Survivors

“Schizophrenia Survivors” are people who are thriving despite a past diagnosis of schizophrenia, and live lives of meaning and purpose. They want to offer hope to others. Some of our Survivors have offered their contact information, and are available to answer your questions and offer you encouragement. If you have a question for one of the Survivors, contact us here.

Sarah Marzen holds a physics bachelor’s degree from Caltech, a physics PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. Today, she works as a physics professor and researcher at the W. M. Keck Science Department at the Claremont Colleges.

Carlos Larrauri is a nurse practitioner who recently graduated with a law degree from the University of Michigan. He has served on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 23 years of age. Today, Mr. Larrauri aspires to interface clinical practice, health policy and research, to reduce health inequities for people living with mental illness.

Brandon Staglin is director of marketing and communications for Staglin Family Vineyard, and serves as President of the Board of Directors of One Mind.

Rhea holds a BA in sociology from Columbia and a Master’s in Disability Studies from the City University of New York, where she graduated in May 2022. Currently, she does research on OCD and early psychosis at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and looks forward to applying to PhD programs.

Darrell’s life didn’t grind to halt when he was diagnosed. The year after his hospitalization, he went back to college to study computer programming. He finished his degree two years later, and successfully worked as a computer programmer for the next eighteen years.

Millie Vine’s love of food, background in food science and restaurant experience allow her to prepare gourmet meals for busy families with the hope of creating her own catering business. She would like to become an advocate to show others that people with schizophrenia can be successful like anyone else.

Chelsea Kowal has lived with schizophrenia since beginning college. Despite several hospitalizations and refractory symptoms, she is now recovered on clozapine. She graduated with her master’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2013, and is currently applying to PhD programs to continue her study of engineering.

Matt Racher holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami. He was recently awarded state certification as a Peer Specialist through the Florida Certification Board. Today, he travels to different communities with his band “Fog Dog,” spreading the message of hope through original music. Matt plans to pursue graduate study in social work.

Kirk Reitelbach has worked as a full-time paralegal for Disability Rights Ohio since 2012. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Dartmouth University.

Eric Smith is a musician, composer, and a loving family member. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio in psychology, and recently graduated with his Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in December 2021. He is now a licensed master social worker (LMSW) in the state of Texas.

Meghan Caughey holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Pictoral Art. She designed and directed mental health programs in Oregon, eventually becoming Senior Director of Peer Wellness Services at a large health nonprofit. She currently holds the title of Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University. Meghan continues to create art.

Rose is currently supervised as a new psychologist until June 2025, when she can practice independently. She is grateful to her friends, family, university, internship supervisors, and state licensing agency for their forward thinking about what is possible despite a history of schizophrenia.

Tyson McGuire is a student at the University of Cincinnati working toward a bachelor’s degree in physics and a joint master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Following his high school graduation, he won a full ride to attend UC starting in fall of 2016.

Kit Wallis holds a BS degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She now works full-time as lab manager at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. In 2021, she began her own YouTube channel to encourage and educate those struggling with schizophrenia called “SchizoKitzo.” Her channel now has over 30,000 subscribers.

Kody Green grew up with a mom who had schizophrenia, but when he first began to develop symptoms, he did not recognize it in himself. Following his full recovery, he successfully worked numerous jobs. Today, he works as a content creator and author, and has a following of over a million on TikTok.

Michael has been in meaningful recovery from schizophrenia for three and a half years. He enjoys attending the College of the Ozarks where he studies social work as a full-time undergraduate. In 2019, Michael founded a “NAMI on Campus” support group for the Metropolitan Community College of Kansas City, and he continues to volunteer.

Jonathan enjoys a busy and stable life as a Peer Support Specialist, and also does consulting work with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), utilizing his lived experience in recovery to advise mental health teams throughout the state of Ohio on the best treatment practices for people living with schizophrenia and other psychosis related conditions. In his spare time, he works as a freelance artist.

Daniel attended SUNY Purchase University where he studied screen and play writing, and founded the Standup comedy club, graduating in 2015.He currently works as a comedian in Manhattan, and helps run the nonprofit “Team Daniel Running for Recovery from Mental Illness” with his family.

Joy Isabel holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and a master’s in teaching English, 2013. She spent two years teaching English in China. Today she works full time in a sales position, practices origami and enjoys running half marathons.

Liz Rapp is a mother of three and an entrepreneur who runs the nonprofit Project Daily Pages. Project Daily Pages helps those with mental illness live in recovery to the best of their ability by providing tools, materials, instruction, and support. Liz has been publicly sharing her story of recovery from schizoaffective disorder for five years.

David holds a Master of Social Work degree from New York University. He runs a thriving and busy private practice as a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) specialist in New York City and sees about thirty patients with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia per week.

J. Peters is the owner of Recovery Now, a private mental health practice in Yonkers, New York. His battle with schizophrenia began at Binghamton University in his last semester of college.

Carson is a dual mathematics/computer systems engineering major at Arizona State University scheduled to graduate in spring of 2024. He also works as a tutor.

Alexandra Johann (pen name) is certified as a peer support specialist in the state of Louisiana and as a career coach by PARW/CC, which stands for Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Today she serves as Director of Community Engagement for the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA).

In 2020, Emeka Chima earned an Associates of Arts degree from Montgomery College and later in 2022 a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland Campus in the field of Information Systems. At Montgomery College, he was a Dean’s List recipient twice, and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor’s Society. He currently works as a Peer Support Specialist for an outpatient mental healthcare clinic for first episode psychosis adolescents and young adults.

Christina has worked for over 19 years as a professional librarian in an urban public library. Ten years ago, she found her niche to be career services, helping others land jobs that fit well with their skills and interests. Since 2005, Christina has been the “Bruni in the City” columnist for City Voices, a peer mental health newspaper.

Liz Grace holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Since 2016, she has worked 30-40 hours a week in her field. In addition to a schizophrenia diagnosis, she has struggled with progressive hearing loss due to a genetic condition. In 2014, she had surgery for cochlear implants, enabling her to eventually regain some of her hearing.

Lucas Peluffo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a young adult, he experienced two psychiatric hospitalizations. Thanks to treatment with clozapine, he recovered 20 years ago and has had no relapse. Today he works translating English to Spanish, and is a secretary in a medical center.

Lesley is a Master’s degree student at Yorkville University in New Brunswick, Canada, studying Counseling Psychology. She studies full time and also works full time in an accounting firm in Halifax.

Leif Gregersen is a writer, speaker and mental health advocate. He teaches creative writing as a wellness skill to people who have psychiatric disabilities. He is also involved with the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta as a speaker, presenting his story of full recovery from schizophrenia to diverse audiences.

Currently, I work in my studied field of IT for a global, industry leader in Digital Signage. I have a great group of friends who understand my condition, and I have hobbies I enjoy in my free time.  I am under the impression that people have little idea I even have a condition. I am a writer of poetry, dystopian science fiction and hope to one day be a source of inspiration for others with similar conditions.

Ashley Smith is a non-fiction author, speaker, peer counselor, and mother. She courageously fights the stigma of mental illness with her name attached to her lived experience. She is celebrating a decade in recovery.

Brandon Chuang is an artist and filmmaker with a background in schizophrenia research. His earned his molecular, cellular and developmental biology degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Michelle Hammer is the founder of Schizophrenic.NYC, a clothing line that fights the stigma surrounding schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

Rebecca Chamaa graduated with a liberal arts degree from Evergreen State College in 1989. Originally from Washington state, she attended an American high school in Cairo, Egypt, where she met her future husband.

The future looked bright for Bill, already living his dream. Five years later, Bill was living a nightmare, pacing a psychiatric ward, trapped in a world of illusions, delusions, paranoia and depression. Today, he is known as a “schizophrenia recovery expert.”

After Robert’s recovery from schizophrenia, he attended college full-time for two years and received his Master of Social Work degree in 2006. In 2009, he earned his LCSW. Today, he has worked as a mental health therapist for 15 years.

William suffered a severe paranoid psychotic break at nineteen years of age. Fighting the odds, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and went on to complete his Master’s of Library Science degree from Queens College in 1999.

Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs (1999) and a master’s degree in City Planning (2002). Currently, she is employed by the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. She finds fulfillment in her work helping others.

Ravi Sarin is 48 years old. Despite being diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 16, he has enjoyed 26 years of thriving life. Today, as a member of an ACT team, he helps people with mental illness find the treatment they need to rebuild their lives.

Susan Weiner experienced psychosis during graduate school derailing her career and plunging her world into chaos.  In recovery for over 20 years, she became a writer and has had two books of poetry published and has written articles and even a chapter for a book on mental illness.

Victoria Marie Alonso is married and the mother of three adult children. She developed schizophrenia as an adult. In her memoir, My Personal Recovery from Schizophrenia, she describes the onset of schizophrenia as receiving messages from God which she was unable to ignore.

Laurie views herself not as a psychiatric patient but first and foremost as a researcher who stands on equal footing with everyone else at her stage of the academic career.

Amber was young and successful, but she began a steady decline. At first, she showed symptoms of depression, which would quickly spin out of control, and into psychosis. Today, recovered for over eleven years, she works assisting special needs children.

CURESZ Survivors do not provide legal or medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.  They do not provide therapy or other counseling services.

If you would like more information about Schizophrenia Survivors, please contact Bethany Yeiser, at bethany.yeiser@curesz.org.

Every personal story of recovery from schizophrenia is unique, and a needed contribution.

Disclaimer: Schizophrenia Survivors are not representatives of the CURESZ Foundation. The views of the Schizophrenia Survivors do not reflect the views of the CURESZ Foundation.