chicagoland for the past 20 years. She is passionate about education and believes in doing her part to create meaningful change within the community.