Meet the people and organizations dedicated to the mission of SOAR.

Ohio is home to many passionate researchers, scientists and health care providers who’ve made it their life’s work to improve — and save — the lives of people with mental health conditions.

They’ve spent years studying what fosters resiliency and what might prevent mental health challenges from ever arising in the first place, all while implementing evidence-based therapies and championing that recovery is possible.

Now, these talented mental health experts from across the state are working as a team in this large-scale project to uncover the root causes of mental health conditions. While The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is the lead research site for the SOAR Study, it will take the bright minds of many to address the mental health crisis in our state and beyond.

SOAR Leadership Team

Scott Langenecker, PhD

Principal Investigator, SOAR Study

Dr. Scott Langenecker is a clinical neuropsychologist who studies the emergence and treatment of mood disorders. He has moved his work over the past two decades to focus on prevention and the opportunities and treatments to build resilience and prevent recurrence of disease. He has been working closely with Dr. Luan Phan (founding leader of SOAR), as well as with Deputy Director Maynard-Wentzel to roll out and expand SOAR studies since they began in 2023.

Grace Maynard-Wentzel, CCRP, CHRC

Deputy Director, SOAR Study

Grace Wentzel is Deputy Director, State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience (SOAR) and works with Principal Investigator, Dr. Scott Langenecker, to streamline operations across administrative functions, partners and participants; assists faculty leaders with developing and implementing processes, procedures and quality controls to promote highly scientific research data collection and works across SOAR to ensure each and every family has a positive, meaningful experience.

Dr. Scott Langendecker and Grace Wentzel

Shown left to right, Dr. Scott Langenecker, Principal Investigator, SOAR Study and Grace Wentzel, Deputy Director, SOAR Study

Learning from Ohioans

Special thanks to Governor Mike DeWine, the Ohio Legislature and Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) for providing critical funding to launch the SOAR Studies.

SOAR is led by The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Wexner Medical Center.