The Connection Between Long-Term Medical Costs and Unaddressed Childhood Trauma with Dr. Heather Jelonek, DBH

This episode of Disruptors at Work: an Integrated Care Podcast explores the Culminating Project (CP) research of Dr. Heather Jelonek, DBH, a recent graduate of the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) degree program at Cummings Graduate Institute (CGI). The Culminating Project, the capstone experience of the Doctor of Behavioral Health program at CGI, is an applied integrated care project demonstrating innovation in the field and ability to respond creatively and competently to the needs of rapidly-evolving patient population and healthcare environments. In this episode, Dr. English and Dr. Jelonek dive into the topic of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the connection between the long-term medical costs associated and unaddressed childhood trauma. Dr. Jelonek completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at the University of Illinois – Chicago before beginning her healthcare career at First Health Group Corp., where her passion for integrating healthcare began. As she rose within the ranks of the health insurance industry, she earned her Master Degree in Clinical Psychology at Benedictine University in Lisle Illinois. Heather holds professional licenses in the States of Illinois and Arizona as a Counselor specializing in childhood and adolescent behavioral health. Throughout her career, Dr. Jelonek struggled with closing the mental health gap with the healthcare industry and viewed this obstacle as the primary threat to the spiraling costs of healthcare. During her studies at Cummings Graduate Institute, she was introduced to the ground breaking CDC/Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences study and the connection between the long-term medical costs associated and unaddressed childhood trauma, which sparked the research for her Culminating Project. Dr. Jelonek currently serves as the Director of Medicaid Program Innovations at Health Current, the health information exchange (HIE) that helps partners transform care by bringing together communities and information across Arizona.

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