Sustaining service for meaningful impact.

As the Founder and President of Greenleaf Integrative, Siddharth leads from a lifelong passion for supporting helpers, protectors, and healers in their work. As a physician and public health scientist, he sees the often overlooked complications trauma poses in the public service sector, which is why he started Greenleaf.

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While in high school in Texas, where he was born and raised, Siddharth joined volunteer projects to change the course of gender injustice, youth homelessness, community violence, and healthcare gaps. In 1994, he spent a year traveling across India by train, bus, and overstuffed tuk-tuks to immerse himself in studying, living with, and serving alongside the leaders of vibrant service organizations and peacebuilding efforts.

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While in India, Siddharth witnessed firsthand what is frequently hidden from view: the range of traumas that burden staff and the communities with whom they work. It was these stories of vicarious and community trauma that led him to wonder how the health sciences could strategically help those who serve in contexts where fear, conflict, and pain are a daily reality.

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After returning to the states, Siddharth sought out advanced training in the healing power of spiritual practices, mind-body medicine, yoga, and mindfulness. He earned an MD from Baylor College of Medicine, including a year of training focused on caring for military veterans and group interventions for trauma at the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry. Siddharth then moved to New York City to join a residency in Preventive & Behavioral Medicine, which included earning a Master of Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

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Two months into his residency in New York City, the 9/11 attacks cemented Siddharth’s conviction that a population-based approach to trauma is just as essential as diagnosing individual disorders and prescribing treatment. With this mindset, Siddharth saw an opportunity to serve responders and leaders impacted by the 9/11 attacks with an approach that uniquely combined neurobiological education and mind-body therapies to equip them to do something about their trauma. He served two populations with unique traumatic exposures: the first responders of the New York City Fire Department, Police Department, and Port Authority; and Sikh, Muslim, and Arab civic leaders who were supporting their community members further targeted with hate crimes. In the years following, Siddharth served as a consultant to organizations responding to chronic trauma or mass disaster.

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In 2008, Siddharth established Greenleaf Integrative to “operationalize wellbeing” with interdisciplinary colleagues all dedicated to the cause of preventing and mitigating trauma. For Siddharth, wellbeing is not only about building resilience to tolerate trauma better, but counteracting trauma’s impact by incorporating practices of integration + resilience. Siddharth sees operationalizing wellbeing as an ethical endeavor, always starting with the Hippocratic Oath—“First, do no harm”—and then incorporating a sense of history, honor for culture, and a blending of individual strengths.

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Siddharth’s ongoing work with Greenleaf focuses on stewarding organizational vision while engaging with sector leaders to drive innovation in trauma-responsive models. In his free time, he enjoys cooking with his family, playing ping pong, trekking with his dog, and coaching youth sports. When you meet Siddharth, ask him about laughter yoga.

As CEO, Karla leads Greenleaf in implementing the company's vision to be the best-in-class solution for organizations seeking to better handle trauma in their programs, systems, and teams. She works closely with a committed team of development, behavioral health, public health, and MEL practitioners to bring sustainable products and services to address our world’s most complex development challenges.

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Karla is a social work practitioner with over 20 years of experience in research, clinical practice, and non-profit management. She has collaborated with leading trauma practitioners, evidence-based treatment developers, and implementation science experts at the Center for Child and Family Health and RTI’s Center on Social Determinants, Risk Behaviors, and Prevention Science. Karla has also partnered with top national health service researchers at University of North Carolina’s Cecil G. Sheps Center to conduct stakeholder-engaged research funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

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Prior to joining Greenleaf, Karla provided consultation for the NC Office of Rural Health’s Farmworker Health Program and for El Futuro, a community mental health clinic, to implement bilingual tele-behavioral health for primary care clinics in rural areas. As El Futuro’s clinical program director, Karla managed a growing team of 15 licensed clinicians, led program design and implementation, and chaired the quality improvement committee.

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In her work, Karla has centered issues of community mental health, biculturalism, welfare reform, and provision of services to domestic violence offenders. In 2009, she co-authored an article in the Journal of Family Violence, and in 2019, she contributed to the Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused curriculum. In 2021, Karla co-authored an article for the Journal of Emergency Medicine, “Trauma Mitigation for the Workforce: A Conceptual Framework Applied in COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions,” with colleagues Dr. Siddharth Ashvin Shah, MD, MPH and Dr. Trever Dangel, PhD. The article was written for leaders and managers of organizations whose staff are routinely exposed to traumatic events or encounter dangerous conditions in the course of their work.

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Karla earned her Master of Social Work degree at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC and her Bachelor of Social Work degree at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.

As director of operations, Erin ensures Greenleaf’s organizational effectiveness with skillful project management and resolving day-to-day operational tasks and challenges. Erin supports Greenleaf’s financial operations and contract management for both domestic and international programs. She also oversees and manages human resources activities, including the recruitment, hiring, orientation, and training of personnel.

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She comes to Greenleaf from Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she worked for over a decade managing operations for the medical education program.

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She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master in Education from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History from Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA.

As director of programs, Christina oversees all of Greenleaf’s domestic and international programs. She leads the technical teams and supports the development and delivery of all trauma-responsive offerings.

Christina is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 20 years of experience in nursing, teaching, research, and administration—with an emphasis on community, global, and mental health. Christina trained and worked at leading medical centers including Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, and Duke University Hospital Systems in Durham, NC. She also worked at a Federally Qualified Health Center and a local NGO providing outpatient mental health services, with a focus on serving minoritized ethnic groups from Latin America and Asia.

Christina completed her master’s training in West Africa at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital in Ghana. There she partnered with local and expatriate nationals to help establish a local Clubhouse within the International Clubhouse model with the aim of providing rehabilitation for persons with mental health disorders.

Christina brings experience designing and leading group psychotherapy sessions using Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Narrative Therapy. She also collaborated widely with community, school, hospital, and family partners in the care of patients with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Christina’s clinical experience includes work with patients who have experienced sexual assault, cross-border migration, war and conflict, and interpersonal violence, all the while using psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and medication management to care for patients.

Christina earned both her Master and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC. She also completed a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.

Abir is the senior technical advisor in USAID’s Inclusive Development (ID) Hub, where she promotes U.S. development assistance that recognizes and respects the unique needs of marginalized groups. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Abir brings research and clinical expertise to address the complex needs of underserved and marginalized communities, with a particular focus on the role of trauma in shaping experiences of exclusion and vulnerability. Her work is informed by a deep understanding of complex identities, intercultural communication, and the intersections of marginalization in global development. Drawing on her lived experience and professional journey, Abir seeks to foster greater understanding across communities, advocating for inclusive and trauma-informed approaches in international development.

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Abir earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan in Dearborn, MI and a Master of Arts and PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, MI. She completed her doctoral fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT and her postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, CA, both in Clinical Psychology.

As the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) manager at Greenleaf, Lekha is responsible for oversight and leadership of all MEL activities across Greenleaf projects.

Prior to joining the Greenleaf team, Lekha was a licensed psychologist in India before pursuing further education in public health. In addition to her clinical experience, Lekha brings experience in mental health research and interventions, along with a strong skill set in data analysis, literature review, and synthesis to her current role. The culmination of Lekha’s previous roles has increased her acumen in scientific communication and research project management. This allows her to leverage her extensive experience to drive research-based decision-making and enhance public mental health outcomes.

Lekha earned both her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Additionally, she completed her Master of Public Health specializing in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and Mental Health from the Boston University School of Public Health.

As junior program analyst, Ambar serves on the Greenleaf client team that provides a range of institutional support services to USAID’s Youth Office within the Inclusive Development Hub. She works closely with team members and client stakeholders to support youth engagement programs around the world.

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Ambar is a humanitarian and development professional with over 8 years of experience in international and domestic programming. She specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), youth engagement, and disaster response. Ambar previously worked with USAID, the American Red Cross, and the International Rescue Committee, where she contributed to innovative training programs, coalition building, and inclusive program design.

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She brings unique perspectives and cultural engagement skills to establishing meaningful connections across diverse communities. Her expertise includes spearheading partnerships with stakeholders ranging from local community organizations to international agencies and implementing programs that prioritize vulnerable populations. Driven by a commitment to equitable development, Ambar blends strategic leadership with hands-on program management to deliver impactful solutions. Whether coordinating large-scale disaster relief operations, organizing youth-focused initiatives, or advancing equity, she remains dedicated to empowering communities and promoting person-centered humanitarian action.

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Ambar earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA and a Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action from the University of Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands.

As business development manager, Alain manages Greenleaf’s strategic business growth and business development efforts.

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With a rich background in the USAID business development sphere spanning over four years, Alain’s technical proficiency spans multiple USAID domains, positioning him as a versatile generalist. Alain is passionate about building local communities, urban development, and resilience, reflecting his dedication to creating positive impact.

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Before entering international development, Alain spent time working within the federal and local government in Washington, D.C., supporting grant funding initiatives, developing city-wide strategies, and improving transportation operations. In addition, Alain brings a strong business acumen and spent four years spearheading growth of the sales and operations management for a U.S. small business.

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Alain has a Master’s degree in Sustainable Urban Planning from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Goshen College in Goshen, IN. His holistic expertise and academic achievements underscore his commitment to driving meaningful change in business development and sustainable initiatives.

As a senior specialist, Ariel is responsible for contributing to the development and delivery of new products and services (e.g. frameworks, tools, training curricula) to equip Greenleaf clients to integrate trauma prevention, mitigation, and response capabilities across programs, teams, and systems.

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Ariel is a licensed independent clinical social worker whose work centers survivors of trauma and adversity—including torture, sexual/gender-based violence, conflict and displacement, and the wide spectrum of intersections among them.

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Ariel’s mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) experience spans domestically in Denver, CO, and Washington, D.C., as well as internationally in Greece, Australia, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Ariel’s clinical background includes case management services and trauma-focused psychotherapy. She also serves as an MHPSS technical advisor and trainer on global development projects. Ariel’s work demonstrates an unrelenting commitment to elevating and prioritizing local expertise in service delivery, program design, and training activities. Her clinical practice focuses on providing holistic and trauma-responsive care, by capably translating first-hand experience into strategies and skills for implementers to provide quality services amidst ever-changing, long-standing conflicts, and insecure operating environments. Ariel is passionate about promoting survivors’ resilience through trauma-responsive, strengths-based care—while protecting development organization’s greatest asset: staff.

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Ariel earned her Master of Arts in International Affairs and Master of Social Work at the University of Denver in Denver, CO as well as her Bachelor of Social Work from Lewis University in Romeoville, IL.

Atieno brings over 30 years of experience working with groups and individuals as a trainer, facilitator, and coach. Her experience spans corporate, clinical, law enforcement, non-profit, multilateral, community, and government settings–reaching over 1,000 domestic and international professionals globally.

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Atieno brings an action-learning approach to her facilitation, training, and coaching practice that is rooted in the arts and holistic understanding of people. Atieno is certified in Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama by the American Board of Examiners and is certified in Executive Coaching by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).    

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Atieno earned her Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Religion from Kenyon College in Gambler, Ohio, and a Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Dana brings extensive experience as a behavioral health program manager and practitioner in cross-cultural mental health interventions designed to serve underrepresented racial and gender minority leaders. Dana’s work is characterized by a strong focus on intersectionality, empowerment, interpersonal communication skills, and leadership and career development.

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Dana has over 11 years of national and international experience serving youth, survivors of interpersonal violence, formerly incarcerated women, refugees, people with severe persistent mental health conditions and their family members, activists and community leaders, and business leaders and entrepreneurs of color.

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Dana earned her Master of Education and Master of Arts degrees in counseling psychology at Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York, NY. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean studies with departmental honors from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

Kat brings a keen attention to experiential learning, accessible language, and clinical accuracy to every program and training activity she consults on. Kat’s person-centered approach to program implementation facilitates co-creation and forges strong partnerships with Greenleaf partners and clients enabling transformative and sustainable outcomes.

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Kat is a licensed creative arts therapist. In her private practice as a drama therapist in Connecticut, she practices embodied, trauma-centered therapy with individuals who are recovering from traumatic life experiences.

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Kat is the past Director of Secondary Education for Miss Kendra Programs through the Post Traumatic Stress Center in New Haven, CT, where she oversaw national trauma-responsive programming for K-12 students. She currently consults for the trauma-responsive initiative at the Horizons Chapter at Sacred Heart University, where she trains educators on best practices and provides staff support for occupational stress.  

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She has served as faculty at New York University and the Kint Institute, focusing on cultural awareness, intersectionality, and decolonization in creative arts therapy. Kat has also facilitated training at Lewis & Clark University, Wilfrid Laurier University, the North American Drama Therapy Association Conference, and the Expressive Therapies Summit.

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Kat earned her Master of Arts in Drama Therapy at New York University in New York, NY and her Bachelor of Arts in English at Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH.

As senior organizational development consultant and coach, LeRoy develops and delivers tailored sustainable solutions for clients operating in highly demanding environments, enabling them to improve enterprise performance while protecting employees’ emotional wellbeing.

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His tenure with Greenleaf goes back to 2010, when Greenleaf first partnered with his longtime management consulting firm, Thompson & Associates. Since then, LeRoy has taken on an expanded role in delivering programs and results to Greenleaf clients.

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Prior to founding Thompson & Associates in 1983, LeRoy was an associate with McKinsey & Company in their Washington D.C. office, where he led a range of client strategy projects and mastered the consulting firm’s well-known hypothesis approach to solving business challenges. He has served a wide range of government, healthcare, corporate, and non-profit clients.

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LeRoy’s business expertise spans organizational development, systems thinking, quantitative and qualitative research, strategic planning, process complexity reduction, change management, leadership development, instructional design, and facilitation and training.

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He holds a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business from Columbia University Graduate School of Business in New York City; a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in English and American literature and language from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA; and a PhD in Theology from Trinity Theological Seminary in Evansville, IN. He is an award-winning business author and has been a featured speaker at numerous national and international business conferences.