Bronx Mental Health Leaders

Co-Founder / Champion

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​Dr. Alfaro's preferred pronouns are she/her/ella. Additional identities that inform her perspective include Latina, New Yorker, first generation college graduate, and child of Peruvian and Salvadoran immigrants. Wendy is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience serving specialized communities including Spanish speaking individuals, unaccompanied immigrant youth and families, and individuals that want to quit or reduce smoking behaviors. She completed her undergraduate degree at SUNY Stony Brook University, Masters degree at Teachers College, Columbia University and doctoral degree at Kean University. Wendy is an adjunct professor at New Jersey City University where she teaches cross-cultural psychology and social psychology to undergraduate students. She also has a part-time private practice (Alfaro Psychological Services, PLLC) where she serves adults in a virtual format. Wendy makes time for self care by traveling, reading books in Spanish and watching animals in their natural habitats on nature documentaries.

Champion​

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Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Ricardo brings rich experience and empathy to her role at the Bronx Health Collective within Montefiore Healthcare Systems, where she has been since 2022. She specializes in mental health and chronic conditions, including eating disorders, diabetes, psycho-oncology, chronic pain, and sleep disorders.

Dr. Ricardo is also a 300-hour certified yoga teacher, mindfulness teacher, and breath coach, integrating these practices to enhance her patients’ well-being. As a doctoral-level professor in cultural diversity, she focuses on multicultural therapy approaches.

Her research interests include mindfulness-based strategies and mind-body practices, reflecting her commitment to holistic health. Inspired by her immigrant background, Dr. Ricardo’s work is informed by her unique perspective and cultural sensitivity.

Outside of work, Dr. Ricardo enjoys walking, spending time with loved ones, sunsets at the beach, practicing yoga, and discovering new parks.

Co-Founder 

Co-Founder (Inactive as of 2022)

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Co-Founder / Champion

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Dr. Pauline Levy (she/ella) is a Spanish-English bilingual clinical psychologist who was born and raised in Lima, Peru. She came to New York City for college and studied psychology and business at Columbia University. Dr. Levy then completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University, where she conducted research on the intersection between identity and language, as well as the role food plays in intergenerational and intragenerational relationships. Dr. Levy has been working at the Bronx Health Collective (part of Montefiore Medical Center) since August 2020. She specializes in psychotherapy for people with a history of complex trauma and those who are grieving. In her free time, Dr. Levy loves to cook, eat, and walk by herself and with loved ones.

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Co-Founder 

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Antonio Escobar is one of the co-founders and former Administrative Coordinator for BxMHL. Antonio identifies himself as a Bronx native and a first generation Guatemalan American. After high school, Antonio got his Associate’s Degree at Bronx Community College in 2019 and transferred to Hunter College to acquire his Bachelor’s Degree in 2023. His interest with mental health can be rooted from personal experiences dating back to high school. One of Antonio’s personal objectives he is working to make a reality is to become a physician and serve underrepresented communities like the Bronx. Having experienced and witnessed hardships that are present growing up in an underrepresented community, this sparked an invigorating drive to give back to the community that made him the person he is today by volunteering within and beyond the Bronx to co-founding the Bronx Health Prospects—a high school enrichment program that has a focus on empower high school interested in healthcare. In his free time, Antonio keeps himself busy by remaining physical active doing activities such as playing soccer, weightlifting, running, and more recently starting to train in kickboxing. In addition, he loves to read books, listen to audiobooks/podcasts, and keep up with soccer/baseball/combat sports.

Co-Founder