University Health is the largest and most comprehensive health safety-net provider serving Jackson County and Kansas City, Missouri. The service area comprises the urban core of Kansas City, along with the suburban and rural communities that surround the Kansas City metro area.

University Health serves a number of special populations which include those with low socioeconomic status, individuals who are unhoused, incarcerated individuals, and overall populations at-risk due to social and economic disadvantage.

The racial composition of University Health Sciences District service area includes two primary categories: White and African American. These two categories comprise 90.06% of the customers within the Health Sciences District area. Racially, the University Health Sciences District service area reflects the greater Jackson County, Missouri racial mix, with 67.31% White, 22.75% African American, 8.95% Hispanic, 2.06 % Asian, 0.46% Native American/Alaskan Native, 0.29% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 4.0% reporting some other race, and 3.13% reporting multiple races. The socio-economic data reflects the University Health Sciences District service area has a large number of people in poverty status.

University Health strives to maintain a diverse workforce. University Health strives to set a community example through taking a leadership role in diversity and inclusion, which includes partnering with other organizations in supporting the Trans Health Inclusion conference and other educational and networking opportunities. UH has developed both a Leader’s Diversity and Inclusion Council as well as an Executive Diversity and Inclusion council. There is both a behavioral health and corporate diversity committee, and University Health hospitals account for two of the 14 Missouri locations that have obtained the LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Index Leader designation.

Eric Shult, Ph.D.

Dr. Eric Shult received his doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of Memphis and his undergraduate degree from Humboldt State University. He is a licensed psychologist in the state of Missouri. After completing his postdoctoral residency at University Health in 2013, Dr. Shut became a psychologist at University Health Inpatient Units. He has extensive experience treating chronic mood, anxiety, and personality issues in both outpatient and inpatient settings. He has extensive experience providing didactic presentations on multiculturalism and suicide prevention and is an adjunct instructor at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. Furthermore, Dr. Shult has extensive experience training and providing supervision of masters-level and doctoral-level interns.

Jennifer Keller, Psy.D.

Dr. Keller obtained training in various settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospital, community mental health center, university counseling center, learning diagnostic clinic, multicultural center, and hospice. She works primarily with children and adolescents, though she provides some specific services for the adult population. Dr. Keller was previously employed at the University of Tennessee Martin both as a staff psychologist and later as the clinical coordinator of counseling services. Dr. Keller was also formerly the preadolescent program director at Royal Oaks Hospital, where she provided and supervised clinical services on the preadolescent unit. Dr. Keller was previously an adjunct professor at Forest Institute of Professional Psychology and Missouri Valley College, and she is currently an adjunct professor at Avila University. Dr. Keller is the Section Chief for Psychology at University Health and an outpatient psychologist at UH Lakewood Counseling Service in Lee’s Summit, Missouri where she provides evidence based treatments. She is a licensed psychologist and health service provider in the state of Missouri. She has retired her license in Tennessee. Dr. Keller is a registrant with the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, APA Division 53 (Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology), APA Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology), and the Missouri Psychological Association. Dr. Keller currently sits on the board for the Greater Kansas City Psychological Association.

Abbey Gripka, Ph.D.

Dr. Gripka is a Missouri and Kansas licensed psychologist at University Health Crossroads Counseling in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the primary supervising psychologist for the adult outpatient internship rotation. She completed her doctoral training at The University of Kansas in counseling psychology. Dr. Gripka has extensive training and expertise in assessment and treatment of PTSD and trauma-related concerns, having completed internship and post-doctoral training with emphasis on PTSD and trauma. Dr. Gripka currently provides outpatient individual and group psychotherapy for treatment of various mental health diagnoses, with emphasis on trauma-informed and evidence-based interventions. Additionally, through The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Athletics Department, Dr. Gripka provides consultative services to coaches and mental health treatment to student athletes. She supervises several masters and doctoral level practicum students, and also teaches a course of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with adjunct in-session supervision to Psychiatry Residents at University Health.

Carlie Nikel, Psy.D.

Dr. Carlie Nikel is a Missouri and Kansas licensed psychologist at University Health Lakewood Medical Center where she provides integrated behavioral health services. She is the primary supervising psychologist for the integrated behavioral health internship slot. Additionally, Dr. Nikel supervises doctoral psychology practicum students and facilitates the postdoctoral fellowship in integrated behavioral health. In addition to her clinical and supervisory roles, Dr. Nikel is an Associate Program Director and Director of Behavioral Science at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Family Medicine Residency. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at UMKC School of Medicine. With these roles, Dr. Nikel engages in residency program development, education of medical student, resident physicians, and faculty physicians on behavioral science, and facilitates the professional wellbeing programming for the department. Dr. Nikel serves on professional wellbeing committees at a department, hospital, university, and national level.