Staff Bios

Center Director
David J. Kolko, PhD

David Kolko, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Pediatrics, at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and a fellow of the American Psychological Association. At UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, he directs the Special Services Unit, a program devoted to the development and dissemination of evidence-based treatments for use in diverse community settings and systems serving children, youth, and families, including pediatric primary care, juvenile justice, child welfare, and mental health. He is also director of Services for Adolescent and Family Enrichment (SAFE), a treatment program that collaborates with probation officers from the Juvenile Court to serve adolescents adjudicated of a sexual offense. He developed Abuse-Focused CBT for child physical abuse which has now been expanded into Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy" (AF-CBT) for use with families involved in conflict, coercion, and/or physical aggression/abuse. His books include Assessing and treating physically abused children and their families: A cognitive-behavioral approach (2002, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA) and the Handbook on Firesetting in Children and Youth (2002, Academic Press). A sample of Dr. Kolko's clinical-research activities and articles may be found online.

Program Director
Eunice Torres, MS

Eunice has been a member of the SAFETY Program since 2000. Eunice is the diagnostician, clinical supervisor, and SAFETY Program Director. She has advanced clinical training and experience in diagnostic assessment and in the treatment of child and adolescent firesetters and other behavior problems as well as affective symptoms including ADHD, ODD, CD, Depression and Anxiety. She conducts training seminars and workshops in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. Eunice is a native from Puerto Rico and is fully bilingual (Spanish/English). She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology at The University of Puerto Rico (UPR).

Eunice is a culturally skilled clinician who has demonstrated effectiveness in working with culturally diverse populations. She understands how race, ethnicity and culture can affect help seeking behavior, the expression of psychological disorders, personality formation, and the appropriateness or inappropriateness of counseling interventions. Her research and clinical interests are in the assessment of juvenile firesetters, the utilization of assessment results for the identification of treatment targets, and for the development of sound treatment plans, the incorporation of a strengths based approach to the assessment and treatment of juvenile firesetters, the use of an ecological framework which require paying attention to the multiple forces that shape children and adolescent's adaptation and development and the developmental progression of child and adolescent problem behaviors as well as the desistance of problem behaviors. After graduating from UPR she moved to Pittsburgh where she completed her Masters Degree in the Child and Family Development Program at the School of Social Work in the University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Torres completed four years of coursework in the Doctoral Program of the Developmental Psychology Program at the University of Pittsburgh.

Medical Director
Kristen Eckstrand, MD, PhD

Dr. Eckstrand is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the Western Psychiatric Hospital of UPMC. Dr. Eckstrand holds an M.D. and Ph.D. in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University, and is internationally recognized for their leadership supporting the health of LGBTQ communities. Dr. Eckstrand has published four textbooks and numerous peer-reviewed papers on the mental and physical health needs of LGBTQ communities, including the training of healthcare professionals to provide affirming and responsible care to LGBTQ individuals. Dr. Eckstrand founded the Vanderbilt Program for LGBTQ Health, the second LGBTQ-focused program at an academic health center in the country, co-directs the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s LGBTQ Health elective, and speaks nationally on the importance of diversity and identity in health. Dr. Eckstrand’s clinical work and neuroimaging research focuses on the neuropsychiatric underpinnings of trauma and resilience in adolescents, with an emphasis on minority communities and vulnerable populations. Dr. Eckstrand’s research has been published in top-tier journals such as JAMA Psychiatry, and been recognized by Honorary Membership in the World Psychiatric Association and awards from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association, and Society for Biological Psychiatry. Dr. Eckstrand’s commitment to diversity has been recognized through awards from the American Medical Association, American Medical Student Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Tennessee Medical Association.

Senior Treatment Clinician
Patrick McCormick, MA

Patrick McCormick is senior treatment clinician at the SAFETY program. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Duquesne University and his Master of Arts degree in forensic psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He completed a clinician internship in the Forensic Diagnostic Unit at Downstate Correctional Facility. Patrick has been a member of the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital community since 2014, transitioning into the SAFE team from UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Acute Adolescent Partial Hospitalization and Re:Solve Crisis Center. Patrick has experience using evidence-based treatments for a variety of clinical issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, lethality and problematic behaviors. Patrick is also a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP).

Treatment Clinician
Dana Ritchey, MS

Dana Ritchey is a treatment clinician at the SAFETY program. She received her undergraduate degree from Washington & Jefferson College, her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree from Chatham University. Dana has experience using evidence-based treatment to address a variety of clinical issues including trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, ODD, as well as community-based and family-based issues. Dana also has experience in multiple roles within the dependency court system including advocacy, legal training and clinical treatment.

Research Specialist
Olivia Brauer, BA

Olivia Brauer is the Research Specialist for the SAFE, SAFETY, and PFE programs. Before transitioning into her current role, Olivia worked at Western Psychiatric Hospital as a Research Associate for SKIP for PA, a treatment implementation study examining the delivery of behavioral health services in pediatric primary care offices.

Lead Research Project Coordinator
Kevin Rumbarger, BA

Kevin Rumbarger has worked with Dr. Kolko and Ms. Torres since 2007. Kevin strives to provide efficient, friendly, effective service to clients and fellow staff alike.