Ryan McCann, LIMHP, NCC, celebrated his fifth anniversary on the ASPIRE (Active Support for Psychosis in Recovery) team.
Melissa O’Dell, MD, Founding Director for ASPIRE, said this about McCann:
Ryan is a cornerstone of our team and a valued contributor to the department at large—often in ways that are quiet, steady, and profoundly impactful.
Ryan is an exceptionally skilled therapist. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside him as a co-therapist in behavioral family therapy, where his ability to attune to patients and families, hold complexity with calm, and facilitate meaningful change continues to impress me. Whether in one-on-one discussions on our shared patients, during our weekly ASPIRE team meetings, or in our ASPIRE therapist consultation group, Ryan brings a thoughtful, grounded, and deeply compassionate perspective that raises the bar for us all.
Equally notable is Ryan’s commitment to teaching and mentorship. He is generous with his time and expertise, particularly with counseling students in the ASPIRE Psychotherapy for Psychosis Internship Program led by Dr. Sarah Fischer. His guidance has helped shape the development of many trainees, including TWO Elizabeths – Eliza West and Beth Howell – both of whom chose to remain with us as therapists after graduation. He has also taken a leading role in organizing our behavioral family therapy training, helping to expand both the reach and depth of this work across our department. Within the residency program, he teaches family therapy and has served as an excellent psychotherapy supervisor.
In his role as one of our ASPIRE intake therapists, Ryan is often the first point of contact for patients and families entering our program. He navigates complex logistics and difficult conversations with clarity, warmth, and humanity. For many patients and families in crisis, he represents the first “face” of the psychiatry department. Ryan embodies exactly the kind of care and professionalism we strive to offer every patient.
Ryan’s impact also extends beyond these formal roles in ways that can easily go unheralded. A recent example: during an ASPIRE book club discussion, Ryan mentioned the rare book room at McGoogan—a hidden gem just steps away from Poynter Hall. This inspired me to incorporate a visit into the PGY-4 history of psychiatry course, which happened this month. This experience was the perfect capstone to the course and will now become a standing part of the curriculum. It’s one small but meaningful example of how Ryan’s curiosity and engagement enrich our broader educational mission in unexpected ways.
In a department as busy and complex as ours, it is easy to overlook the steady contributions that truly shape our culture and our clinical and educational outcomes. Ryan is someone whose presence elevates those around him—patients, trainees, and colleagues alike. We are incredibly fortunate to have him as part of the ASPIRE team and the Department of Psychiatry.
Please join me in congratulating Ryan on this milestone and in thanking him for the many ways he contributes to our mission.