Team of Experts
At Delphi, we bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and emerging psychedelic therapies. Under the leadership of Lia Mix, LMFT, CPTR, we combine clinical expertise with strategic insight to shape the future of mental healthcare.
Our multidisciplinary team brings together decades of experience across psychedelic research, clinical practice, healthcare systems, and policy development. We partner with organizations to build sustainable, ethical frameworks for psychedelic medicine through strategic planning, professional education, and ecosystem integration.
What sets us apart is our hands-on approach. Rather than simply advising, we work alongside our clients to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, develop evidence-based protocols, and create lasting institutional change. Our commitment to integrity and clinical excellence ensures these powerful medicines are integrated responsibly, safely, and effectively into mainstream healthcare.
Leadership Team
Our executive team of industry leaders and innovators is dedicated to advancing the psychedelic ecosystem.
Our team of experts and advisors supports us. They actively engage with clients, providing hands-on guidance and strategic oversight.
With diverse backgrounds in psychedelics, healthcare, and policy, they enhance our capability to deliver transformative, well-rounded, evidence-based solutions.
Lia Mix | Founder & CEO
Lia has over 20 years of experience as a licensed therapist and healthcare strategist, specializing in integrating novel therapies into insurance systems. Lia has been instrumental in establishing the core infrastructure for integrating psychedelic-assisted therapy into the US healthcare system.
Lia Mix is the Founder and CEO of Delphi, a consulting firm dedicated to the healthy growth of the psychedelic movement. With a career spanning over two decades, Lia is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and certified in Psychedelic Therapies and Research (CPTR) by the California Institute for Integral Studies.
At Delphi, she provides expertise in organizational objectives related to psychedelics, conscious leadership, and project management for leading non-profits, for-profits, foundations, and government bodies.
David Abernathy | CSO
David is an experienced consultant and investor with expertise in market strategy and operational growth.
David has extensive experience in project administration, investment banking, and cannabis industry consulting, leading major initiatives at The Arcview Group.
David Abernathy began his career in project administration and management at a London-based engineering and consulting firm. He then moved to an Australian investment bank, working with the Infrastructure Legal team on financing multi-billion dollar wind farm projects. David has extensive experience in investment due diligence and business administration consulting.
From 2009 to 2012, he operated a financial services and consulting firm focused on the medical cannabis industry, serving clients such as cultivation collectives, dispensaries, equipment manufacturers, and cannabis R&D companies around the State of California.
For the last 11 years, David has been a key figure at The Arcview Group, a leading investment firm in the cannabis industry. At Arcview, he launched and led Arcview Market Research and Arcview Consulting.
David also co-owns a growing miniature golf company, and serves on several boards, including Cat Town, The Arcview Group, Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), and Oaksterdam University, where he teaches courses on the economics of cannabis.
Floris Wolswijk | SPM
Floris is the creator of Blossom, a leading psychedelic research database, bringing psychology and data-driven insights to Delphi.
Floris has built Blossom, the most comprehensive database for psychedelic medicine insights, leveraging deep expertise of the psychedelic ecosystem for societal change.
Floris Wolswijk is a healthcare innovator with a psychology background and a deep understanding of the psychedelic ecosystem. With two years of experience at Delphi, he has been pivotal in advancing healthcare solutions in this emerging field.
Over the past five years, Floris has built Blossom, the most comprehensive database for psychedelic medicine insights.
Passionate about decreasing “world suck,” Floris actively promotes effective altruism. His work exemplifies a commitment to leveraging psychedelics for positive societal impact.
Erica Openden | COO
Erica has a proven track record in operations leadership and team development, with expertise in strategic problem-solving, project management, and process improvement.
With a proven record in operations leadership and team development, Erica brings extensive expertise in strategic problem-solving, project management, and process improvement.
Throughout her career, she has driven impactful initiatives, consistently exceeding revenue goals and optimizing efficiency. Her experience includes spearheading comprehensive onboarding processes, implementing robust CRM and data integration systems, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to achieve business objectives.
She successfully built and managed operations teams during periods of rapid growth and change, integrating new acquisitions seamlessly and enhancing technology to drive operational excellence while providing actionable insights for decision-making. Additionally, she has a strong track record in developing scalable processes, improving workflow automation, and enhancing team performance through strategic leadership and mentorship.
Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, underpinning her analytical approach and commitment to driving business success through operational excellence. She is passionate about creating collaborative environments that empower teams to achieve and exceed their goals while delivering exceptional client satisfaction.
She thrives in dynamic environments where innovation and continuous improvement are paramount, and she is committed to driving sustainable growth and operational excellence in everything she does.
When Erica is not focusing on Delphi, she is watching her two boys play baseball or spend time in the mountains golfing, hiking, and skiing with her family.
Experts
Desislava Prodanova
Data Analytics & Healthcare Economics
Co-founder of Mside Solutions, specializes in Data and Analytics, including AI, DataOps, and MLOps. Deep experience with VBC modeling.
Desislava Prodanova is a senior technology and product management leader with over two decades of experience in Data and Analytics, including AI, DataOps, and MLOps.
She is the Founder and President of Mside Solutions, a role she has held for over eight years, where she leads innovative data analytics initiatives. Mside Solutions has been the data analytics partner for Delphi for the past two years.
Desislava also serves as the Chief Data Officer at CrossBridge Health, contributing her extensive expertise to drive data strategy and implementation. Her previous roles include Vice President of Product Development at HealthQX and VP of Program and Product Management at Healthy Humans, where she specialized in start-ups and product timelines.
Martha Hammel
Community Engagement & Grant Writing
Martha Hammel is an advocate, activist, and educator in the psychedelic space.
She is the co-founder and executive director of the Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center, the Colorado strategist for the National Psychedelic Association, and is a trained integration coach.
She is passionate about shifting cultural understanding around psychedelics to increase the reverence and respect for psychedelic medicine.
When she isn’t focusing her energy on various projects, you can find her in the mountains; skiing, hiking, running, biking, climbing, playing on the river, or simply watching the stars.
Patrick Whitaker
Healthcare Strategy, Innovation, & Growth Leader
Healthcare strategy, innovation, and growth leader on a mission to expand access to breakthrough mental health care.
Patrick is a strategic growth leader with two decades of experience building and scaling healthcare ventures. He is passionate about developing sustainable partnerships and business models that improve healthcare, reduce suffering, and create lasting impact.
After starting his career in M&A and healthcare consulting, Patrick transitioned to building seed-stage healthcare ventures within corporate incubators at PwC and Aon. In between, Patrick was instrumental in scaling transformative companies like Remedy Partners and Signify Health from early stages through mergers and IPOs.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Patrick enjoys outdoor adventures with his wife, two daughters, and dog. He loves finding flow states through snowboarding, mountain biking, and immersing himself in nature with friends and family.
Julia Mande
Facilitator & Project Advisor
Julia Mande is a facilitator & project advisor who partners with founding teams to grow organizations for meaningful impact.
With a passion for regenerative systems, Julia has advanced movements in soil health, plant medicine, and conscious leadership through stakeholder engagement and systems design. As a Co-Founder of Common Field, a nonprofit establishing Indigenous-informed frameworks for access and benefit sharing under the Nagoya Protocol, Julia stewards interconnection between traditional and modern practices through a practice of bridge-building.
Julia focuses on process, dimensional health, relationships, and sustainable growth. Her direct impact includes designing and implementing Los Angeles’s compost collection infrastructure and educational programs through L.A. Compost, co-creating a digital broadcast advocating for food sovereignty with A Growing Culture, and as the former Managing Director of the North Star Project, developed a principles-based community of practice for ethical business.
Recognized as a Zagat 30 Under 30 awardee for “redefining the industry,” Julia has contributed to creating more equitable and nourishing systems for wellbeing. Her approach to leadership and sustainability is informed by her upbringing in Zimbabwe and her academic background, including a degree in Organizational Sciences from George Washington University and certifications in Regenerative Organizational Design, Systems Constellations, and Environmental Sustainability. Julia envisions systems of mutual regeneration for both people and the planet.
Lauren Tannhauser
Funding Strategy Lead
A fundraising and development mage, Lauren is dedicated to bridging the current gap between the historically-singular promise of psychedelics and other neurotechnologies, and the systems that will be instrumental in integrating them for widespread freedom and healing.
A new entrant to the psychedelics ecosystem, Lauren brings her exceptional expertise in raising capital, designing fundraising systems, and building sophisticated funder relationships spanning Stanford Medicine, corporate ESG/philanthropy programs, and dozens of leading foundations and nonprofits. She enjoys listening to science fiction on walks in San Francisco, biohacking with friends, and hunting for Asian street food.
Jake Hoskins
For-Profit Strategy & Fundraising
Jake Hoskins, our strategic advisor, is leveraging his extensive experience in fundraising and business development to support for-profit and non-profit fundraising efforts.
Jake Hoskins is currently the CEO of Tripgrid, a travel software company, where he personally managed the fundraising of over $7M while taking the business from concept to growth stage. For the past 4 years, Jake has been a Strategic Advisor to for-profit startups and growth stage companies as well as multiple non-profit entities in various industries including tech, real estate / store fronts, outdoor gear, online education, healthcare, & plant medicine.
Currently, his main focus is building fundraising strategies that support for-profit companies in the plant medicine space as well as non-profit fundraising efforts for research, and he is currently involved in supporting strategic fundraising efforts totaling $23M across three entities.
Jake is also interested in constructing unique investment opportunities for companies building or expanding their footprint with new physical locations. He has an extensive network of investors whose contributions range from $25k to $2M.
Joshua Lilienstein
Senior Medical Director
Dr. Lilienstein is driven by a desire to improve patient access and health outcomes through the development of the psychedelic medicine ecosystem.
With a background in neurobiology, radiology, device development, and pharmaceutical development, he brings expertise in medical and industry standards and processes. Joshua has experience leading strategy and execution of integrated evidence planning, external engagement planning, and internal and external training, and has a track record of building teams, designing clinical development plans, and collaborating internally and externally to support products in different stages of the life cycle and across numerous therapeutic areas and treatment modalities. Joshua has been working behind the scenes to support the development of the psychedelic ecosystem since 2016.
He holds a BA in Neuroscience from UC Berkeley, an MD from the USC Keck School of Medicine, and a Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research from CIIS. He holds an MD from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.
Adam Wilkins
Insurance Advisor
A mental health advocate and insurance broker who ensures clients address all potential business risks.
Adam Wilkins is a strategic mental health and insurance consultant, driven by a passion for supporting companies developing innovative cures and treatments for mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. He combines this passion with his property and casualty insurance expertise, working as a broker at NFP (an Aon company).
Adam’s approach to insurance is rooted in meticulous risk assessment, ensuring his clients have comprehensive coverage for their businesses. He takes pride in NFP’s commitment to attracting top talent and providing consultative solutions for complex risks, workforce, wealth management, and retirement challenges.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Adam is a film producer with experience bringing creative projects to life. His film “SASSY PANTS” premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in 2012.
Brian Mann
Healthcare Communications
Strategic Communications Lead helping to transform minds and medicine in the psychedelic space.
Brian Mann is an experienced Executive Creative Director who has worked at healthcare ad agencies from New York to Los Angeles for over 18 years. He has a strong track record of leading impactful creative and marketing projects for prescription drugs, devices, and wellness products for doctors and patients.
Now, as a Communications Strategist in the psychedelic space, Brian is here to help craft memorable stories and establish ownable branding, ensuring that your communications help your initiatives gain measured momentum. Brian’s worked at agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and Havas Health, where he honed his skills in creative leadership, working on business from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis.
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