From Academia to Healthcare: Addressing Antisemitism Across Professional Sectors

Dr. Liberman is a licensed psychologist in private practice in New York City, specializing in individual psychotherapy for adults, children, and their families. She serves on the faculty of the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program at the William Alanson White Institute (WAWI), where she teaches and supervises psychology and social work trainees. Dr. Liberman has extensive experience collaborating with both public and private schools in New York City as an in-house psychologist and external consultant. In these roles, she has supported school communities in responding to crises, processing loss, and fostering collective healing.

Following the events of October 7th, Dr. Liberman spearheaded the initiative to mobilize and train mental health clinicians to offer free virtual support groups for the Jewish community. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Jewish Community Mental Health Initiative (JCMHI) at the American Psychological Foundation which is dedicated to supporting the well-being of the Jewish community through three core pillars: direct support, research, and education. Since January 2024, JCMHI has facilitated well over 2,000 free support groups and established a robust research program examining the psychological impacts of antisemitism and the factors that foster resilience, coping, and growth in the face of continuous stress. Dr. Liberman also serves on the Collective of Jewish Psychologists at the American Psychological Association.

Raeefa Shams is the Director of Communications and Programming at the Academic Engagement Network (AEN). In her role, Raeefa is responsible for developing select programs and initiatives to educate and empower AEN’s faculty network, such as the Short Course and Faculty Fellowship, regional faculty convenings, and faculty delegations to Israel; strategizing communications for AEN’s members, supporters, partners, and other stakeholders; and contributing to AEN’s overall organizational strategy. She has written and presented about AEN’s work in a wide range of national and international fora. Prior to joining AEN, Raeefa consulted for higher educational institutions and international development organizations. Raeefa earned her B.A. in History from Wellesley College and her M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago. She is an active board member of Jewish National Fund-USA.

Eveline Shekhman is a healthcare executive, strategist, and national Jewish advocacy leader with more than 25 years of experience across healthcare systems, nonprofit leadership, and public engagement. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA), leading the organization during a pivotal period marked by rising antisemitism in healthcare and academic medical settings.

Previously a member of AJMA’s Board, Eveline has played a central role in strengthening the organization’s governance, partnerships, and national advocacy on behalf of Jewish physicians, trainees, and healthcare professionals, with a focus on data-driven credibility and institutional engagement.

A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Eveline brings a deeply personal and professional commitment to Jewish safety and leadership. She serves on multiple national and local boards, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Jewish Federation National Women’s Philanthropy, Voices of Hope, GW Hillel, and the George Washington University Family Advisory Council, and is a Strategic Advisor to GW’s Program on Extremism. She is also active in AIPAC’s New Leadership Network and is a CT Political Network co-chair, supporting bipartisan advocacy and engagement with policymakers. She is a frequent speaker on antisemitism, healthcare, and community resilience.

Sara A. Colb is the Director of Advocacy for ADL’s National Affairs team. In this role, she develops and executes national strategy to combat antisemitism across multiple sectors, including healthcare, labor, professional associations, and K–12 education. She works with policymakers, educators, and professional leaders to strengthen civil rights protections and respond to emerging challenges affecting the Jewish community.

Prior to joining ADL, Sara served as an Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts, where she worked on civil rights and trial matters. Earlier in her career, she practiced civil litigation in private practice at Clifford Chance, Gibson Dunn, and Day Pitney.
Sara received her Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a BA in English Literature, magna cum laude, from McGill University.