University of Kentucky College of Social Work

Biographical Sketches

Otto Kaak, M.D. is a Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky and a Principal Investigator of the UK CATS project and Co-Principal Investigator for the UK Bioterrorism and Behavioral Health Project. He is the training director of the Triple Board Residency Program, a capacity he has filled since 1986 when the program was instituted as a pilot, and he is a founding member of the Kentucky Attachment Project, which educates, advocates and provides training for professionals working with children with attachment disorders.

Allen Brenzel, M.D. has served as a statewide consultant to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Resources (CHFS). In that role he has contributed to public policy development with particular expertise in Child Welfare and Child victimization issues. He has developed multiple training curriculums including a recent statewide training on Child Fatality Prevention. He frequently lectures on child mental health topics to medical and mental health professionals as well as child welfare staff. For the past several years he has lectured on the mental health implications of Bioterror events with emphasis on recognition and differential diagnosis of mental status changes.

James Clark, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. , is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work and the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, as well as a Principal Investigator for the CATS project and Co-Principal Investigator for the UK Bioterrorism and Behavioral Health Project Dr. Clark is also a faculty affiliate at the Multidisciplinary Center on Drug and Alcohol Research and the Center for Research on Violence Against Women and an expert in forensic mental health issues.

Ginny Sprang, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. , is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work and the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky. She is a Principal Investigator for the UK Behavioral Health Disaster Response Project and the Comprehensive Assessment and Training Services (CATS) Project. Dr. Sprang has authored the book “The Many Faces of Bereavement: The Nature and Treatment of Natural, Traumatic and Stigmatized Grief”, as well as numerous articles on trauma, bereavement and victimization of adults and children.

Adrienne Whitt-Woosley, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. is a clinical social worker and adjunct professor for the University of Kentucky. She is also a founding member of the UK CATS Project and the Project Director for the HRSA funded UK Behavioral Health Disaster Response Project, which provides research and training for healthcare professionals statewide and nationally regarding disaster response. Ms. Whitt-Woosley’s clinical work is primarily related to trauma, crisis intervention and promoting healthy attachment relationships among families.

Heather Risk, Psy.D. completed her Master of Science at Eastern Kentucky University and her doctoral studies at Xavier University. She is a member of the UK CATS Project and participates as a trainer for the ASPR funded UK Behavioral Health Disaster Response Project. Dr. Risk completed an APA accredited internship at the UC Davis Children’s Hospital, CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Sacramento, California in 2006. Dr. Risk’s clinical interests include providing empirically supported treatments to children and families who have experienced maltreatment.

Last updated on 2-28-08
comments or questions may be sent to
Erika Bauer, Erika.Bauer@uky.edu