Ellen Bassuk & Daniel Schoonover

ELLEN BASSUK, MD, is a psychiatrist, researcher, clinician, and advocate whose five-decade career has focused on mental health, homelessness, and vulnerable populations, especially families and children. She served as Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School for nearly forty years and is the founder of the National Center on Family Homelessness and C4 Innovations. The author of more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, she is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has received numerous honors, including an honorary doctorate from Northeastern University, the Blanche F. Ittleson Award for the Promotion of Children’s Mental Health, and the American Psychological Association Distinguished Contribution to Child Advocacy Award. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Her son, DANIEL SCHOONOVER, is a devoted animal lover and volunteer, committed to supporting overlooked creatures and communities. With hands-on experience in herpetology and marine life care—including work at the Woods Hole Science Aquarium and the MSPCA—he has spent much of his life nurturing the natural world. Currently studying at the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Daniel is deepening his knowledge of spirituality, recovery, and wellness while continuing his exploration of herpetology. He also volunteers at a food bank, plays electric and acoustic guitar, and practices martial arts. Whether caring for animals or helping others, Daniel is dedicated to making a meaningful impact.

Together, Ellen and Daniel wrote the book Between Two Worlds: A Psychiatrist and Her Son’s Quest for Compassionate Mental Health Care.