Joseph J. Sivak, M.D.

     I am a physician trained in psychiatry and chemical dependency. I have
     advanced degrees from Hahnemann Univ. School of Medicine in Philadelphia as
     well as the Univ. of Rochester.

     I specialize in PTSD and crisis intervention as well as long term
     psychological sequalae of disaster. 

     I currently am the Director for Psychiatric Services at the Twin Ports VA
     Outpatient Clinic in Superior, Wisconsin. Most of my work is clinical and I
     currently follow approx. 320 veterans with chronic and persistent and severe
     PTSD. We have also developed a research tract and currently are working 2
     separate investigations.

     I am also the Clinical Director of the Head of The Lakes CISM Program based in
     Duluth, Minnesota and covering all of NW Wisc. and NE Minn. I have about 6
     years of experience with CISM and have worked as well with teams in Cleveland
     and Seattle, where I previously resided.

     I have 9 years of experience working with ARC and DSHR. My first disaster was
     Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and most recently last year at the Red River floods in ND. 
     I am trained as a disaster mental health specialist. I also have served as a
     Health Services Tech, before Red Cross had formal mental health services. I
     have taught some courses most recently Disaster Health Services I, and am
     finishing up credentialing to become a National Mental Health Instructor. 
     My day work leaves difficult time constraints work with ARC but I try to
     volunteer as much as possible. I cuurently serve on The ARC Northland Chapter
     Board of Directors in Duluth in Addition to Volunteering with DSHR.

     I am an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth School of
     Medicine, and have taught courses on psychological trauma to medical students.

     I have  lectured and taught in many different settings on a variety of topics,
     ranging from Disaster Preparedness to Psychotropic Medication Management of
     the Treatment Refractory patient with PTSD.

     I am also one of the founding Members of Michael's House, A center for
     greiving children, in Cleveland. I recently presented on this Topic at the
     Annual Association for Death Education and Counseling meeting in Chicago. 

     I serve on the list of Mental Health Resources for the Northwest Airlines
     Flight Attendants Union, and collaborate with the Airport Couseling Services
     at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, providing training and
     education to airport and airline personnel.