Allison Cheng, MD

Dr. Hess is double board-certified in Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry. He completed his psychiatry internship and residency training at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York City, and then completed a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Hess has practiced inpatient psychiatry at the Long Island College Hospital, NYU Langone Brooklyn, and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. He has also worked in emergency rooms, day hospitals, and consultation-liaison settings, as well as seeing geriatric outpatients at a naturally-occurring retirement community (NORC) on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Dr. Hess has taught St. George's University medical students during their clinical rotations in psychiatry. Dr. Hess has more than 24 years of experience providing patients with compassionate psychiatric care for depressive and bipolar disorders, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dementia. He uses pharmacotherapy as well as supportive psychotherapy. Dr. Hess may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. The philosophy of his practice is to collaborate with patients to meet their specific needs and make an impact in various stages of their lives.

Dr. Lauren Miller earned her medical degree from Loma Linda University and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Miami. She has experience working in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, caring for individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of clinical needs. Dr. Miller has a special clinical interest in lifestyle and integrative psychiatry, particularly the role of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mind-body practices in supporting mental health.

Dr. Miller strives to create a warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental environment where patients feel truly heard and supported. She values whole-person care, addressing not only mental and emotional health, but also physical and spiritual well-being. She believes in partnering with patients to create treatment plans that reflect their values, goals, and strengths. Her approach emphasizes accessibility, practicality, and empowerment, providing patients with tools they can integrate into daily life.

Dr. Miller begins with a thorough, compassionate evaluation, taking into account both medical and psychiatric history as well as personal goals. She develops personalized treatment plans that may include a blend of medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle approaches. Dr. Miller encourages small, sustainable steps in areas such as nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress management, with the goal of not only reducing symptoms but also building resilience and long-term wellness.

Dr. Sahadevan took an adventurous path to Talkiatry. After perhaps thinking a little too hard about Intro to Philosophy in college - "the unexamined life is not worth living” - he first used his chemistry degree to work in pharmaceutical research. He changed course, working in computer network engineering, before deciding to find a more meaningful path. He worked as an EMT, then earned a Master's in Physiology before finally landing in medical school at Ohio State. Finding a surprising interest in psychiatry, he stayed at Ohio State for residency, and then a fellowship in forensic psychiatry. He is board-certified in both Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. He previously worked as a forensic psychiatrist and evaluator at Ohio's maximum-security state psychiatric facility, as an attending psychiatrist running an inpatient unit for violent or dangerous patients, performing court-ordered evaluations, writing reports, and testifying when necessary. Dr. Sahadevan has also worked as a consultation-liaison psychiatrist, performing psychiatric consults at several general hospitals in Central Ohio's largest hospital system. He found great enjoyment in teaching successive generations of residents and medical students, serving as an adjunct faculty member at Ohio State, Ohio University, Wright State, and OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. He is excited for the next chapter of his journey, exploring another area of psychiatry at Talkiatry!

Dr. Karla Garcia is a board-certified psychiatrist trained in Adult Psychiatry. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education. She then went on to complete her medical education and residency training at the University of Chicago. She is board certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Garcia believes in patient-centered care, seeking to care for the whole person.  She values the therapeutic relationship, working to guide patients in their treatment while also encouraging patients to take an active role in their care. Dr. Garcia cares about getting to know you as a person and helping you reconnect with your values. Her clinical approach is holistic, collaborative, and supportive.

Dr. Garcia focuses on evidence-based treatments for psychiatric illness that utilize a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Using a range of skills and interventions, Dr. Garcia believes in a multi-faceted approach to treatment.

Dr. Garcia has experience working in a wide variety of inpatient, emergency, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient psychiatric settings and in treating a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, substance use disorders, personality disorders, ADHD, and OCD. She treats patients in English and Spanish.

Erin Snider, PMHNP, brings more than seven years of experience as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse at Lindner Center of HOPE, a full-service psychiatric facility affiliated with the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Her work has spanned the full spectrum of psychiatric care, including inpatient crisis intervention, partial hospitalization, and outpatient services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kentucky and both a BSN and MSN from Wright State University. Erin also recently earned a Mindfulness and Yoga-Studies Certificate from the University of Cincinnati.

Erin prioritizes building a strong therapeutic relationship and values open communication to create a supportive environment for healing. She views psychiatry as a holistic practice, integrating evidence-based approaches that address mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Patients working with Erin can expect compassion, respect, and a collaborative partnership in their care.

Erin begins each appointment with open conversation to better understand each individual’s story and experiences. She works with patients to identify their concerns, explore barriers to growth, and highlight strengths. Together, she collaborates on a treatment plan that aligns with the patient’s personal goals, ensuring care is both personalized and empowering.

Akif A. Khawaja M.D. is a Clinical General Psychiatrist. He has worked in this field since graduating and obtaining his residency from the University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Neurology and Behavioral Sciences in 1996. He has worked mostly with adults ranging from 18 to 90 years of age. He has served as a director of Intensive Outpatient Programs in the state of Mississippi. He currently focuses on medical management of patients above 50 years of age and has served as a director of Geriatric Psychiatric Units.

He has a particular interest in treating mood, anxiety, and cognitive disorders, including ADHD. Patients working with him can expect thorough and detailed appointments, as he places special emphasis on gathering comprehensive medical and psychiatric histories, including specific dates of past treatments. During initial visits, he carefully reviews previous medical interventions, particularly procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

His approach prioritizes thorough evaluations to ensure accurate diagnoses. He strongly believes that honesty is essential for achieving the best possible treatment outcomes.