Division of Quality and Innovation

Dr. Amber W. Childs is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry in the Yale School of Medicine, and is a member of the medical staff at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital (YNHPH). Childs is the co-founder and director of the Getting Racism Out of our Work (GROW) Initiative, co-founder of the Yale Measurement-Based Care Collaborative and founder of M-Select, a comprehensive digital mental health solution for youth at YSM. Childs successfully commercialized M-Select in 2024, at BeMe Health, where she served as Chief Clinical Officer from 2023-2024. Additional YSM leadership roles have included Director of Training for the Yale Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Community Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Co-Director of the Division of Quality and Innovation within YNHPH. Childs is deeply involved in antiracism and DEI efforts within the Psychiatry Department. She served as the Co-Chair of the Doctoral Internship Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, from 2020-2023, of which she has been a member since 2016 . She served as the invited co-chair of the Education Subcommittee of the Yale Department of Psychiatry Antiracism Task Force (ARTF) from 2020-2023 during which time she also served as a member of the ARTF Steering Committee . Childs’ work aims to improve equity, access, and outcomes in psychiatric services and education through data-driven quality improvement and a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She is dedicated to clinical and educational program innovations that support the implementation of evidence-based practices and diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts to improve clinical and educational practices. Across her roles, Dr. Childs professional activities include: 1) promotion and implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP), such as Measurement-Based Care (MBC), that prioritize person-centered, individualized treatment and improved psychosocial outcomes; 2) improvement of psychiatric treatment among those who experience chronic and acute psychiatric illness, particularly for young people who are marginalized and minoritized; and 3) cultivating a generation of psychology leaders who have a deep and sophisticated understanding of DEI as it relates to clinical service delivery, research, and education. Childs earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and completed a doctoral internship and post-doctoral residency at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, where she specialized in child and adolescent services.

David Klemanski, Psy.D., MPH, is the Director of the Yale Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Community Psychology, Director of the Psychological Assessment Service for Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Director of the Division of Quality and Innovation at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital. He completed both his predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at Yale University, within the School of Medicine and Department of Psychology, respectively. Dr. Klemanski specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders and psychological and diagnostic assessment. His research focuses on the psychopathological aspects of anxiety and common comorbidities. He investigates emotion regulation strategies and treatment outcomes associated with anxiety and mood disorders, with a goal of clarifying diagnostic overlap by identifying different regulatory processes linked to various emotional experiences. Additionally, he has formed research partnerships with Caravan Wellness to explore digital wellness and conducts studies on patient experiences in psychiatry. A recognized expert in psychopathology, mindfulness, and emotion regulation, Dr. Klemanski regularly publishes in scientific journals and presents at national conferences. He co-authored "Don't Let Your Anxiety Run Your Life: Using the Science of Emotion Regulation And Mindfulness to Overcome Your Worry And Fear," which translates clinical research into practical strategies for managing anxiety. Dr. Klemanski regularly contributes to media outlets including MSNBC and Vice Media, contributes to podcasts, and actively participates in community education through lectures, panels, and workshops.