Webinar: Military Suicide Prevention and Protection Efforts — Advancements from "Face The Fight" Coalition Members

Carla Stumpf Patton, EDD, LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP

Dr. Stumpf Patton serves as the Senior Director of Suicide Prevention & Postvention Programs at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), where she oversees programs and services provided to military community members and families after a suicide loss. She is a suicidologist and subject matter expert in the areas of grief, trauma, and suicide prevention, intervention, and Postvention, is a registered ASIST trainer in suicide first aid, and is trained in Psychological Autopsy Investigations and Crisis Response Planning. Dr. Stumpf Patton holds a B.S. in Psychology, an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Guidance Counseling, and a Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology. Her dissertation research focused on military families bereaved by suicide, and was a key contributor in the development of the TAPS Suicide Prevention Model™. Dr. Stumpf Patton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Fellow Thanatologist, a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Florida Qualified Supervisor, and a counseling educator in higher academia. She is the surviving spouse of Sergeant Richard Stumpf, an Active Duty U.S. Marine Corps Drill Instructor and Gulf War Era Combat Veteran who died by suicide in 1994, several days before their only child was born. She is remarried to a retired U.S. Marine, who was also a suicide survivor widower, with whom she shares five children.

Katy Dondanville, PsyD, ABPP

Dr. Katy Dondanville, Face the Fight Chief Scientific Advisor, UT Health San Antonio, is a psychologist dedicated to enhancing mental health care accessibility and quality. As an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, she collaborates with researchers, clinicians, and systems to achieve this goal. Leading the STRONG STAR Training Initiative, Dr. Dondanville has trained over 3000 clinicians globally, reaching 10,000 individuals with evidence-based treatments for PTSD, suicide, and related areas. Additionally, she serves as Chief Scientific Advisor for Face the Fight, guiding the initiative to reduce veteran suicide rates. With expertise in PTSD treatments and a commitment to research-driven solutions, she strives to improve therapy access and effectiveness for all. Beyond her leadership roles, Dr. Dondanville mentors junior faculty and postdoctoral fellows, sharing her knowledge and experience to foster the next generation of mental health professionals. She has contributed significantly to the field with over 100 scientific papers and over 150 presentations at research conferences, emphasizing her dedication to advancing mental health care through research, training, and advocacy.