Albert Fernandez, MD

Dr. Tahira Akbar specializes in adult psychiatry, she completed her four years of residency training at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus NJ and additional two years of geriatric psychiatry fellowship from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. During her final year of the of residency training, she was appointed as the chief of research. She utilized her extensive research experience to guide and mentor her fellow residents. Under her supervision the program submitted maximum number of research papers and presented medical posters to various psychiatric platforms including American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Akbar was introduced to tele-psychiatry during the second year of her fellowship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She appreciated that tele-psychiatry allowed her to continue to serve her patients in the comfort of their own homes. During the challenging times of social distancing, she recognized the importance of collaborative care involving family members, social workers, medical team, and therapist to work together in the best interest of her patients while protecting their privacy and individuality.

Dr. Akbar has excellent communication skills, she believes that an open communication is essential for any relationship to prosper especially that of doctor-patient relationship. She provides a comforting environment for her patients to be able to express their needs and encourages feedback while preparing their individual treatment plan. She is experienced in providing psychiatric care to all age groups while her clinical interest focuses on taking care of adults and geriatric population. Dr. Akbar emphases on medication management utilizing a multidisciplinary methodology when treating each patient based on their requirements and tailoring treatment appropriately.

Dr. Ruiz is a compassionate psychiatrist specializing in adult and maternal mental health. She develops personalized treatment plans to address anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, PMDD, and perinatal conditions. Her goal is to help patients reconnect with their values and live balanced, fulfilled, and meaningful lives.

Her passion for medicine began in childhood, inspired by curiosity about the mind and body. She earned an Honors Chemistry degree with  magna cum laude and completed her medical training and psychiatry residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. With a strong scientific foundation, Dr. Ruiz understands the role of medications, and embraces holistic healing through connection, gratitude, and spirituality.

Dr. Ruiz has experience in diverse clinical settings and has received national awards including the AWP International Fellowship and ADMSEP Innovations Award. She is dedicated to advancing maternal mental health screening and treatment through clinical care and education.

Dr. Ruiz combines pharmacotherapy (medication) with psychotherapy to create individualized treatment plans. Therapy provides powerful tools to manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that support balanced brain chemistry. Research shows that medication helps restore this balance more quickly and effectively, especially in moderate to severe cases.  

Dr. Ruiz likens medication for the brain to fertilizer for a garden. Imagine your mental health as a vibrant garden—when well-nourished, it can thrive with resilience, beauty, and balance. But when symptoms like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or mood instability take hold, they act like invasive weeds, crowding out healthy growth and making it hard to enjoy the space. Medication acts like fertilizer, strengthening the garden’s natural systems so the healthy parts can reclaim their place and flourish. Just as some gardens need only seasonal care while others require more consistent tending, medication plans are personalized to support each person’s long-term mental wellness. When the garden is healthy, there's more room to grow, connect, and fully enjoy life.

With a strong background in chemistry and pharmacology, Dr. Ruiz prioritizes educating her patients about how medications work and why they can be helpful. She believes patients should take an active role in understanding their diagnosis and treatment. Her approach emphasizes diagnostic clarity, medication management, patient education, and brief psychotherapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Your first appointment is a supportive, in-depth conversation to share your story, challenges, and goals. Dr. Ruiz will review your medical and psychiatric history and assess symptoms using a whole-person approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

Together, you’ll develop a personalized plan that may include lab work, medication, and therapy. Initial visits last 60 minutes for thorough evaluation; follow-ups typically last 20–30 minutes, focusing on medication management and brief therapy. If needed, Dr. Ruiz can refer you to in-house or community therapists for add-on therapy support.  

Throughout your care, Dr. Ruiz prioritizes shared decision making to ensure you feel informed, empowered, and supported.

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Darcie Farrell is an ANCC Board Certified Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.  She has worked exclusively in the field of psychiatry during her forty-year nursing career.  She has worked in many care settings, including as a psychiatric Home Health Nurse and as a Certified Case Manager (CCM) in Psychiatry at Blue Cross Blue Shield. During her time at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, she realized the urgent need for psychiatric nurse practitioners, so enrolled in the BSN/MSN program at the University of Rochester, graduating in 2016 with her BSN and in 2018 with her MSN.  She has strong skills and experience in Motivational Interviewing, having worked as a Motivational Counselor for a University of Rochester's Pediatric Research Program.   She has worked for the past seven years as a Nurse Practitioner in Geriatric Outpatient Psychiatry.

Darcie Farrell is a compassionate provider who is client centered. I rely on evidence-based scientific research when determining the best treatment options for clients.  

Darcie Farrell has a very relaxed process for working with patients which allows the client to provide information that is pertinent to their goals for care.  Then, together, we determine which treatment options are likely to be best for the client.

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Dr. Khandie Graham is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed her medical training at UCLA/Drew Medical Education and her psychiatry training at University of California, San Francisco/Fresno in 2013. She has served as a psychiatrist in the United States Air Force and prior to joining Talkiatry, was an inpatient psychiatrist. Dr. Graham's practice focuses on medication management. Typically, she offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. However, occasionally Dr. Graham may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. Dr. Graham treats all adults and specializes in depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and life changes. She prides herself in partnering with patients to create individualized treatment plans. Dr. Graham is a great listener and spends time with her patients.

Dr. He is board-certified in adult psychiatry and addiction medicine. She is passionate about providing quality and accessible mental health care while considering each patient's concerns, values, and life circumstances. She received her medical doctorate degree from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, and completed her psychiatry residency at George Washington University Hospital in DC. Prior to medical school, she completed a Master of Public Health from Yale School of Public Health. Dr. He has special clinical interests in providing trauma-informed and culturally competent care in the treatment of mental health conditions. She has experience working with special populations, such as minorities, immigrants, perinatal women, and LGBTQ+ communities. She holds a certificate from Harvard in Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Program. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization in Washington DC to prepare people recovering from mental illness to improve their quality of life. Although Dr. He's practice primarily focuses on medication management, she looks forward to getting to know you and incorporating her experiences with insight-oriented therapy in 20 or 30 minute follow-up visits.

Margaret Ngumi, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, is a dual board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. She began her career as a Family Nurse Practitioner and later pursued a post-master’s certification in psychiatry to address the growing need for accessible mental health services. Margaret has extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings, treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, and substance use disorders.

She takes a collaborative, patient-centered approach to care, creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel heard and empowered. With a strong emphasis on holistic care, Margaret considers all aspects of a patient’s well-being—including lifestyle, relationships, and overall health. Whether through medication management, therapy, or lifestyle modifications, she is committed to helping patients achieve meaningful and lasting improvements in their mental health.

Margaret begins with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to understand each patient’s history, concerns, and goals. She then works closely with them to develop a personalized care plan that may include medication, therapy, and evidence-based lifestyle interventions. She prioritizes open communication, patient education, and ongoing collaboration to ensure treatment remains effective and evolves with each patient’s needs. Through her compassionate and evidence-based approach, Margaret is dedicated to helping individuals find balance and improve their overall quality of life.

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