Amrish Pipalia, MD

Dr. Tony Tu is a board certified adult psychiatrist who emphasizes patient education and a psychodynamic approach to outpatient psychiatry. His passion for empowering patients with knowledge stems from his academic experience in psychiatry residency training. Dr. Tu's practice focuses on blending medication management together with psychotherapy. He also prioritizes collaboration with your therapist and encourages working together as a team. Dr. Tu is a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine where he completed an MD and PhD combined program which helped develop his "doctors as teachers” style of practice. Dr. Tu completed his psychiatry residency training at Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois. Dr. Tu served as an Associate Program Director of Loyola's Psychiatry residency training program for two years, and now maintains an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Psychiatry role with Loyola. He continues to contribute to residency training, as well as mentorship of medical students and psychology externs. Over the years, Dr. Tu has received several awards that demonstrate his affinity for teaching, including the Educator of the Year Award in 2022 from the Loyola Psychiatry Residency Program. Areas of specialization include psychopharmacology, patient-centered medicine, and combination treatment of psychiatry and psychotherapy. Dr. Tu understands that medications are not the end-all-be-all of treatment, but just the beginning. For trauma and acute stress, he understands that the journey starts at the tip of the iceberg, with much to explore as you feel more ready.

Dr. Cheryl Person is the National Director of Clinical Quality at Talkiatry. She is board certified in general adult psychiatry and has been in practice for 20 years. Dr. Person focuses on medication management but believes that is only part of successful treatment. She will spend her time providing motivational interviewing or supportive therapy, and believes it is often critical to have a therapist as part of the treatment team. Dr. Person received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatric residency at Johns Hopkins and a psychiatric epidemiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a focus on disaster mental health. After relocating to Texas in 2010, she worked as Director of Psychiatric Services of a large safety-net hospital in Houston. Prior to Talkiatry, she most recently was the executive director/chief physician of a large university student health center and campus pharmacy. In addition to adult psychiatry, Dr. Person has worked extensively with victims of acute trauma and her primary focus is on working with patients who have anxiety and mood disorders.

Dr. Tanvi Gupta, a native Marylander who recently finished her fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from the University of Maryland. She completed her residency in general psychiatry from San Antonio, Texas and is a Board Certified Psychiatrist. Prior to training, Dr. Gupta attended medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in in New York. She also holds a master's in biomedical science from Rutgers University in New Jersey and a bachelor's in public health from the University of Maryland. She is on the Early Career Psychiatrist Committee for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists of Greater Washington Area. Dr. Gupta has worked in various settings, ranging from academic centers, schools, state hospitals and residential treatment centers. She also provided medication management and therapy to Medicaid patients in an outpatient setting, delivering care to children and adolescents with various mental health disorders. Dr. Gupta has experience in Emergency Psychiatry as well.

Dr. Gupta greatly values connecting with her patients. She is gentle yet direct in her approach. She uses a shared decision-making process to design a treatment plan that align with her patient’s goals. Dr. Gupta provides psycho education for diagnoses and medication recommendations. She has a special interest in ADHD and trauma. She appreciates a family-based approach.

Dr. Gupta uses a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation, psychotherapy and medication management to treat a variety of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, as well as ADHD. Dr. Gupta promotes non-pharmaceutical interventions, when appropriate, with patient-oriented lifestyle and behavioral modifications.

Dr. Cabrera is a board‐certified psychiatrist with several years of experience working with an ethnically and culturally diverse population in outpatient, inpatient, and psychiatric emergency room settings. Most recently, Dr. Cabrera practiced privately treating adults with a wide range of mental illnesses both in person and via telepsychiatry. Prior to this, she was an attending psychiatrist in the outpatient department and in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Center at Mount Sinai Beth Israel where she also served as Associate Training Director of Psychiatric Residency Training. Dr. Cabrera has a strong background in psychopharmacology and supportive and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Dr. Reaghan Hicks is a double board-certified psychiatrist in General and Addiction Psychiatry. She completed her undergraduate training at The College of Charleston followed by medical school at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Hicks completed Residency in General Psychiatry at The University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville followed by Fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at The Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Hicks is an experienced clinician that specializes in treating individuals with a variety of diagnoses including adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and substance use disorders.‍She has an approachable style and values building rapport with her patients. She believes it is a privilege to be a part of someone's journey towards recovery and wellness. Dr. Hicks aims to meet each patient where they are while maintaining a nonjudgemental, patient-centered, and evidenced-based treatment approach. Dr. Hicks provides supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral skills, and utilizes motivational interviewing to meet the needs of her patients. She believes effective utilization of therapy skills in conjunction with medication management can help patients meet their individualized treatment goals.

Background and credentials

Dr. Shama Milon is a triple-board eligible physician in Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She completed her combined training in Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, where she served as chief resident during her final year of training.

‍

Treatment approach

Dr. Milon specializes in treating mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, and patients with co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions. She is dedicated to outpatient care, focusing on long-term relationships with her patients. Her treatment approach is comprehensive, integrating medication management with psychotherapy, including psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), play therapy, dyadic therapy, and family therapy. She emphasizes creating an empathetic, judgment-free space where patients and families feel supported and understood. If she believes additional therapy is necessary, she may recommend adding a therapist to the care team.

‍

What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, where Dr. Milon carefully assesses physical, emotional, and psychological needs. She takes a holistic and patient-centered approach, ensuring that treatment plans are tailored to each individual’s unique circumstances. She prioritizes open communication and collaboration with both patients and families to create a structured, effective treatment plan that may include medication management and therapy interventions.

‍

Why Talkiatry?

We’re a virtual mental health practice that makes it easy to find great care. We combine quality and convenience to help you thrive—faster. Our providers, like this one, are highly trained experts who specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

‍