2023 Torch Awards
WACH’s Annual Torch Awards Ceremony is coming up!
May 15 @ Harrisburg University
The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg (WACH) is inviting corporate sponsors to support our
2023 forum series on the Mental Health Crisis. We will kick off the series as part of our annual
Torch Awards, with the theme “The State of Mental Health-Youth.” The event will be held 6-
7:30 p.m. Monday, May 15 at Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, 326 Market St,
Harrisburg, PA 17101.
The initial forum on youth and mental health will feature remarks from respected medical
professionals. Dr. Renu Joshi, a board member of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, has
agreed to moderate the first discussions. In keeping with our mission to provide opportunities for
Central Pennsylvania residents to engage in local, national and global issues, WACH is
committed to making public health education a pillar of our educational outreach in the
community.
Our Public Health Initiative was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide our
community with trusted sources of information on the virus and vaccines. We also are focused
on helping our community better understand health disparities in Black and Brown communities,
including issues related to mental health and wellness.
Torch Award Honorees
Speakers
-
Aaron WarrickCo-founder & CEO of REJUAaron is the Co-Founder and CEO of Reju, Inc. Reju app encourages mental, physical, and emotional success by equipping people to overcome adversity and manifest their best selves with bite-sized pieces of wisdom, guidance, and inspiration. Reju provides peer to peer therapy connections bridging the gap between end users and license practitioners.
-
Aarushi DedhiyaPennLive Youth ColumnistAarushi Dedhiya is a student at Cumberland Valley High & 2022 Youth Torch Award honoree. She is a former intern with the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg & columnist for PennLive.
-
Dr. Melissa BrownPhycologist - UPMCMelissa Brown, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist. She received her doctoral degree from Chestnut Hill College, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship specializing in the treatment of autism and developmental disorders.
Dr. Brown’s experience includes treating toddlers, children/adolescents, and adults with co-morbid diagnoses of autism and anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, ADHD, and trauma. Dr. Brown utilizes an integrative approach; drawing upon object relations, cognitive behavioral and verbal behavioral modalities to treat various mental health disorders affecting both children/adolescents and adults.
-
Dr. Renu JoshiEndocrinologist, Mount Nittany Medical CenterDr. Renu Joshi is an endocrinologist who has practiced in the US for over 20 years. She is currently at Mount Nittany Medical Center and previously worked as VP of Population Health at UPMC Central PA. She is known for her work in diabetes care and has received numerous awards for her work.
-
Terri Bowling, MS, CTProgram Manager and Child Grief Specialist at Highmark Caring PlaceTerri Bowling is a Program Manager and Child Grief Specialist at Highmark Caring Place in Lemoyne, PA. She has been working with grieving children and their families in various capacities for the past 19 years. Finding unique ways to reach children and families in need and to educate professionals on the needs of grieving children is a passion. Terri has initiated and worked on collaborative efforts to elevate the voices of disenfranchised grievers: the voices of children who are grieving because of the opioid crisis; children impacted when visiting the bedside of caregivers in medical settings; and nurses working in ICU/CCU who experience grief and loss as a result of the critical and important work they do in a profession that straddles life and death.
Terri earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Millersville University and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. She is Certified in Thanatology (CT) through the Association of Death Education and Counseling. Terri has presented on various grief related topics at international, national, statewide, and local conferences.
