About Me
A native Phoenician, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona before attending the New York University School of Medicine. My rigorous medical education included direct instruction from some of the most world-renowned experts in Psychiatry, with opportunities to serve patients in NYC's oldest, highly acclaimed Psychiatric Emergency Center in Bellevue Hospital. In addition to the standard Psychiatric Residency training I received at the University of Colorado, I also pursued an internal medicine internship at Mayo Clinic Arizona. These foundations have allowed me to strategically target interventions at the complex interplay between mental health and physical health (mind/body).
At the University of Colorado Hospital, I worked extensively in a state-of-the-art program, Center for Dependency Addiction and Rehabilitation (CeDAR) which fueled my passion for treating chemical and behavioral addictions. I also received unique, one-on-one faculty mentorship within Denver's Psychoanalytic Institute, which helped me develop my psychodynamic psychotherapy orientation. My engagement in the Denver VA PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program allowed me to participate in the recovery of combat veterans within a collaborative multidisciplinary treatment team. This unique experience inspired me to pursue a leadership position as Chief Resident and seek employment at the Phoenix VA.
Over the last 7+ years, I’ve been treating high-risk veterans with complex psychiatric/medical comorbidities, fiercely advocating for their wellbeing within General Mental Health. I've treated conditions ranging from mild situational/relationship stressors and grief to anxiety disorders, including OCD, substance abuse, anxiety, complex PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, and severe treatment-schizophrenia. I was the only psychiatrist to pursue additional psychotherapy training and work in the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) program; under the supervision from a direct pupil of Marsha Linehan, the creator of this revolutionary treatment, who along with a group of incredibly talented therapists helped me further broaden my psychotherapy skillset and techniques. I have served as the VA Site Director for the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Psychiatry Clerkship, educating and mentoring the medical students--the next generation of doctors.
"I am personally and professionally committed
to your recovery--failure is not an option."
My medical and psychiatric training and experiences have provided me the ability to respectfully meet my patients “where they are," without any stigma or judgment. I am culturally sensitive, with advanced training and experience treating patients from diverse clinical populations including members of the LGBTQ+ community, racial/ethnic minorities, individuals on the autism spectrum, refugees from war-torn countries, and survivors of sexual assault. I feel privileged and honored to guide and witness my patient's individualized journeys toward healing and joy.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, making my 5 year old daughter laugh, restful (and not-so-restful) vacations, and savoring my wife’s culinary masterpieces.