Leopoldo J. Cabassa

Leopoldo J. Cabassa is a Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Mental Health Services Research at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. His work focuses on addressing health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities with serious mental illness through implementation science and community-engaged research.

• Co-Director, Center for Mental Health Services Research
• Director, Social Work PhD Program
• Co-Founder, Center for Holistic Interdisciplinary Research in Psychedelics (CHIRP)

Research Interests include:

• Reducing physical health inequities in SMI populations
• Improving depression literacy and reducing mental health stigma in Latino communities
• Advancing psychedelic-assisted therapy with equitable access frameworks
• Integration of quantitative and qualitative methods in health disparities research

Scientific Contributions span publications on:

• Cardiovascular disease disparities in schizophrenia
• Implementation barriers for mental health services
• Psychotherapy integration in psychedelic treatments
• Equity-focused policy recommendations

Awards:

• 2025 SSWR Book Award for "Addressing Health Inequities in People with Serious Mental Illness: A Call to Action"
• 2025 Aaron Rosen Lecture recipient
• Inclusion in "World's Top 2% Scientists" list

Grants from NIMH, NIMHD, SAMHSA, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and NIH CSR Advisory Council appointment demonstrate sustained funding success. His work bridges social work practice with clinical research through initiatives like CHIRP and Transcend Initiative collaborations.