Akif Khawaja, MD

Donna is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner dedicated to breaking down mental health stigma and expanding access to compassionate, quality care. With over 20 years of nurse practitioner experience, she has supported patients and families through life’s emotional and physical challenges across outpatient, inpatient, and telepsychiatry settings. Donna is passionate about creating a safe, empowering space where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued on their mental health journey.

Donna helps patients become the best, healthiest version of themselves, both mentally and emotionally. She values open communication, mutual respect, and collaborative decision-making. Her treatment plans include medication management, healthy coping strategies, and tools to build self-awareness and resilience. Known for her warmth and empathy, Donna creates a judgment-free environment where every voice matters.

Donna begins by building trust through a compassionate, in-depth initial interview. Together with each patient, she develops a personalized treatment plan that blends medication management with lifestyle recommendations tailored to individual goals and values. Her holistic approach focuses not just on symptom relief, but on fostering lasting growth, confidence, and overall well-being.

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Dr. Catherine Bledowski is board-certified in General Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) by the ABPN.  She received her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed her residency in General Psychiatry as well as her fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) at Virginia Commonwealth University.  Dr. Bledowski spent most of her career in large, urban academic medical centers, primarily taking care of patients with severe mental illness, as well as those with mental illness comorbid with other complex medical conditions.  

Dr. Bledowski has a passion for medical education and has held faculty appointments at Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Utah, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  Dr. Bledowski has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and provided academic presentations to both national and international audiences.  Her interests include emergency psychiatry, brain stimulation therapies, complex psychopharmacology, and psychopharmacology in the medically ill.  Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Bledowski held various leadership positions in academic medicine, emergency psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and brain stimulation at multiple academic medical centers.  

Dr. Bledowski's approach to patient care is centered upon collaboration and utilizing the most up-to-date evidence-based practices.

Dr. Kyra Munzenmaier is a board-certified psychiatrist dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized mental health care. A graduate of the University of South Florida's College of Medicine and former Chief Resident at St. Luke’s in Pennsylvania, Dr. Munzenmaier brings extensive training and experience in outpatient psychiatry. She particularly enjoys helping individuals dealing with insomnia, ADHD, anxiety, OCD, mood disorders, and medical trauma. As a Perinatal Mental Health-certified expert, she advocates for women’s mental health needs and supports individuals navigating mental health concerns during pregnancy and beyond.

Dr. Munzenmaier’s treatment approach is rooted in shared decision-making, prioritizing patient goals and preferences to create customized care plans, which typically include psychotherapy in combination with medication. She often integrates evidence-based lifestyle modifications and natural treatments to optimize personal well-being. By taking a holistic view of her patients’ challenges, Dr. Munzenmaier empowers her patients to lead their most fulfilling lives.

Dr. Weasen is a board-eligible adult psychiatrist with Talkiatry. He received his medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He then moved to Washington, D.C. to complete his residency training at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident during his final year. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and has presented at the APA Annual Meeting on the topic of virtual fatigue. He has had extensive experience working with a wide array of patients, including college/graduate students, geriatric patients, military veterans, and LGBTQ+ populations.

Dr. Weasen provides a combination of medication management and supportive psychotherapy. Occasionally, he may work with you on finding additional support as well, including bringing on a dedicated therapist as part of your treatment team. He believes in tailoring treatment to each person’s needs. He primarily treats mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, and insomnia, but believes in seeing beyond the diagnosis and focusing on the individual first and foremost.

Dr. Macdonnell is a double-boarded psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience in adult psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Macdonnell focuses on treating individuals with medication management. Supportive and interpersonal therapy is incorporated as needed. When additional therapy or longer sessions are necessary to enhance the individual's treatment, she invites a therapist to become a member of your care team. Dr. Macdonnell attended undergraduate school at Manhattan School of Music earning a bachelor's and master's degree in violin performance and musicology. She then attended the City University of New York � Hunter College campus majoring in premedical sciences. Dr. Macdonnell attended Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, earning a degree in MD. She completed an internship in internal medicine before entering psychiatry residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital � Westchester Division. After completing her residency, she stayed for an additional year, completing a fellowship in geriatric psychiatry. She was promoted to Attending Psychiatrist and Unit Chief of the Geriatric Partial Hospital Program. After two years in academic psychiatry, she entered private practice in New York and Connecticut for 8 years. She then served 2 years in the National Health Service providing outpatient care to an underserved area in central Florida. Moving to Georgia, she has worked in private practice and academic psychiatry at Mercer University College of Medicine before moving on to Veterans' care at Atlanta VA and Carl Vinson VA Medical Center. While Dr. Macdonnell has a wide range of experience, she focuses on general adult psychiatry.

Before pursuing medicine, Dr. Kenneth Ethan Lai explored a range of passions. After earning dual degrees in Biology and Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside, he opened a popular Riverside eatery featured on The Food Channel. He later transitioned to the IT industry, earning a master’s degree and certifications, before answering his true calling in medicine, graduating from Saint Matthews University School of Medicine.

Dr. Lai believes psychiatry combines science and the art of medicine. Patients value his professionalism, patience, empathy, and attentive listening. He acknowledges the many choices patients have in providers and strives to create a welcoming, collaborative, and supportive environment for everyone seeking care.

Dr. Lai treats both adults and children/adolescents with expertise in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, addiction, geriatrics, and dual-diagnosis care. He is trained in TMS and ECT, is a Certified Suboxone Prescriber, and offers consultations and treatment through office-based or telemedicine visits. His approach is tailored to each patient’s needs, integrating compassionate care with evidence-based treatment.