Terrence Rusin

President/CEO

Terrence Rusin began work with a Behavioral health care group as a consultant in 1989, shortly after formed PSIMED in 1991. He became the Chief Operating Officer and a partner in 1993, the controlling partner in 2000 and the sole owner in January, 2006. Mr. Rusin was instrumental in securing the mental health services contract for the WV Division of Corrections Maximum Security Prison, Mount Olive Correctional Complex. Through the use of innovative technologies and healthcare delivery systems he was able to expand this contract to include statewide mental health services for the prisons, jails and juvenile facilities within the state. Terrence was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin to the task force for HealthCare reform. Terrence has worked to expand the influence of PSIMED to national levels, including placing several staff members on committees within the American Correctional Association and participation with ASCA. The company has also done system evaluations and forensic work throughout the nation. Mr. Rusin has served on several boards to include the WV Corrections Workers Foundation board and the WV Corrections Training Foundation board, Poca Valley Bank board, Transitions LLC , The T Center Inc. board, and continues to serve on the Board of directors for the International Teamsters Health, Welfare and Pension funds.

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Rita Pauley MA, LSW

Vice President of Operations

MargaRita Pauley began her career in corrections in 1996 working as a Therapist in a maximum-security facility at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex (MOCC) in West Virginia. In 1999 she was promoted to Mental Health Director where she was responsible for mental health treatment at the correctional facility, as well as managing mental health transfers from other state correctional facilities, onto the mental health unit. In 2001, she advanced into the role of Regional Administrator and was responsible for staffing and program development within all West Virginia state correctional facilities. In 2007, Ms. Pauley was promoted to Vice President of Operations where she has been responsible for statewide staffing development, contractual services oversight management, human resource management, and overall delivery of mental health services within fifteen (15) correctional facilities and statewide community corrections sex offender and substance abuse services.

 

Educational background is inclusive of obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from West Virginia State University (1990), a Master of Arts in Counseling from Marshall University(1994) and a Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration on Diagnosis and Intervention from Marshall University(1999). She was an adjunct professor for Marshall University in the Counseling Department from 2009-2011. Ms. Pauley is a board member for Mission West Virginia (2016-2018).

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Tim Thistlethwaite, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Tim Thistlethwaite has extensive practical experience in correctional behavioral health, over 19 years, working in a maximum security correctional facility and providing tele-psych services to all security level facilities throughout West Virginia. In addition, he served as chief resident for Charleston Area Medical Center’s Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry. He is a certified member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is licensed with the West Virginia Board of Medicine. Dr. Thistlethwaite has a broad range of psychiatric experience in private practice, institutional, inpatient, and outpatient services. He currently serves as the Psychiatric Services Medical Director for PSIMED CORRECTIONS, LLC. Dr. Thistlethwaite oversees psychiatric services for contracts serving the WV Division of Corrections and the WV Regional Jail and correctional Facility Authority. Dr. Thistlethwaite has served as a psychiatric consultant to the Forensic Evaluation Unit at the South Central Regional Jail and for fellows assigned to correctional and forensic rotations in partnership with West Virginia University. Dr. Thistlethwaite is a long-standing member of the American Psychiatric Association and West Virginia Psychiatric Association and has achieved Diplomat status with the

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has also presented both nationally and internationally.

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David Clayman, Ph D

Clinical Director

For 25 years, Dr. Clayman has worked within the WV Division of Corrections and Regional Jail Authority (now WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation) offering clinical and management services as a private practice psychologist. As one of the founders of PSIMED and now as Clinical Director since 2009, he has been responsible for oversight of professional quality standards. He develops programs, provides supervision to clinical staff and interacts with institutional and government officials. With his extensive career as a forensic psychologist and consultant to a wide range of private and public organizations, Dr. Clayman brings a unique expert skill set that covers issues from clinical interventions for individuals with complex mental health problems to program systems issues. His “no nonsense approach” to complex issues has become his trademark as he helps individuals, families, businesses and organizations define problems and implement practical solutions. For nearly 40 years, Dr. David Clayman has provided forensic psychological services in approximately 5000 civil and criminal cases. He has been qualified as an expert in both state and federal courts. In addition, he served as a Medical Expert in for the Office of Hearings and Appeals of the Social Security Administration for 15 years. Governor Joe Manchin appointed Dr. Clayman to serve on the Sexually Violent Predator Task Force and the Eyewitness Identification Task Force. He is one of two psychologists who served as an advisor to the Office of Behavioral Health Services for the WV

Department of Health and Human Resources regarding forensic evaluators and quality of reports submitted to the court. His involvement with the Division of Corrections has included risk assessments/fitness for duty evaluations for problematic personnel as well as assistance in dealing with sensitive inmate issues.

 

After receiving his B.A. with Honors in Psychology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, he earned a Phd. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Vermont with specialized training in Medical Psychology. In 1974 he joined the faculty in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry of the WVU School of Medicine where he attained the rank of Associate Professor. Since 1981, Dr. Clayman has been in private practice with increasing focus on forensic work that also includes conducting evaluations pertaining to fitness for duty, return to work, risk, and disability. He continues to maintain a clinical caseload providing pro bono clinical services to law enforcement, first responders and veterans. Currently, he is the Director of the firm Clayman & Associates, pllc which specializes in criminal and civil forensic evaluations. He continues to conduct workshops and training for lawyers, law enforcement, community organizations as well as other psychologists on state and national levels.

 

On a national level he is a founding member of the Division of Health Psychology of the American Psychological Association and the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Among his commitments at home, he is the founding president of Hospice Care, Inc. and served as the first chairperson of Mission West Virginia, the Faith-based initiative initiated by Governor Underwood. He has been the chair of the Small Business Committee of the State Chamber of Commerce, and was Chair of the Board of Leadership West Virginia in. In 2009 he was the recipient Mental Health Association's Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Tribute Award for his life-long contributions. He serves as media consultant to all local TV affiliates and has been tapped as an on-air consultant to The ID Discovery Channel and Vice Channel.

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Merideth Smith, Ph.D

Director of Clinical Services

Merideth Smith, Ph.D. is the Director of Clinical Services and a psychologist for PSIMED Corrections in West Virginia. She obtained her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at West Virginia University with a focus in aging and resiliency and suicide prevention with research training in the Departments of Psychology and Public Health. She was appointed as the first class of trainees to the NIH T32 Grant to promote interdisciplinary research in the fields of behavioral and biomedical science. and completed her internship in Geropsychology at the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System. Post-doctoral work was completed at West Virginia maximum security prison under the supervision of Dr. David Clayman. Dr. Smith obtained her Certified Correctional Health Professional status from National Commission on Correctional Health Care since 2016. She has presented at national conferences and published in peer review journals in the areas of behavioral interventions, aging and resiliency, and suicide prevention. As a psychologist, Merideth provides clinical services to inmates with severe behavioral and mental health problems housed in West Virginia maximum security prison.

 

She supervises graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in clinical psychology as well as psychologist pursuing licensure. As the Director of Clinical Services, she provides training and consultation for all mental health staff and correctional staff in the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Trainings have included basic mental health introduction, use of behavioral interventions in prison, suicide prevention, treatment and care of aging inmates, and the treatment and care of inmates with personality disorders.

 

She is responsible for collaborating with mental health and correctional staff to develop and monitor specialized treatment programs for inmates with a wide range of mental health issues, including severe personality disorders or dementia, that focus on best practices and efficient and effective interventions. Dr. Smith works with clinical staff and correctional systems to review current practices and continuously improve the clinical services provided to meet the changing needs of the inmate, the facilities, nationally recognized treatment standards, and innovations in the field. Current projects include evaluating suicide assessment and protocols, reviewing the effectiveness of intensive treatment for inmates engaging in no suicidal self-injurious behavior, developing gender and trauma informed sex offender treatment protocols, and evaluating the use of naltrexone to reduce opiate and alcohol abuse for individuals paroling to the community.

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Judith Acree, MA, LPC, ALPS, AADC- S, MAC

Juvenile Services Clinical Director​

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Judy completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and completed her Masters in Counseling at West Virginia University.  Prior to coming to PSIMED in 2009, she worked for over 30 years in community mental health in various positions and with various types of clients.  She also worked as supervisor and manger of various programs during her career in community mental health.  The experience gained by working in community mental health is the foundation of her expertise in working with adolescents and adults with a wide range of issues including developmental issues, mental health and wellness issues as well as addiction.  Judy is also a certified clinical supervisor of provisionally licensed professional counselors and addictions counselors.

While at PSIMED she has worked as a Program Mentor offering training in various topics.  She also developed curriculum for programs within DCR and trained staff to implement the curriculum.  She was responsible for quality assurance and development of a peer review system of various programs.  Judy now serves PSIMED in the role of Juvenile Services Clinical Director.

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