LearnWell Leadership

Gregory A. Serrao

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Serrao is the founder and a board member of Thrive Skilled Pediatric Care (Thrive SPC), a provider of pediatric home care services to medically fragile children. Mr. Serrao served as the Chairman and CEO of Thrive SPC from April 2016 to July 6, 2020. Prior to Thrive SPC, Mr. Serrao founded American Dental Partners, Inc. (ADPI), and served as the company’s CEO and President and a Director for twenty years.  In July 2015, Mr. Serrao retired as CEO and President of ADPI. He currently is Chairman of ADPI.  From 1992 through December 1995, Mr. Serrao served as the President of National Specialty Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Cardinal Health, Inc. (Cardinal Health).  From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Serrao served as Vice President of Corporate Development at Cardinal Health.  Before joining Cardinal Health, Mr. Serrao was an investment banker at Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., where he co-founded its health care investment banking group and specialized in mergers, acquisitions, and public equity offerings.

Mr. Serrao serves on the Board of Directors of National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) and LearnWell. He is a Senior Advisor to Amulet Capital Partners. He is the former President of the Boys and Girls Club in Lawrence, MA, former member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors at Tufts University School of Dental Medical, former member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and a former member of the Finance Committee for the Town of Andover.

Kathleen Egger, Ed.D.

Chief Operating Officer

In 2004, Kathleen joined the company to help build up the organization’s growing human resources and hospital teaching operations. She came with a strong background in HR, and with healthcare experience gained while working at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. Since then, she has taken on oversight of all corporate and regional operations at LearnWell and Comprehensive Counseling, PLLC. Today, she has a mandate to build the country’s best customized education services programs for behavioral and medical hospital partners and to expand the operations of Comprehensive Counseling, PLLC.

Kathleen recently was awarded her Ed.D. from Northeastern University in 2021. She also holds Bachelors degree and Masters degree from Salve Regina University. In addition to her work at LearnWell, Kathleen also serves as a Principal Instructor for the Masters in Human Resource Management within the College of Professional Studies for Northeastern University.

She currently lives with her family in Southeastern Mass. During her free time, she can be found volunteering at her children’s sporting events or watching them swim and play tennis. She is also an avid sailor and loves racing her sailboat with family and friends.

Patricia D. Travaglione, LCSW

Chief Clinical Officer of Comprehensive Counseling

Patricia brings 30 years of clinical experience to her new role as Practice Owner and Chief Clinical Officer of Comprehensive Counseling. In addition to running her own successful psychotherapy practice for the past 20 years, Patricia has experience in medical social work and inpatient psychiatric social work. After completing social work school at Columbia University, she continued her clinical education earning certificates in marriage and family therapy from Hunter College and child and adolescent therapy from Fordham University. Patricia specializes in adolescent therapy and has expanded her practice to include DBT therapy, CBT therapy and marriage counseling using the Gottman method.

In 2018, Patricia became a founding board member of The Sophia Valsamos Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to empower youth who face challenges, celebrate each other’s differences and end the stigma surrounding mental health challenges. Through her work in the foundation, Patricia became a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor. She enjoys teaching others who work with youth how to respond to a youth experiencing a mental health challenge.

Patricia enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and going to the beaches of Long Island. She is an avid reader and loves exercise.

Cristina Trutia, MD

Chief Psychiatrist

Dr. Trutia joined Comprehensive Counseling in 2021 as the organization’s Chief Psychiatrist. With over 20 years of experience, she has practiced in academic, private, emergency room, in-state, county, VA, and private hospital settings, as well as in clinics in Texas and New York. She received her medical degree from Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy and in 2004, was recognized as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Psychiatry Residents Organization of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.

Her goal at Comprehensive Counseling is to bring aboard new, talented psychiatrists and nurse practitioners who will provide quality mental health services to the people of New York. Since 2005, Dr. Trutia has run a solo psychiatric practice in Plattsburgh, NY and will draw on that experience in negotiating and collaborating with insurance companies to better serve Comprehensive’s clients.

Dr. Trutia believes in working hard, complaining rarely, laughing plenty, and continuously challenging herself to new adventures. In 2017 at the age of 49, she took up running; first a mile, then a 5K, and most recently, the New York City marathon in 2019 and the Chicago Marathon in 2021. She enjoys painting, cooking, writing, and skiing and loves her many friends who live throughout the world. She resides in northern New York with her husband and daughter.

Elizabeth Sedlak

Vice President of Business Development

Elizabeth joined the company in 2008 and has worked tirelessly ever since to help the organization grow. Over the years she has gained significant experience managing both acquisitions and organic growth, but it is her passion for developing strong partner relationships that sets her apart as a seasoned growth-focused executive.

Elizabeth loves working in education. As a member of the education community she has learned the value of candor, resourcefulness, and adaptability. She loves to learn, teach, and problem solve. Moreover, she has a passion for helping others to problem solve by reinforcing optimism and divergent thinking.

In her free time she serves on the board for the Ellen M. Gifford Cat Shelter, travels, facilitates a ladies’ activity group, and enjoys exercising and crafting. May 2017, Elizabeth completed her Masters in Liberal Arts in Management from Harvard University Extension School.

Melissa Melo, CPA

Controller

Melissa joined the LearnWell team in 2021 to lead the Accounting and Finance group. Prior to LearnWell, Melissa was a Finance Director and Corporate Controller at various companies, primarily in the service industry. She comes with a strong background in high growth, private equity owned business, with a focus on acquisitions and integrations. Melissa has participated in over 100 acquisitions, lending accounting and tax expertise to the due diligence and post-closing integration processes.

Melissa is a licensed CPA and holds a BS and a MBA from Bryant University. She has served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of The Tomorrow Fund, a RI non-profit devoted to supporting children with cancer that are treated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Melissa lives in southern RI with her husband and 3 children. Most of her free time is spent cheering on her children at their various sporting events. She enjoys supporting their academic institutions in a volunteer capacity as well and is happiest in the summer enjoying the beach and tending to her flower garden.

Chelsea Riccio

Senior Director of Teaching Operations

Chelsea joined the company in 2010, teaching in both medical hospitals and behavioral health programs before taking on a leadership role in 2012. Since then, she has progressed into positions of increasing responsibility within Learnwell. She has traveled the country, working in teaching operations across all states to build outstanding programs rooted in our core values.

Her abilities range from business development to launching educational programs and cultivating strong client relationships. She is also experienced in operations management, budgeting, managing staff and executing the Topgrading methodology of hiring best practices.

Chelsea graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. With a passion for culture and exploration Chelsea enjoys traveling in addition to rooting for her favorite Boston sports teams.

Danielle Wright

Regional Director, New England & Western US

Danielle joined LearnWell in 2013 working as a member of the Student Services team. She was invited into the role as a staffer with Teaching Operations in 2015. This position included developing stronger relationships with the local school districts as well as redefining documentation for academic services rendered for students. From there, she grew into larger management roles and continued her growth within the organization, overseeing and launching hospital locations in Illinois, California, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Throughout her time with LearnWell, Danielle has strived to build excellent relationships with our teachers, hospital clients, and local school districts. Her passion in Teaching Operations includes improving our hospital programs’ financial performance and advocating for the educational rights of students within our contracted facilities.

Danielle graduated from Suffolk University in Boston, MA in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. In her free time, she loves to go boating and fishing with her family and take her two goldendoodles to the beach.

Jennifer McHugh

Regional Director, Western MA & NY Metro Area

Jennifer joined the company in January 2019, as an Operations Manager in New Jersey. Since then, she has expanded her role as a Regional Director working in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Western Massachusetts. She brings with her a strong background in IT, sales, and operations management; along with a Six Sigma certification from her previous employment with General Electric, Industrial and Aerospace Division.

Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University. She is a native of New Jersey! She loves spending time with her family, including her 3 children who keep her very busy with their extracurricular activities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and running! She is training for her first 1/2 marathon this summer.

Maurice Williams

Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic

Maurice joined the company in July 2018, bringing over 25 years of experience in education and human services. In his previous endeavors he has been a Program Director, Manager and Coordinator in the Philadelphia School District. Most recently he was a Regional Director overseeing multiple programs under the Alternative Education division. He loves his work in education and thrives on the motto “It’s not about me.”

In addition to his work in education, Maurice has an extensive background in sports, both as a coach and as a player on the HS, collegiate and professional levels. This experience has helped him to develop strong skills in building collaborative partnerships that work towards a common goal.

Maurice resides in Townsend, Delaware with his wife and son.  In their spare time they love to travel and entertain family and friends. He loves music, especially Smooth Jazz, and is involved in various youth organizations in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Greg Pinkham

Director of Teaching Operations

Greg joined the company in March of 2017 working in Teaching Ops in the New York/New Jersey area. Previously, he worked in Rockland County, NY as a year-round camp director in the summer camp industry for more than 10 years.

In his various roles at LearnWell, Greg has worked on-site managing education programs, launching new education programs and establishing relationships with school districts across the LearnWell hospital network. He brings a smile to work with him every day.

Greg graduated from Union College in Schenectady, NY. He currently resides in Massachusetts with his wife and two kids. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, fishing and spending time with extended family.

Tracy Agüero

Practice Manager

In 2021, Tracy joined Comprehensive Counseling, a LearnWell company to lead the Administrative and Clinical Operations. Prior to joining Comprehensive Counseling, she was Director of Operations for mental health facilities throughout New York State, worked together with universities to develop externship programs for mental health counselors, social workers, and postdoctoral fellows in psychology, pulmonology, and sleep medicine, and helped facilitate the opening and expansion of mental health clinics in areas of most need.

Tracy currently lives in New York City pursuing her BBA in Finance. She is an avid traveler, loves hiking, taking air-gliding lessons, and spending time with her fur-baby, Sophie.

Amanda Sheppard

Payor Relations Manager

Amanda joined Comprehensive Counseling, a LearnWell company, in 2021 to help strengthen payor relations. In 2012, she attained a Bachelor’s of Science from Stony Brook University, with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. Immediately upon graduation, interned at a large practice management organization evolving into a permanent position. The company offered revenue cycle management, credentialing, and contracting services.

As the Credentialing and Contracting Coordinator, Amanda and the CEO worked conjointly to negotiate fair and equitable reimbursement rates for 150+ physicians of various specialties. In this role, she gained exposure to all aspects of healthcare management, including contract negotiations, credentialing, coding, compliance, EDI and ERA enrollment, and denial management. This experience fueled her passion for healthcare administration and inspired her to represent healthcare providers with the nonclinical responsibilities of their practice.

Amanda resides in Eastern Long Island with her husband and three young boys. They enjoy the outdoors and are frequent visitors to the local North Shore farms and beaches.

Jonathan W. Pinault

Director of IT

Jonathan joined the company in 2021 as the Director of IT with a mission of driving process improvement, refining information technology platforms, and fostering innovation with our new employee medical record roll out. He brings with him experience with hospital infrastructure project implementations including the creation of new emergency departments as well as outfitting facilities for psychologists. In addition to this experience, he also brings expertise with rolling out a multitude of telehealth platforms for a variety of settings within a large hospital enterprise. In the present, he is working to collaborate with our hospitals across all educational platforms as we strive to improve experiences for both the teachers and students alike.

Jonathan holds an MBA in business management from Walden University, a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurial management from the University of Rhode Island, and an ITIL certification in service management. In addition to his work at LearnWell, Jonathan also works with local Fitness and Martial arts business owners as a master instructor to assist them with their entrepreneurial endeavors. This work includes Business strategy, financial planning, process improvement for instruction, and actual participation in teaching classes.

He lives in Rhode Island with his two sons which he enjoys spending most of his free time with. When he is not engaged in family activities he spends time on martial arts instruction, fitness, family, and friends.

Julie Beamish

Human Resources Director

Julie joined the company in 2012 starting first in an administration role. Within her first five months, she hired six staff members to join the administration team so that she could step away from the department in order to begin participating in the company’s inaugural staffership program. During her year-long staffership, she spent time working within different departments throughout the company including teaching operations, district outreach, and business development before finally finding her home within the human resources department.

Over the past seven years on the Human Resources team, she has increased her exposure not only within the different human resources functions but also from a broader business management perspective. She has traveled throughout LearnWell’s operations, interacting with as many employees as possible with the focus of learning how to best support a remote culture.

Julie graduated with a BS from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2011 and will soon start work on obtaining her Masters in HR. She currently resides in southeastern MA with her husband and two Australian Shepherds. Outside of work, she is also a fitness instructor, an avid reader, and a lover of cooking and baking!