New York, NY Mar 18th: The Psychedelic Education Partnership today announced its official launch as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting health care system readiness through rigorous, evidence-based education in psychedelic science and care.
The Psychedelic Education Partnership supports interdisciplinary workforce preparation with two core programs: the established University Psychedelic Education Program (U-PEP), which focuses on educating the future health care workforce; and the newly-envisioned Clinician Psychedelic Education Program (C-PEP), which will provide educational opportunities for the current workforce. Together, these programs equip educators and clinicians with the knowledge, resources, and community needed to responsibly and ethically engage in this rapidly evolving field.
The Psychedelic Education Partnership emphasizes education rather than clinical training, preparing health care professionals to confidently discuss psychedelic-assisted care with their patients and make referrals within their professional scope. This approach has been successfully demonstrated through U-PEP, which began as a joint pilot program between Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania’s schools of nursing and social work in 2022, and has since grown into a national fellowship program with more than 170 participating faculty members from over 30 states.
“Education is a critical foundation for the safe, ethical, and equitable integration of psychedelic assisted care,” said Sandy Samberg, Founder and Board Chair. “As the clinical research base continues to grow and interest expands, the need for a well-prepared workforce has become increasingly urgent. The Psychedelic Education Partnership was created to meet this moment—maintaining a clear focus on scientific rigor, collaboration, and education that meets clinicians and educators where they are.”
Leadership
The Psychedelic Education Partnership recently expanded its team to support continued growth and program refinement. The organization welcomed Austin R. Pick, MA, as its first full-time Program Director, bringing his extensive experience in higher education administration, psychedelic education and training, and nonprofit management.
Narda Skov has been promoted to Program Manager, supporting day-to-day operations and Faculty Fellow engagement. Caroline Dorsen, PhD, RN, FAAN—who previously served as U-PEP’s part-time Program Director and played a foundational role in shaping the program—now serves as Senior Academic Advisor, providing strategic academic leadership and continuity as the organization scales. Founder Sandy Samberg, NP, remains actively engaged as part of the leadership team.
Together with experienced consultants, learning platform partner Sabba Collective, and the founding Board of Directors, the team brings deep expertise in psychedelic education, academic leadership, digital curriculum platforms, program development, and nonprofit management. The founding Board includes Heidi Allen, Joy Sun Cooper, Katie Hood, Dan Love, and Sandy Samberg.
U-PEP’s 2026 Faculty Fellows Cohort
The Psychedelic Education Partnership also announced its 2026 cohort of U-PEP Faculty Fellows, comprising 84 Faculty Fellows from 45 universities and colleges across 26 states and U.S. territories. Fellows represent a range of professions, including nursing, social work, medicine, psychology, counseling, and public health.
The two-year fellowship combines instruction through in-person and virtual learning events; mentorship from experienced educators, researchers, and clinicians; community-building and interdisciplinary peer exchange; and shared, curated curricular resources via a dedicated Resource Hub. This approach helps Fellows not only acquire foundational knowledge, but also develop the confidence to responsibly integrate psychedelic education into varied academic settings.
“U-PEP played a transformative role in enabling me to develop two MSW courses as well as a monthly professional webinar series at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis,” said 2025 Faculty Fellow Tonya Edmond, PhD-LCSW. “Most importantly, U-PEP cultivated a collaborative community of educators committed to building a well-prepared workforce.”
Looking Ahead
The Psychedelic Education Partnership will continue strengthening U-PEP while expanding C-PEP to engage clinicians with a Psychedelic Educators Network, virtual learning portal, and a scholarship fund that supports access to continuing education initiatives developed by U-PEP Faculty Fellows.
