Staff Bios

Judy Strauss

Vice President - Clinic & Counseling Division

Judy has worked as a clinician and an advocate in the mental health field for 31 years.

Judy holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, a Masters in Rehabilitative Counseling from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.  She has supervised clinicians and case managers for many years.  Post-graduate training has included Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia at the Menninger Institute in Kansas and PAIIRS training for Couples in Washington, D.C.  She is a board member of the Mental Health Association of Milwaukee County, a commission on Aging for the Milwaukee County Department of Aging.  In 1988, she received the Melvin S. Zaret Award for Jewish Communal Service.

Hirsh Larkey

Vice President, Psychological Services

Hirsh joined Jewish Family Services in 1991 after spending three years with a sister agency, Jewish Family and Children’s Services in St. Louis.  In addition to his clinical work with clients, Hirsh is involved with program development in the areas of prevention of interpersonal violence and outcome management.  His clinical interests include anger management, anxiety disorders and career or work-related issues.

Hirsh holds a doctoral degree in Psychology from the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology and a Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis.  He has received post-graduate training in sex and marital therapy from the Masters and Johnson Institute, in family therapy from the Menninger Institute and in Brief Solution Focused Therapy from the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee.

Rebecca Alberts

Rebecca is a psychotherapist who has been practicing for over 20 years.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a Masters degree in the Expressive Arts Therapies from Lesley University in Massachusetts.  She has taught Art Therapy and Dance Movement Therapy on the graduate level and currently teaches body mind healing classes in the Dance Department at UWM.

Stress and Anger Management are two of Rebecca’s specialties at JFS.  She runs groups on anger management and parenting groups that focus on nonviolent ways to raise children.  She also offers a group that addresses affects management and self-soothing skills through art, movement and mindfulness.  Ms. Alberts is also a nondenominational minister who explores spiritual issues with clients upon request.

Joyce Appel

Joy has been associated with Jewish Family Services since 1985 when she joined the staff of the Older Adult Services Department.  Relocation to Chicago temporarily interrupted her career with JFS.  Upon her return to JFS in 1990, Joy joined the Family Department, providing treatment to individuals, couples and families.  Joy became the Director of the Clinical and Case Management Services in July 1999 and later the V.P. of the Clinical and Counseling Division.  She has recently retired and currently provides clinical services to a limited number of clients.

Joy completed a two-year postgraduate training program in the treatment of couples and families at the Family Institute of Chicago.  She holds a Bachelors and Masters degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, as well as Certification in Women’s Studies.

Linda G. Buchsbaum

Linda Buchsbaum joined the staff of JFS in November 2007 and brings with her more than twenty years of training and experience in individual, couple, and family therapy.  She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, grief, and marital, parenting, divorce and stepfamily issues.  In addition to her practice at JFS, Linda is a clinical instructor at the Medical College of Wisconsin and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor for marriage and family therapists. Linda has Master’s degrees in both counseling and social work from the University of Pittsburgh.  Her post-graduate training includes certification as a marriage and family therapist, a cognitive therapist from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and as an approved supervisor from the Family Therapy Training Institute of Milwaukee.  She is licensed by the State of Wisconsin in four areas:  Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor.

Michelle Buckler

Michelle Buckler worked for JFS for slightly over a year in 1999 as a therapist.  She returned to Milwaukee and then JFS, joining the Clinical & Counseling Services Division in 2005.  Her present assignment is working with children and families.  Michelle holds a Masters degree in Education from the University of Akron in Ohio and has previously worked as an administrator in the private sector and as a therapist at Catholic Social Services in Medina, Ohio.

Karen Forman

Karen joined JFS in July 2007 as an Advanced Practice Licensed Social Worker.  Prior to joining staff, Karen completed an internship at JFS and also Ozaukee Counseling Center, where she facilitated groups for individuals with depression and personality disorders.

Karen has a Master’s degree in social work and certification in Marriage and Family Therapy from UWM, a MBA with a marketing concentration from Emory University, and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Rutgers College.

Norma Gilson

Norma Gilson joined JFS in May 2008 as Coordinator of the Jewish Community Mental Health Education Project, and will be responsible for coordinating programs and providing resources and education to help decrease the stigma of severe and persistent mental illness in the community.  Norma previously served as a member of the Older Adults Advisory Committee for JFS.  Before joining the agency as an employee, Norma was a speech pathologist, and worked with children from preschool through highschool age.  She holds a Life License from the Department of Public Instruction and a Wisconsin State License in Speech/Language Pathology. Norma obtained her B.S. in Communication Disorders from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her M.S. in Speech Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Michael Luber

Michael joined Jewish Family Services in 2003 and is the Program Coordinator for the Pathways to Healing Program, a program which supports individuals through times of illness or crisis.  Michael specializes in working with individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses.  In addition, he has experience with issues of sexual abuse and anxiety/phobias.

Michael is a licensed professional counselor and holds a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology.  Prior to joining JFS, he had a variety of experience in social service, hospital and private practice settings.

Shelley London

Shelley joined Jewish Family Services in 1982 after six years with JFS in Los Angeles.  In addition to her current clinical casework, Shelley provides social work consultation to Yeshiva Elementary School and the Milwaukee Jewish Day School.  Shelley specializes in treatment of children and adolescents, young adults, parenting issues, and grief and loss counseling.  She has supervised social work students from the University of Southern California, Hebrew Union College and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Shelley holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College for her twenty-five years of service as a Jewish Communal Worker in 2001.

Darcy McDaniel

Darcy joined JFS in 2000 as a Clinical Case Manager and worked with a varied population ranging from work with children, families, older adults, and individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.  She remained with the agency until 2005 and recently re-joined the agency after taking some time off to start a family.  She coordinates the Kids in the Middle® program, along with resuming a clinical caseload.  She also coordinates the Late Life Counseling (LLC) program which provides in-home counseling to homebound older adults in Milwaukee County. 

Before joining JFS, she worked in Louisville, KY, supervising a home visitation program for families who were considered “at risk” of child abuse and neglect.

Darcy is a native of the Lisbon, ND area and received her Bachelors degree from Moorhead State University, MN and her MSSW from the University of Louisville.

Marybeth Murphy

Marybeth has been with Jewish Family Services for thirteen years and is currently a case manager in the Exceptional Needs Program.  She acts as an advocate and liaison for clients, facilitates the Breakfast Club, a socialization group for individuals with chronic and persistent mental illness and manages Lee Apartments, a living facility for people with mental illness.  She also coordinates the JFS Adoption Services Program, which reaches out and provides services to potential adoptive parents in the Jewish community.  Marybeth holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Carin Pittleman

Carin Pittleman is a Case Manager, working with individuals with exceptional needs to support their ability to live as independently as possible.  Carin holds a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and has worked as a counselor for the Wisconsin Cancer Information Services, a Client Advocate with the Medical Assistance Program of Wisconsin and as Director of Education for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.

David Prodoehl

David is a Case Manager in the Exceptional Needs Division., serving adult clients who have severe mental illness or who are developmentally delayed.  David participates in outreach programs operated by Jewish Family Services such as the Sandy Naimon Breakfast Club, a socialization group that has been meeting continuously for nearly twenty years.

David holds a bachelor degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Deborah L. Rosen

Deborah L. Rosen joined JFS as the Director of Pathways to Wellness in April 2008. Deborah has worked as a facilitator and educator in corporate, nonprofit and academic environments for over twenty-two years and has had her own educational business for over fourteen years.  She has been a Campaign Associate at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and is currently the Board President of the International Institute for Global Leadership.  Deborah has over eleven years experience with integrated healing methods and spiritual healing practices.  She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from the University of WI-Milwaukee in Organizational Communication with a specialty in Educational Training and Curriculum Design.

Beth Shapiro

Beth joined the JFS staff in 2001.  She is the Intake Coordinator for the agency and the first point of contact for most clients of the Clinical and Exceptional Needs Divisions.  She also facilitates the Kosher Mobile Meals Program which delivers prepared Kosher meals to older adults and patients in area homes and hospitals.  Prior to coming to JFS, Beth worked at Planned Parenthood as clinic manager.  Beth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Melanie Wasserman

Melanie joined the staff of Jewish Family Services in 1999.  She is a licensed independent clinical social worker who facilitates groups, such as the agency’s mandated co-parent divorce class, bereavement groups and support groups for individuals struggling with a loved one who has a mental illness.  In addition to providing individual psychotherapy to adults, Melanie also has extensive experience working with older adults.

Melanie has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She has completed the Marriage and Family Therapy certification program, as well as the Trauma Counseling certification program.

Consulting Physicians

H. Steven Moffic, M.D.

Dr. Moffic has worked with Jewish Family Services since 1993.  He has been practicing psychiatry for over twenty years and is currently a tenured Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Baylor Medical College.  His patient care emphases include Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, sexual and physical abuse, creativity and depression.  Dr. Moffic has published over fifty original papers and received numerous awards and grants for his work.  He received his medical education at Yale University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Chicago.

Anthony D. Meyer, M.D.

Dr. Meyer has been in practice for over thirty-five years and is currently Medical Director of Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital.  He is board certified in both child and adolescent and general psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  Dr. Meyer received his medical training at Marquette University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  He is currently a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the State Medical Society and is also affiliated with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Ikar Kalogjera, M.D.

Dr. Kalogjera has been a consultant with Jewish Family Services since 1979.  He graduated from the University of Zagreb (Croatia) Medical School and completed his residency in general psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a Fellowship in child psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati.  He is board certified in adult and child psychiatry and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child Psychiatry.  He has been in private practice and has been teaching at the Medical College of Wisconsin since 1979.  Dr. Kalogjera has received six teaching awards at the Medical College including the Marvin Wagner Award.  He is also an honorary staff member of Aurora Psychiatric Hospital.

Upon Thomas, MD

Dr. Thomas began working with JFS as a consultant in 2007.  He is a Clinical Assistant Professor, in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Dr. Upton also has a private practice with Physicians Chartered in Wauwatosa.  He received his medical degree from the Medical College if Wisconsin where he served internships in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Internal Medicine, as well as completing his Psychiatry Residency and serving as Chief Resident.