Sasha Zabelski, PhD
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sashazabelski.bsky.social
Sasha Zabelski, PhD
@sashazabelski.bsky.social
1.6K followers 670 following 190 posts
Research Associate @ Sheps Center for Health Services Research
Trying to take an interdisciplinary approach to improving community mental health services through organizational, policy, and imp sci approaches.

W: https://sashazabelski.squarespace.com/
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sashazabelski.bsky.social
The house we moved in to has a native plant garden that brings me so much joy every day 🥲 also embracing low maintenance gardening 🙌🏻🙌🏻
A sea of colorful columbines A sea of different colored snap dragons Multiple varieties of native plants in purple and pink colors
June 4, 2025 at 6:13 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Yesterday made it official official. Thank you to my wonderful mentor and committee member, Apryl (@drapryla.bsky.social), for stepping in for my advisor to hood me (COVID is still around, folks). Ecstatic that I now have the paper to prove it! 🤩
I’m standing in a doctoral gown and cap holding a green diploma with ‘university of North Carolina charlotte’ on the front. There is a brick wall and colorful bushes behind me. I’m standing in a doctoral robe and cap with a green diploma. Next to me is one of my doctoral committee members, Apryl, who is also wearing a doctoral robe. We are standing in front of a brick wall and colorful bushes.
May 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
This morning, I officially became Dr. Zabelski. This community driven dissertation project was only successful with the help of my wonderful community partner and committee members. And yes, everyone is right…it was super anticlimactic.
I’m standing in front of a screen with a slide that has my dissertation title on it : “organizational and policy-based approaches to increase access to community-based mental healthcare for marginalized populations”. The slide is dark green and light green. I’m standing in front of the screen with my dissertation slide and my doctoral supervisor is standing by my side with our arms around each other. I’m standing with my dissertation committee in front of the screen with my dissertation title slide.
March 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
This morning I presented the results of my community-based dissertation study to staff that participated which then led to discussions around forming new nonprofit relationships and coalitions. In times like these, doing community driven work really helps.
A laptop screen with a green slide that says ‘Fostering Connections Across Mental Healthcare in Mecklenburg County”. It has my name in the bottom left hand corner and the violence prevention center symbol and UNC Charlotte symbol in the right hand corner.
February 5, 2025 at 3:55 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Yesterday I officially closed data collection for my planned dissertation study! And today I voted early in the primary! What a thrilling last couple of days!!
My hand holding a sticker that has the American flag on it and says I voted early!
March 2, 2024 at 3:40 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
I’m a member of the policy and advocacy task force team w/ Envision:You which is a LGBTQ+ behavioral health organization in CO. As part of this work, I got to shadow the organization’s lobbyist today and learn about the ins and outs of policy making. So grateful for all of these cool opportunities!
The house legislation floor in Colorado with a lot of empty seats waiting for the session to begin. Three woman standing at the house legislative head’s desk. One woman has a gavel in her hand used during legislative sessions.
February 21, 2024 at 7:31 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Turning 30 in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Grateful to be ringing in this birthday like this ☺️
I’m standing on frozen ground. There is a sunrise on mountains behind me. I’m standing in front of a frozen lake with snow covered mountains behind me A sunrise glow is on the summit of two mountains A pink cloud hangs over a snow capped mountain
January 17, 2024 at 3:13 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
The first time I received good news about my paper (R&R) I was in Barcelona and today, while in Scotland, it was accepted. Moral of the story is I always need to travel somewhere so I can continue to get good news 🤣

Pictures from my first couple of days in Glasgow as collateral!
Grassy hill with a city and mountains in the background Lots of green tropical plants in a greenhouse
January 15, 2024 at 2:50 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Took a family photo highlighting our families’ love for Costco. Happy Christmas to everyone who celebrates 🎄
A couple with black Kirkland hoodies sit in front of a lit up Christmas tree. I’m holding an Aussie Border collie in my lap who is also wearing a Black Kirkland hoodie.
December 25, 2023 at 4:28 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
This was fun! Embarrassed to say I haven’t been to most of the Midwest and Northeast and still need to check off a lot of Eastern Europe! Living in the U.K. made it easy to check off a lot of European countries 😁
A map of the U.S. using different shapes for each state. Each state is colored a different color. A map of Europe with each country being a funky shape. Some countries are colored.
November 26, 2023 at 12:04 AM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
When you’ve addressed the easy points for the R&R and now it’s time to tackle the points that will restructure your whole paper and make you write significantly more…
A dog laying on the ground with a person pulling the leash attached to harness that is on the dog. Around the dog are several phrases.
November 1, 2023 at 6:10 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Peak North Carolina mountain foliage this weekend made for a lovely camping/hiking environment ☺️
I am standing looking out onto mountain ranges that have red and orange trees on them. A long road going north has a white van parked on the right. There are yellow and red trees in the background with the sunlight illuminating the trees. Mountain ranges with yellow, orange and red trees scattering the whole mountain. The sky is bright blue. A winding road with yellow trees on either side of the road.
October 28, 2023 at 7:36 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
I feel so lucky that research gets to take me to so many cool places! Spain is such a beautiful country 😍
A Birds Eye view of a coast line with a marina, lots of apartments on the coast and mountains in the background. Looking up at a church ceiling. There are three columns on each side of the picture. Directly ahead there is a stained glass window with red and blue colored glass. Many tropical plants on the ground with the sun peaking through the plants. Blue ocean water with a large rock protruding out of the water. The rock has a lot of green trees on it and a white house sitting on a cliff.
October 25, 2023 at 2:35 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Surprise: I’m in Barcelona to present and not just to gallivant around Spain 😂 Thank you to IASR/AFSP for the poster nomination! Sorry I didn’t adhere to the European poster size 😅
I am standing in front of a poster board with a poster hung up behind me. I am wearing a black shirt and a black skirt with white polka dots. The numbers 123 and 124 are on the poster board in the top corners. A blue ribbon is hanging off the number 123.
October 17, 2023 at 10:51 AM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
It’s been 6 years since I was last here and it’s just as magical as I remember it to be ✨
An alleyway with a fort on the right side and tropical plans surround the fort. The streets are wet from rain. An alley way with apartments on either side. There is a balcony on the right side with lots of plants on the balcony. A coffee shop with the door open looking out onto the street. The floors and walls are orange. There’s a shelf on the right side with bottles of wine, plates, cups and plants. A plant and fan are in the left hand corner. Someone passing on the street is looking into the shop.
October 15, 2023 at 11:03 AM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Hi there! PhD student in Public Health. Interested in factors contributing to inequities in mental health resource access for marginalized populations, policy initiatives to close inequities in access and evaluation of training programs. Also obsessed with my dog (pic below as proof) 😁
A border collie Australian shepherd mix dog with brown and white fur is sitting in green grass. There is a green and orange leash attached to the dog.
September 29, 2023 at 11:57 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
It was about time for a new headshot 😌
A woman with wavy brown hair is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a blue top with blue and purple flowers.
September 28, 2023 at 8:31 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
I used to take a lot of spontaneous trips because I’d rather spend my money on travel than things. So when my friend from England said that he wanted to visit Portland, I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve always loved the PNW 💚
Rows of green bushes and trees in the foreground with city and mountains in the background. A clear pond with a red and white Koi fish is swimming in it. Behind the pond is a waterfall surrounded by green plants. Looking out towards a door that goes out into the street. There are plants above the door. Redwood trees and plants.
September 25, 2023 at 2:11 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Back in my home state for my childhood friend’s wedding and I am feeling so at peace 🥲
The sun shines over a river flowing in between a row of trees. There is a river flowing with the setting sun shining onto the river. The river is surrounded by trees and rocks.
September 17, 2023 at 2:38 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Also wanted Bluesky to know about my amazing weekend!
A selfie of a man and woman in swimsuits with the woman wearing a blue and white polka dot swimsuit and holding up her hand with an engagement ring on it. There is an ocean in the background.
September 5, 2023 at 11:57 AM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
Someone was scratching themselves too much after their bath so cone of shame it is 😂🥺
A brown dog has a brown colored cone on and is staring at themselves in the reflection of a glass sliding door while laying on the floor.
August 30, 2023 at 3:11 PM
sashazabelski.bsky.social
I’ve officially lived in the south long enough where a high of 88 degrees had me saying “oh goodie it’s cool enough to wear jeans today!” 🤣
A picture of jeans and converse with a shadow on the ground
August 23, 2023 at 5:51 PM