Our Company

We founded PsycHealth to change how patients, physicians, and mental health practitioners think about the relationship between psychological and physical health to improve lives.


Our Founders

Aurelio Prifitera, PhD, MBA

Aurelio identified the need to tie together mental and medical healthcare.  

Previously, Aurelio was the CEO of Pearson Clinical Assessments, a $300 million business that develops cutting-edge psychological and cognitive assessments. His career began as a clinician, researcher, and test developer before he turned to the business of psychological testing. Aurelio holds a Fellow status in the American Psychological Association. He is a member of the International Neuropsychological Society, National Academy of Neuropsychology, National Association of School Psychologists, and American Board of Assessment. 

Aurelio co-authored 60 peer-reviewed journal articles on psychological assessment testing, and several books on clinical and assessment interpretation. 

Aurelio studied at Loyola Univ. of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Chicago, and the University of Syracuse.

Alex van Putten, MBA

Alex van Putten’s career was in banking, arbitrage, and real estate, completing his first building on Fifth Avenue in New York when he was 28.  He built a career in arbitrage and real estate finance.  After which he joined the faculty at The Wharton Business School, where he taught entrepreneurship and innovation for 20 years.  During that time he co-founded Cameron & Associates LLC, a global innovation strategy consultancy. 

He is published in the Harvard Business Review, among other peer-reviewed journals, and the book, “Unlocking Opportunities for Growth,” published by Wharton Press.

Alex’s interest in psychology developed at an early age due to having a schizophrenic sister and a brother who was a well-known psychiatrist.

 Alex studied at Boston University, Columbia University, and the The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Senior Research Director

Dr. William J. ("Billy") Mea, Ph.D., Principal at Alpha Force Advisors, LLC, specializes in healthcare solutions, AI research, and clinical staffing for mental health.

Dr. Mea's career spans significant roles including active duty and reserve clinical psychologist in the U.S. Navy, Commander of the Marine Combat Stress Team in Fallujah, Iraq, and leadership at the Traumatic Brain Injury unit at Walter Reed National Medical Center.

At Georgetown University, Dr. Mea teaches policy courses integrating business best practices such as innovation, change management, program evaluation, and leadership.

Dr. Mea's research, published in top peer-reviewed journals, spans management, human behavior, artificial intelligence, ethics, national innovation systems, and economics, reflecting his diverse academic interests and expertise.

Advisors

The Beck Institute – Creator of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, trainer and psychologist certification in CBT

Richard Haug, MD – Primary care: Temple Univ. Medical School; formerly with Penn Medicine

James Holdnack, PhD – Psychometrics: currently with the NINR developing Virtual Reality psychological therapies

Antonio E. Puente, PhD – Prof. UNC, neuropsychology: representative on AMA CPT committee, former President APA, Fulbright Scholar

Don Sakfloske, PhD – Prof Univ. Western Ontario: expert in personality, individual differences, and emotional intelligence

Linda Gerardi MBA – Senior technology product leader in healthcare and Ed Tec

Indendent Board Member:

  • Charles Streitwieser: Angel Investor and Venture Partner at NextGen Partners a division of Brown Bros. Harriman

Legal Counsel

Carl Covert, Jr. – IP & General counsel

NixonGwiltLaw - Healthcare regulatory counsel

Venable LLP – Business, Tax, M&A counsel