ABOUT
After 19 years of delivering psychiatric and addiction medicine services to under-served populations in the public sector, Dr Sprenger started TeleWell Behavioral Medicine, as part of Sprenger Behavioral Medicine, Inc., with the goal of providing the same level of care and access to under-served communities using telehealth technology. It is our belief that patients with co-occurring mental health conditions and addictive disorders benefit from integrated care management.
TEAM
David Sprenger, M.D.
Project Director / Psychiatrist
Telewell Behavioral Medicine, is owned by Sprenger Behavioral Medicine, Inc. Dr. Sprenger is the CEO and Medical Director of Sprenger Behavioral Medicine, Inc. He completed his undergraduate degree at UC Davis and obtained an M.D. from the U.S. Government's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He is Board Certified in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Sprenger has been providing psychiatric and substance abuse services to American Indian/Alaska Native patients and families for over 20 years, including six years performing tele-psychiatric services.
His administrative and executive experience includes serving as a Behavioral Consultant, 2001-2006, and Chief Medical Officer, 2006-2011, both at the Indian Health Service/California Area Office in Sacramento, CA. He retired at the rank of Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service in 2011. Dr. Sprenger teaches psychiatry to third year medical students at California Northstate University College of Medicine.
Gale Beardsley, M.D.
Medical Director / Psychiatrist
Dr. Gale Beardsley is a board certified Psychiatrist with TeleWell Indian Health Program MAT Project, he provides our direct services such as psychiatric treatment for Opioid Use Disorder, Stimulant Use Disorder and Co-Occurring Psychiatric Conditions along with MAT for Opioid Use Disorder to the patients at the Indian Health Programs we work with.
He finished is undergraduate degree at Michigan State University and obtained his M.D. from the University of Michigan. Dr. Beardsley completed his internship at the University of Hawaii Affiliated Hospitals, Department of Psychiatry and he completed his residency at Brown University and Alpert School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. Dr. Beardsley has served on several committees such as the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association as a Legislative Committee Chairman and President and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Beardsley loves being a psychiatrist. He has trained and practiced all across the country from Michigan to Rhode Island, to Hawaii, and to California. He enjoys bringing all his experiences to his daily interactions with his patients now. He now practices exclusively via telemedicine.
Grace Katie Bell
MSN, RN-BC, CARN, PHN
Technical Assistance / Mentoring Consultant
Grace “Katie” Bell MSN RN-BC CARN PHN, is a nurse consultant with Telewell Indian Health MAT Project offering Technical Assistance, mentoring and training for California Tribal clinics as they develop Medication-Assisted Treatment programs. Katie has been a presenter for the UCLA Hub & Spoke Learning Collaborative and is part of the facilitator team for Tribal MAT Project Echo for Indian Health primary care clinics throughout California.
She is also currently Nurse Case Manager for the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program at Chapa-De Indian Health in Grass Valley, CA. Board-certified as Addictions RN since 2003, Katie has been working with the medication buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) since a 2001 Phase 3 NIDA clinical trial. Beginning in 2002, Katie has been developing and launching programs of care for patients with Opioid Use Disorders in multiple settings such as inpatient residential at Betty Ford Center, an urban Methadone clinic, a Dept. of Veteran Affairs Behavioral Health Clinic and now, Primary Care FQHCs and IHS primary care clinics.
Katie is also a MAT Nurse Consultant for Center for Care Innovations Treating Addiction in Primary Care (TAPC) 2016-2018. Katie is currently on the coach/mentoring team for Center for Care Innovations next MAT project Addiction Treatment Starts Here: Primary Care, launching in Feb. 2019.
Albert G. Titman Sr.
Miwuk, CADC II
Cultural Integration Technical Assistance / Mentoring Consultant
Albert G. Titman, hails from the Nishenom/ Miwok/ Maidu/ Pit River/Mexica people. He has created and built TeleWell’s Spirit of Healing Red Road to Recovery meeting specifically designed to meet the needs of those who are from the Native American community. Albert’s other major role is to teach and encourage cultural competency within the TeleWell system of care. Albert provides culturally sensitive services and is blessed with the opportunity to incorporate Native American wellness modalities in his work.
Albert is also the Lead Addictions counselor at the Sacramento Native American Health Center Inc. At S.N.A.H.C., Albert also provides alcohol/drug abuse assessments, diagnosis, and treatment to individuals, couples, families, and groups to achieve more satisfying and productive marriage, family, and social adjustment. Albert is a Registered Addiction Specialist through the Breining Institute of CA and attained a State Board CCAPP Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor CADC II. He is currently a trainer for White Bison’s Wellbriety Training Institute and has over 12 years of experience in implementing the Medicine Wheel & 12 Steps program in his community.
Last but not least, Albert is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Native Dads Network, based in Sacramento, CA. Albert wears many hats and has many responsibilities, but his heart is enjoying Miwok traditional ceremonial singing and dancing and cooking for his family.
Technical Assistance / Mentoring Consultant
Coco (Courtenay) Sly, RN is a Technical Assistance Specialist with Telewell Indian Heath Service MAT Expansion Project Team, supporting the development of MAT Programs in Rural and Urban Tribal Clinics across California. As a MAT Champion with four decades of clinical nursing experience along with cultural and traditional knowledge, she provides culturally centered MAT technical assistance with acute sensitivity to the impacts of historical, generational, and developmental trauma and grief. She recognizes the impact of substance use on the individual, their family, and the community's wellbeing, and is committed to the integration of evidence based best practice with traditional ways in facing this epidemic.
Courtney Sly
RN
Beau Medicine Crow
BSW
Outreach / Spirit of Healing Co-Facilitator
Beau Medicine Crow is a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nations and belongs to the Water Buster Clan. The tribe is located and encompasses the upper Missouri River/Lake Sakakawea area of North Western North Dakota. On his mother’s side of the family, Beau is a descendant of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California whose lands are present day Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Beau has worked with various Indian tribes, state agencies, and grass roots organizations for the benefit of Indian peoples. He is a former tribal councilman and NCAI delegate for one term of office from 2002 to 2006. He has worked with native American children and families, the formerly incarcerated, and incarcerated youth. His passion is working with people in their recovery process and working with the unhoused population in Sacramento, California, where he currently resides with his beautiful wife of 23 years and 4 beautiful children.
He is currently working on his BSW with a Minor in Native American Studies at California State University Sacramento. Beau Medicine Crow is also working as a Social Work intern at the Sacramento Native American Health Center. Beau is a current registered member of CCAPP – California Consortium of Addiction Programs & Professionals and NASW - National Association of Social Workers.