Virtual panel event on Zoom

Exploring Careers in Implementation:
Paths Beyond Academia

Hosted by The Center for Implementation & the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration

September 16, 2025

Watch the recording

Wondering what different
implementation careers look like?

Watch the recording of our 90-minute virtual panel event featuring professionals in diverse implementation roles and discover new directions for your career.

Hosted by The Center for Implementation and the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration, the event included:

  • Introductions from our panelists on their career paths and current roles

  • A moderated discussion exploring tips for career pivots or transitions after grad school, the biggest challenges panelists have faced in their implementation-related careers, and other topics

  • A live audience Q&A

Whether you're a student, researcher, or practitioner exploring your options, this session is a chance for you to gain valuable insight, practical advice, and fresh inspiration for your career in implementation support, strategy, or applied research—outside of traditional academic tracks.

Meet the panelists

Senior Director of Behavioral Health Implementation and Innovation
CharacterStrong (United States)

Cameo Stanick

  • Dr. Stanick is Senior Director of Behavioral Health Implementation and Innovation at CharacterStrong, and a licensed clinical psychologist.  Dr. Stanick received her Ph.D. from the University of Tulsa, where she focused her research and clinical work on childhood trauma. She completed her predoctoral internship at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Stanick completed her postdoctoral residency at the University of Hawaii, where she was Co-Director on a large, multi-site clinical effectiveness trial.

    From 2009 to 2016, Dr. Stanick worked at the University of Montana where she was a tenured, Associate Professor focusing her work on implementation science, with an emphasis on school-based mental health and trauma in youth.  In 2016, Dr. Stanick joined Sycamores where she was Vice President of Training and Implementation Practice. Dr. Stanick’s department was committed to advancing the field of evidence-based practices for youth via innovative training methods and implementation science-informed, data-based decision-making.

    In 2024, Dr. Stanick joined CharacterStrong, where she is working to make mental health supports available for all students in schools across the country and internationally. Dr. Stanick also maintains a small private practice where she works primarily with youth and families.

Principal
Tailored Implementation (United States)

Leah Bartley

  • Leah Bartley is an implementation strategist and systems change partner with over 20 years of experience in child welfare, early childhood, and social service sectors. As the Founder and Principal of Tailored Implementation, she works with mission-driven organizations to co-develop practical, relational, and equity-focused strategies that bridge the gap between vision and action.

    Leah’s approach integrates implementation science, co-creation, and relational coordination to support sustainable change in real-world settings. She is passionate about helping teams move from inspiration to action while fostering trust, creativity, and shared leadership.

    Her previous roles include serving as a Senior Implementation Specialist at the University of North Carolina’s Collaborative for Implementation Practice and the National Implementation Research Network, as well as a Research Associate at Kaye Implementation and Evaluation. She has supported local, state, and federal initiatives through evaluation, coaching, and capacity building, and contributed to national research and policy efforts that center equity and collaboration.

Noémie Bechu

Implementation and Quality Improvement Specialist
The Baker Center (United States)

  • I am an Implementation Specialist and Public Health Social Worker with 3 years of experience in project management and technical assistance. In my current role, I support community mental health centers in implementing and sustaining evidence-based practices such as the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC) and Parent-Child-Interaction-Therapy (PCIT). My work is guided by both implementation theories, principles and tools, and the formation of strong, trust-based relationships with community partners. I love using data to drive decision-making and translating implementation strategies into concrete, actionable recommendations.

Director of Knowledge Mobilization and Strategic Relations
Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation and Baycrest Academy (Canada)

Shusmita Rashid

  • Shusmita Rashid is a strategic healthcare leader with over 15 years of experience bridging research, policy, and practice to drive system-wide transformation. She specializes in applying implementation science and knowledge mobilization strategies to translate evidence and innovation into real-world impact across complex health and social care systems.

    As Director of Knowledge Mobilization and Strategic Relations at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation and Baycrest Academy, she supports the development, validation, and adoption of aging and brain health solutions. Working in partnership with community, healthcare, and non-profit organizations, as well as academia and industry, she leads large-scale initiatives to advance research and innovation adoption.

    Shusmita holds a Master’s in Public Health and serves as an Implementation Science reviewer on global health projects funded by the Gates Foundation. She also sits on several boards advancing health system improvement, innovation, and community engagement.

    Known for her collaborative leadership and systems thinking, Shusmita is passionate about empowering organizations and teams to close the gap between what we know and what we do, so that research and innovation can truly serve people and communities.

Hosted by

Dr. Julia E. Moore
Executive Director

The Center for Implementation

Dr. Rachel Kim
Implementation Practice and Support Network (IPSN) Chair

Society for Implementation Research Collaboration

Watch the recording

📨 You’re welcome to share this recording with your friends and colleagues.