NEOMED celebrates 25 years of Crisis Intervention Team with anniversary event

Northeast Ohio Medical University’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence (CJ CCoE)and NAMI Ohio hosted the 25 years of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Celebration Dinner to mark its milestone anniversary. The event was held Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at the Hilton Columbus Polaris.

The event included recorded remarks from Gov. Mike DeWine, as well as an appearance from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton. Major Sam Cochran and Dr. Randy DuPont, founders of the CIT model, also addressed the attendees. 

Jon Pavloff and Rick Kellar of Peg’s Foundation, which has provided major support to the program over the years, were also on-hand to help celebrate the milestone anniversary, along with Nicole Dehner, director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services, Chris Nicastro, deputy director of Criminal Justice and Correctional Recovery Services at the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, and Luke Russell, executive director of NAMI Ohio.

NEOMED was represented by Dr. John Langell, president, John Stilliana, vice president for government and external affairs, Dr. Randon Welton, Margaret Clark Morgan Endowed chair and professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Ruth Simera, executive director of the Coordinating Centers of Excellence, Dr. Natalie Bonfine, associate professor of psychiatry, and Dr. Mark Munetz, professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry. Additionally, all staff of the CJ CCoE were in attendance as major contributors to the ongoing success of Ohio CIT: Dr. Emily Ribnik, director of the CJ CCoE, Mekal Banyasz, research, grants and evaluation manager, Theresa Richards, program coordinator, and Adam Peacock, dissemination coordinator.

“CIT is having a tremendous impact on community partnerships and the health and well-being of Ohio citizens who experience crises,” said Simera. “We are fortunate that Ohio CIT is truly a community partnership program, so much more than just training. This is worthy of stopping to celebrate as we look to the road ahead.”

The evening was emceed by Dr. Doug Smith, medical director/CCO, County of Summit ADM Board and NEOMED professor of psychiatry, and Robert Kasprzak, senior manager of community outreach, Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County.

Summit and Lucas Counties were the first in Ohio to adopt CIT.

Since its inception in 2000, the Ohio CIT has trained over 28,000 sworn officers and other professionals in all 88 Ohio counties. The CIT offers community-based programs that bring together law enforcement, mental health professionals, advocates, people living with mental illness and their families, and other partners to improve community responses to people experiencing mental health crises.

Photo: Dr. Doug Smith, Summit County ADM Board; Dr. Mark Munetz, emeritus chair of psychiatry at NEOMED and distinguished fellow of Peg's Foundation; NEOMED President Dr. John Langell; Jon Pavloff, chair, Peg’s Foundation; Ruth Simera, executive director of the NEOMED Coordinating Centers of Excellence; Rick Kellar, president and CEO, Peg’s Foundation; Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, retired Justice of Supreme Court of Ohio; Dr. Randon Welton, chair and professor of psychiatry; John Silliana, vice president for governmental and external affairs; and Jack Lundberg