our shared purpose
ABOUT ACCESS
Access began as a community of action; a shared desire to make a difference. Since our inception, we’ve remained a genuine experience of fellowship, built on shared values, common goals, and collaborative work.
our history: a legacy of care and training
How the San Francisco community came together to form Access Institute
In the 1990s, sweeping cuts to healthcare funding led to the closure of community mental health clinics across San Francisco, sharply reducing access to long-term care for low-income and marginalized communities. The closure of the community mental health clinic at UCSF Mt. Zion deepened this crisis, eliminating both essential services for patients and a vital training ground for future clinicians.
Access Institute was founded to protect and advance this proven model of community-based care. As an independent mental health clinic, we provide high-quality, long-term treatment without arbitrary limits and train the next generation of clinicians committed to equity and excellence.
Built by a community that refused to let this care disappear, Access Institute exists to ensure compassionate mental health care remains accessible to those who need it most.
OUR TEAM
Staff
Laura E. Mason, MNA
Executive Director
Gregorio Fernandez
Business & Development Manager
Paulina Gavilanez
Director of Operations
Naomi Kosman-
Weiner, PsyD
Staff Psychotherapist
Rachel Krellenstein, LCSW
Staff Psychotherapist & Elder Program Liaison
Bart Magee, PhD
Founder & Senior Advisor
Jeremy Mintz, PsyD
Director of Internship Training
Laura Rivera
Rodriguez, LMFT
Staff Psychotherapist and School Program Liaison
Halleli Toder, PsyD
Director of Fellowship Training
Sam Tucker, MD
Volunteer Psychiatrist
PROVIDERS
Doctoral Interns
Yael Goldstein-Love, MA
Leo Guillemin, MA
Joo Young Ok, MA
Priscilla Posada-Pedrin, MA
Bhavana Vadrevu, MA
Fellows
Anna Augustinos, PsyD
Sydney Emerson, PsyD
Nora Gomperts, ASW
Mary-Frances Miller, AMFT
Sullivan Oakley, PsyD
Edward Suprenant, AMFT
Mimi Zora, AMFT
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
Nida Goheer, RN
PD Wang-Santos, RN
Board of Directors & Advisory Board
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Laura Powell, President
Eliana Sur, Vice President
John Ramsbacher, Secretary
Nancy Kokolj, Treasurer
Caroline Duffy
Nina Kaiser, Ph.D.
Christine Lin
Krista Mitzel, Esq.
Katherine Robertson, Psy.D.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Robin Beers, Ph.D.
Jeanne Wolff Bernstein, Ph.D.
Barbara Blasdel, Ph.D.
David Blazevich (Past President)
Victor Bonfilio, J.D., Ph.D.
Cary Dakin, Ph.D., LMFT
Douglas G. Denton (Past Board President)
Amy Wallerstein Friedman, LCSW
Joel Ginsberg, J.D., M.B.A. (Past President)
Francisco Gonzalez, M.D.
Toni Vaughn Heineman, DMH
Phyllis Kempner, Ph.D.
Ellen Koskinas
Michael Krasny, Ph.D.
Maureen Murphy, Ph.D.
Jean Robertson
Stephen Sabin, Psy.D. (Past President)
Joan Sarnat, Ph.D.
Lee Slome, Ph.D.
Linda Tucker, PsyD (Past President)
Harriet Wolfe, M.D.
