Claire Burgess
Dr. Claire Burgess is a clinical psychologist at VA Boston Healthcare System with a background from the University of Southern California. She joined VA Boston in 2017 as an LGBTQ+ Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in PTSD. She's also an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, where she directs the cognitive behavioral therapy course for the Harvard South Shore Residency program and conducts advanced seminars on LGBTQ+ health. Dr. Burgess has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and chaired VA workgroups on patient safety, including work on electronic health records. In 2020, she led an educational training workgroup for trauma-informed care and, in November 2021, directed a team publishing on COVID-19's impact on transgender and gender-diverse patient care. She was appointed chair of VA Boston's Interdisciplinary Transgender Treatment Team in February 2022.
Cliff Brown
Cliff Brown, Project Manager at Home Base, is an Army veteran who began his military journey during his senior year at Keefe Technical Vocational High School in Framingham when he enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. After graduating, he underwent Basic and Advanced Individual Training, emerging as an Intelligence Analyst. In 2011, Cliff was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, with the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
Cliff was among the first responders to the Boston Marathon Bombing, provided aid in Washington D.C. after the January 6th riots, and assisted during the migrant crisis in Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 2022. Beyond his operational roles, Cliff assumed various responsibilities, such as Battalion Career Counselor, Resiliency Training Assistant, and Unit Prevention Leader. However, his primary role was the Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of several Massachusetts military units.
Lynette Gabrila
Lynette Gabrila is a proud Army veteran and dedicated Director of Veterans’ Services for the Wachusett District, which includes the City of Gardner and the Towns of Ashburnham, Ashby, Princeton, and Westminster. She provides vital support to local veterans and their families by administrating Ch115 financial assistance and filing for federal and state benefits.
Beyond her professional commitment to veterans, Lynette is actively involved in various charitable organizations and causes. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Worcester State University and recently earned her Master’s in Social Work from Boston College in 2021.
Christine Serpe
Dr. Christine Serpe (she/her pronouns) is a VA Boston Healthcare System staff psychologist and Assistant Professor at The Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. PTSD, trauma recovery, and LGBTQ+ affirming care are among Dr. Serpe’s primary areas of clinical expertise, and she has published peer-reviewed research focusing on the implications of objectification and discrimination among bisexual and gender-diverse individuals. Dr. Serpe also enjoys teaching and actively serves as a mentor and supervisor to psychologists in training.
Rachel McNeill
Rachel enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2002 as a Heavy Construction Equipment Operator, deploying to Iraq from 2004–2005, where she served in a combat role on a tactical movement team.
Rachel has more than 17 years of experience as a veterans’ advocate and community organizer, including serving for more than five years in the Office of Congressman Joe Kennedy III as the Veteran Caseworker and Director of Constituent Services. She co-founded the Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative in 2015 and is the board chair.