MHCD Research and Development

Linda LaGanga, Ph.D.

Linda Laganga is a Licensed Professional Counselor and certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors. She received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a concentration in Operations Research and a minor concentration in Strategic Management. As Director of Quality Systems & Operational Excellence at MHCD, she leads and coordinates MHCD's strategic planning with the Board of Directors and staff. Her department collaborates in facilitating consumers' recovery from mental illness as MHCD develops outcome tools and learning collaboratives to drive service quality improvement. Her ongoing research and university teaching focus on management of service operations and expanding healthcare access. Published appointment scheduling research with co-author Steve Lawrence of CU-Boulder has been featured in American Medical News, Wall Street Journal On-line, the Denver Business Journal, Colorado Public Radio, and ReachMD Radio shows.

Shawna McGuckin

Shawna McGuckin brings a wealth of leadership and organizational skills to Evaluation and Research. She has 10 years experience in non-profit management. In addition to her work at Evaluation and Research, she is currently the Reaching Recovery representative, and she also worked on MHCD’s Mental Health Treatment Study. Her past positions have included Director of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program and Facilitator for the National Drug Court Institute.

Cathie McLean, M.A.

Cathie McLean earned a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado, and is a Certified Addictions Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor.  For over six years she worked with homeless women at one of MHCD’s residential drug and alcohol treatment centers, and currently serves as the agency’s Quality Improvement Manager.   Her present responsibilities and interests include facilitating Peer Review and Utilization Management processes, training staff on documenting standards, and exploring and implementing strategies for integrating outcomes tools into the clinical workflow.

Marcia Middel, Ph.D.

Dr. Middel received her M.Ed. from Springfield College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver. Dr. Middel is a licensed psychologist who currently serves as the Lead Psychologist for the Mental Health Center of Denver. As Lead Psychologist Dr. Middel functions as the Director of Training for the pre-doctoral psychology interns, and is the primary supervisor and director of all psychological assessments done at MHCD. Dr. Middel directs the MHCD student training program for student externs and is the Chairperson for the Supported Faith and Spirituality Committee. Dr. Middel is the Director of the fee for service psychology assessment and the behavioral medicine services programs with Wellshire Behavioral Services. Dr. Middel has been a private practice clinician for 30 years and has worked in the Departments of Psychiatry at The Denver Children’s Hospital and at University Hospital, Denver.

Scott Nebel, Psy.D.

Scott Nebel obtained Bachelor’s degrees (B.A.) in both Psychology and Film at the University of Colorado at Boulder, as well as his Master’s degree (M.A.) and Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) from the University of Denver. Dr. Nebel has been affiliated with MHCD since 2005, when he began as a therapist extern at the Urban Peak shelter. He became involved with the Evaluation & Research team during his pre-doctoral internship at MHCD through his involvement with the child recovery, resiliency, and systems of care project. The measure and evaluation of mental health resiliency in children and families remains a primary area of interest for Dr. Nebel during his current therapeutic work with the Intensive In-Home Services team and continued collaboration with the Evaluation & Research department.