Robert J.F. Elsner, PhD, DMin, is Professor and Chair of Psychology at Samford University. Having led research projects and programs in several countries, Rob is on numerous Editorial Boards and was Editor-In-Chief of Current Research in Psychology for five years.

As a lacrosse player in college, as well as a former professor of Family and Community Medicine, Rob has deep personal experiences with athletes and mental health from a variety of perspectives. He has taught Sport Psychology for 20 years.

Justin E. Morales, MD is a current 4th year psychiatry resident at NYU and a rising Massachusetts General Brigham (Harvard) Addiction Fellow. After getting his BS in Biology, he served as Class President all four years at Howard University College of Medicine and graduated with academic and professionalism honors (AOA and GHHS).

He is getting subspecialty training in addiction, with other interests in sports psychiatry, interventional neuromodulation, and psychotherapy.

Dr. Lily Kurtz is a board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner actively practicing in New York City. After earning her Doctor of Psychiatric Nursing Practice from Columbia University, she has focused on providing comprehensive mental health care to current and former athletes of all levels.

She also holds a degree in Cognitive Brain Science from Tufts University, where she swam all four years — earning Scholastic All American, All Conference, and All American Consideration honors.

Dr. Kurtz’s goal is to ensure that seeking care does not involve the additional pressure of being forced to choose between mental wellness or peak performance.

Doria hails from NYC and holds a bachelor of science in political science and a master’s in public administration. Her background entails policy analysis, advocacy, and equity-centered leadership. With over a decade in the nonprofit sector, her experience spans direct service and administration.

She is a fundraising and philanthropy professional with expertise in developing initiatives that target key social issues, raise visibility to donors, sponsors, and clients, and help drive value to non-profit brands.

Doria is passionate about arts and culture, social justice, and youth and girls/women empowerment and is the Founder of Your Why LLC.

Matt is currently the head boys lacrosse coach at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio, has a professional career in commercial banking and is currently the Policy and Advocacy director for Alston for Athletes. Matt played lacrosse for The Ohio State University and has been coaching at DeSales since 2005, winning State Championships in 2012, ’18, ’22, & ’24.

Matt organized Central Ohio lacrosse coaches to be trained in Mental Health First Aid in 2018. During the pandemic of 2020, many coaches reached out to him for help with players suffering mental health crises. He pursued a legislative path ensuring all high school coaches in Ohio are equipped with Mental Health training as a requirement for coaching certification.

Matt’s legislation was included in Ohio HB33 and signed into law in summer 2023 — the first legislation of its kind requiring high school coaches to have mental health training. He believes that winning and understanding mental health aren’t separate, but linked together.

Kaitlyn is a former Division 1 gymnast and a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with a degree in Psychology and double minors in Education and Spanish. She is committed to being a voice for athletes of all backgrounds and levels, advocating for their mental well-being and representation within the sports world and beyond.

Working alongside researchers, legislators, and athletes, she strives to advance mental health initiatives in legislation while helping coaches find a healthier balance — pushing athletes to perform at high levels without compromising their well-being. She is particularly passionate about the connection between mental health and athletic performance, focusing on integrating psychological tools into coaching to establish sustainable support systems for athletes.

Her ultimate goal is to destigmatize mental health in athletics and dismantle systems that prioritize athletic achievement over the human being behind it.

AJ is a former D1 wrestler and a graduate of Brown University, with a degree in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Studies. He is committed to being a catalyst for change within athlete mental health and well-being space, as well as promoting healthier living within an individual’s athletic career and beyond.

CEO of Pedro Peak Performance, AJ is committed to helping individuals reach their full potential in sport and life through a balanced approach of training, nutrition, and mindset.

His ultimate goal is to increase awareness and offer support surrounding the challenges that athletes face in both their training and daily life, as well as navigating through injuries — both career and life-altering.