Meet Your Instructors
Our team is the cornerstone of our mission to elevate psychedelic therapy through evidence-based education.
Each member brings a unique perspective of scholarly expertise, clinical wisdom, and a deep-rooted passion for the therapeutic possibilities of psychedelics. Our instructors are not only leaders in their fields, but also dedicated advocates for the responsible use of psychedelic therapies. Our diverse experiences and shared enthusiasm ensure that we deliver unparalleled educational programs designed to empower and inform.
Zach Halpern, M.D.
CEO
Lead Educator
Zach believes in a future where psychedelic therapies are a widely accessible form of mental healthcare treatment and personal growth, and that this future hinges on top-tier, evidence-based education to inform best practices.
Following his graduation from medical school in 2021, Zach relocated to Oregon, drawn by the state's legalization of psilocybin therapy. Shortly after, leveraging his background in medicine and education, he founded the Oregon Psychedelic Institute.
Zach's leadership focuses on preparing clinicians and facilitators to navigate the multidisciplinary landscape of psychedelic therapy with confidence and scientifically grounded reasoning. Through his advocacy and commitment to rigorous education, Zach is dedicated to shaping a future where the transformative potential of psychedelics is both legitimized and widely accessible.
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Zach’s passion for science, mental health, education, and psychedelic therapy is the culmination of his academic and professional journey, including his studies and research at UCLA, medical training at St. George’s University of Medicine, participation in Zach Leary's Psychedelic Studies Intensive, and active public advocacy in his hometown of Joseph, OR.
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Outside of work, Zach enjoys practicing piano, backpacking in alpine landscapes, reading good books, and playing bullet chess.
Matthew X. Lowe, Ph.D.
Scientific Advisor
Lead Educator
Dr. Matthew X. Lowe is a trained research scientist and experienced advisor who has spent over 15 years researching human brain function and behavior across a range of topics in cognition, perception, mental health, psychedelics, and cannabis use. After receiving his doctorate in psychology and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Toronto, Matthew worked as a research scientist at Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. He is a passionate advocate for evidence-based research and education on health outcomes related to the use of plant-based and other natural medicines.
Dr. Lowe is currently the Director of Research for Realm of Caring, a 501(c)(3) non-profit cannabis research organization which seeks to facilitate and encourage the mainstream acceptance of transformative, plant-powered therapies to benefit individuals and families and serve healthcare providers as well as the hemp and cannabis industries. He is also the Executive Director & Chief Scientific Officer for Realm of Caring's fiscally sponsored partner, Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelics research non-profit using data-driven methods to inform public perception, education, policy, and practices for psychedelics use.
He is currently a Principal Investigator of NIH/NIDA funded research on cannabis health outcomes and several IRB-approved studies on psychedelics and cannabis, and his work has been featured in Forbes, Vice, Yahoo!, Web MD, Business Insider, The Denver Post, High Times, DoubleBlind, Benzinga, and dozens of other media outlets.
Joe La Torre, Ph.D.
Lead Educator
Dr. Joseph La Torre, PhD, MTS is a psychologist specializing in psychedelic clinical research, the development of novel psychedelic protocols, psychedelic phenomenology, and the intersection of spirituality and psychedelic experiences. He is Lead Research Psychologist in the Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry (NTAP) housed in the University of Washington School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and teaches various graduate seminars in psychedelic science through the School of Psychology and School of Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa.
Currently, his research is focusing on ibogaine-assisted therapy, phenomenological differences and similarities of synthetic psilocybin vs. organic psilocybin, Psilocybe species-specific subjective effects, exploring psychedelic therapy for people with psychotic conditions, and other understudied indications.
At OPI, Dr. La Torre is a Lead Educator and oversees the development of high-quality educational training curriculum for clinicians and providers interested in gaining competency in non-directive facilitation and support of psilocybin dosing sessions. He completed his PhD at the University of Ottawa under Dr. Monnica Williams and his Masters coursework in Buddhist Studies at Harvard University as Dean's Fellow in Harvard Divinity School.
Brittany Alperin, Ph.D.
Instructor
Dr. Brittany Alperin is a clinically-focused cognitive neuroscientist and psychologist who has spent over 15 years in research and academia focused on understanding the inner workings of the mind.
She received her BA in psychology and neuroscience from Hampshire College and her PhD in behavioral neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University. She went on to become a Visiting Assistant Professor at University of Richmond where she taught courses in cognitive science, cognitive psychology, cognitive and affective neuroscience, and contemplative neuroscience. She then went on to become the Charlot and Dennis Singleton Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lawrence University. During her time at University of Richmond and Lawrence, she was the Principal Investigator of the Thought and Emotion Lab where they studied the dynamics of thought and how different aspects of thought are related to mental health and wellbeing. Dr. Alperin went on to leave academia and join a medical device company to design and run an educational program teaching the employees how to strategically plan, generate, and disseminate the evidence they need to support their products.
The last seven years of her life have been almost exclusively focused on education. She has developed eight semester-long college courses and three course modules, collaborated to develop a new neuroscience curriculum, led workshops on redesigning a psychology curriculum, hosted a BIPOC scientist speaker series, engaged in neuroscience outreach, and developed an education program on a topic that was novel to her in an industry space (medical device).
Her professional experience with psychedelics includes a study surveying the relationship between psychedelic use and mental health symptoms and integrating psychedelic science into presentations or lectures where the content is relevant (e.g., discussing novel or new treatment methods for depression). Her professional interest in psychedelics is driven by my personal experiences and shared anecdotes from loved ones. As a scientist, she is motivated by science-informed practice and is energized by the burgeoning field of psychedelics.
Lizzie Figa, D.O.
Instructor
Dr. Lizzie Figa is originally a Colorado native. She graduated from Northwestern University, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in history and completed her pre-medical studies. She subsequently earned her medical degree from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine followed by residency training in Internal Medicine at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, OR. She then completed an internship at the World Health Organization in Switzerland.
Her curiosity and interest in living a healthy, fulfilling, embodied life led to the personal and professional exploration of other various modalities including functional medicine, movement therapy, Jungian inquiry, plant medicine, dream work, breath work, and more. She further pursued training at the California Institute of Integral Studies Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy and is certified in the Compassionate Inquiry Therapeutic Approach by Dr. Gabor Maté.
Currently based in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Figa has a private practice that integrates a wide array of therapeutic approaches to foster healing in the body, psyche, and spirit. She has over a decade of experience in addressing complex health issues such as mental health, allergies, nutrition, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal disorders across Oregon, Hawaii, and Colorado. She currently lives in Bend, OR with her partner. Her other passions include connecting with friends, traveling, and spending time in nature.
Sibin Stephen, Pharm.D.
Instructor
Dr. Sibin Stephen is a clinically-trained pharmacist and psychedelic scholar based in Reno, NV. After earning his Pharm.D. cum laude from Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in 2016, he completed a Teaching & Learning Certificate program at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science. This program focused on clinical competence and educational theories for health science programs.
Dr. Stephen has over eight years of experience in neuropharmacology. He has worked as a scientific expert and medical consultant for biotechnology companies such as Sanofi Genzyme, Zogenix, and Sage Therapeutics. Additionally, he has served as a medical reviewer for Third Wave, a global leader in psychedelic education, training, and community.
Motivated by findings from a Johns Hopkins study on psilocybin's effects on depression and anxiety in cancer patients, Dr. Stephen pursued a certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). This program covered a broad range of topics including the pharmacology of psychedelics, research design, therapist competencies, the history of psychoactive plants, and cultural competencies for diverse client bases. The program is recognized by the Oregon Health Authority and authorized by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission.