About the SMART Center
Mission
The mission of the Supporting Mental Heath Access to Resources through Telehealth (SMART) Research, Training, and Treatment Center is to develop scholarly research in the field, provide competency-based professional training and consultation to the community, provide training in higher education to support the workforce development of this growing field, provide effective, evidence-based therapeutic interventions, and advance the responsible use of technology in school-based and mental health practice. The mission of the program is to provide easily accessible and affordable support services for tele-behavioral health in the region.
Check out our video about the SMART Center below.
Meet the Team
The SMART Center Clinic providers include two Tennessee Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), two Tennessee Licensed School Social Workers, one Licensed Master Social Worker, along with four graduate level interns, who are organized into treatment teams led by a clinical supervisor/ faculty member. The two clinical supervisors areTennessee LCSWs with over 20 years of post-graduate experience, and hold faculty positions within the University of Memphis School of Social Work. Our clinical team expands with the needs of the community. We are always growing our clinical team and program.
Clinic Director
Dr. Susan Witkowsky, EdD, LCSW, LSSW, IMH-E, RPT-S
Director, SMART Center
selswick@memphis.edu
View Profile >
In June 2020, Dr. Susan Witkowsky received funding from the Urban Child Institute and The University of Memphis Institute for Interdisciplinary
Memphis Partnerships to Advance Community Transformation (iIMPACT) to develop a tele-behavioral health training and treatment program for the region
due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health service delivery in the
region. With this seed funding, Dr. Elswick launched the School Mental Health Access to Resources through Telehealth (SMART).
Dr. Witkowsky has over 20 years of clinical mental health experience that includes community mental health, case management, residential programming, ABA-based programming, school-based programming, parent coaching, integrated behavioral health, infant mental health, and home-based services. Her research interests include the use of evidence-based behavioral interventions for addressing client’s needs, the use of expressive art therapies/experiential therapies in the field of social work practice, and the use of informatics and technology in the field of social work.
Clinical Staff
Debbie Trimble, LMSW, LSSW
SMART Center Program Coordinator
dtrimble@memphis.edu
Debbie Trimble is the Program Coordinator for the University of Memphis SMART Center Clinic within the School of Social Work. Her journey with the SMART Center began in 2022 as a Bachelor of Social Work intern. After earning her BSW from the University of Memphis in 2023, she continued serving the clinic as a Graduate Assistant while pursuing her graduate studies. In 2025, Debbie earned her Master of Social Work degree, completed a Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy, and achieved her credential as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed School Social Worker (LSSW). She is currently working towards credentialing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Dr. Melissa Hirschi, PhD, LCSW
Dr. Melissa Hirschi is Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Memphis. She received her MSW from Boston University in 2007 and her joint sociology and social work PhD from Boston University in 2017. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and has extensive practice experience working with members of disadvantaged and marginalized communities such as formerly homeless and incarcerated women, individuals living with mental illness, first responders, providing health clinic social work services to individuals and families, and as a clinical caseworker with the Division of Child and Family Services in Utah.
Interns
The SMART Center clinical interns are provided training, supervision, and on-going support in the processes of tele-behavioral health best practices and solid clinical training in the most successful evidence-based interventions for children, adolescents, and adults.
Amber Code, MSW
Cameron Hubbard, MSW
Samantha Smith, MSW
Caroline Taufic, MSW
IN LOVING MEMORY AND HONOR OF CHRISTY
Christy Peterson
SMART Center Program Coordinator
In January 2025, the SMART Center mourned the loss of a friend and an invaluable colleague,
Christy. Those who had the opportunity to meet Christy were instantly touched by her
uplifting spirit and genuine enthusiasm for life.
Christy served not only as the SMART Center’s Program Coordinator, but also as a dedicated mentor to the interns who trained with us. Her kindness, sincerity, and unwavering willingness to help others made her an exceptional presence within our clinic.
Her contributions to community outreach were significant, and she was a passionate advocate for individuals and families who could not advocate for themselves. Christy’s impact, both within our clinic and in the broader community, will be deeply and lovingly remembered daily.