Our Board of Directors

Dr. Melinda Allen holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Utah, as well as postdoctoral training and certification in psychiatric/mental health from Johns Hopkins University. Dr Allen has collected over 20 years of nursing experience; as a Nurse Practitioner, she has 4 years of family practice, and 3 years experience in the practice of neurology in Utah. In 2018, she started practicing in the psychiatric/mental healthcare field when she moved to Grand Junction. She has also completed the Integrative Psychiatric Institute fellowship in Boulder, Colorado.  Dr. Allen worked in community mental health for two years prior to entering private practice. She developed experience working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities while providing services in the Strive Clinic.  

Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Harvard University where he also played goalie on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's ice hockey program. He is now pursuing his Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. He is also employed at a mental health education non-profit — the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan/ be nice. — where he teaches young athletes about the importance of mental health, how to support teammates' mental wellbeing, and resources available for mental health support. 

Derek is also a published author of a book about junior ice hockey called Junior ice Hockey: The Leagues Before The League. His passion for mental health advocacy began when he played juniors in the North American Hockey League, the United States Hockey League, and then further in college at Harvard University. His mental health experience combined with his hockey background helps support the Vinnie Marroni Miracle Assist Foundation from multiple perspectives, and he is passionate about the Foundation's mission to reduce stigma and remove barriers when it comes to mental health support for junior hockey players.
 

Kolin is the foundation’s director of youth outreach. This year he graduated High School and is furthering his hockey career in Juniors. He hopes that one day a college scholarship will follow as his passion and drive towards the game is exceptional. In college, he plans to study business and statistics. One of his top priorities is geared towards helping the Vinnie Marroni Miracle Assist foundation help achieve its objectives. Mental health is a crucial issue within the hockey community and Kolin feels he has a responsibility to step up and help those in need. He is a strong believer that every player should have the access to a team doctor to guide them through tough times. It is his objective to make sure every hockey team provides this service to its players.

Dr. Andrea Craighead holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Arizona specializing in psychiatric mental health across the lifespan. After following in her family's footsteps and completing her bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana, she became inspired to work with people and started pursuing nursing in 2010. She attended nursing school in Tucson, and worked as an RN at St Joseph's Carondelet Neurological Institute. Dr. Craighead began her career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in 2018 at Pathways of Arizona. Since moving to Colorado in 2019, she has worked closely with the Grand Junction Regional Center to provide services for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She worked in community mental health for over three years before transitioning to private practice. To add to Dr. Craighead's professional achievements, she is also certified in Perinatal Mental Health.