Beatrice Desir, DO

Dr. Chelsea Karson is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed her residency training at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital where she was Chief Resident of her program. Dr. Karson is passionate about patient care, believing in caring for the whole person. While completing her residency training, she led an interprofessional team to bring miniature-therapy horses to the inpatient psychiatry unit and thereby forge a relationship between the organization and all of Advocate Aurora Healthcare. Dr. Karson partnered with a mental health counselor to create a virtual therapy program of resources, the Bridge Project, to close the gap between inpatient and outpatient care that is now used throughout the Advocate Aurora network. At graduation Dr. Karson received the 2024 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Ruggie Humanitarian Award. The Ruggie Award selects and honors a graduating resident or fellow who displays academic excellence, commitment to the education of others, professional bearing, and a concern for the patient within the light of Human Ecology. Dr. Karson attended undergraduate at Elmhurst University, a biology major with minors in chemistry and medical humanities. She went to medical school at Rosalind Franklin University and was chosen to join the Gold Humanism Honor Society for her dedication to compassionate patient care.

Dr. Ahmed Valdes is a board certified adult psychiatrist and burgeoning Geriatric Psychiatrist. After completing his undergraduate education at Florida State University, he attended medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where he graduated with a combined M.D./M.S. in Genomic Medicine. He subsequently completed psychiatry residency at Jackson Health System/University of Miami and further subspecialized with a fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry. Dr. Valdes has had the opportunity of working with a diverse array of patients including veterans, inmates, the severely mentally ill, geriatric, and cancer patients across three distinct hospital systems. Dr. Valdes has had varied clinical experiences in specialty inpatient psychiatry units (detox, geriatric, mood disorder), emergency psychiatry, consultation liaison psychiatry, psycho-oncology, and outpatient specialty clinics (HIV, dementia, integrative and collaborative care) via telemedicine and face to face interactions .Dr. Valdes has experience working with adults of all ages, particularly those with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, PTSD, and more. Dr. Valdes employs empathic listening, supportive psychotherapy techniques, and a comprehensive and methodological approach to his visits. Given his broad and diverse training experiences, he enjoys problem solving and working collaboratively with patients to navigate their complex issues and jointly focusing on simple solutions to work towards improving their mental health.

Dr. Candice Hacker is a board-certified Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She completed her Psychiatry residency and a fellowship in Consultation Liaison Psychiatry at Mount Sinai/St. Luke's Hospital. She is passionate about a holistic approach to patient care, trained in psychosomatic medicine, and she has a deep appreciation for the intricate connection between the mind and body. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Hacker has facilitated excellent outcomes in the treatment of various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and trauma-related conditions. Dr. Hacker believes in creating a safe, nurturing and non-judgmental environment where patients can openly explore their emotions and experiences. By integrating evidence-based psycho-pharmacological modalities with mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral techniques, she empowers her patients to challenge a negative mindset and reach their goals. Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Hacker is deeply committed to community mental health advocacy and the destigmatization of mental illness.

Dr. Aileen Kim approaches medication management with an emphasis on shared decision-making within safe, effective options, thorough counseling about what to expect in treatment, and giving attention to the concurrent use of non-medication modalities of treatment alongside optimizing medication. She is accustomed to working with people who have more than one diagnosis. She is skilled and experienced in de-prescribing (methodically streamlining the number of medications being taken) when needed. Patients can see Dr. Kim for medication management, therapy, or both. Dr. Kim is board certified in Adult Psychiatry. She graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago in 2004. She was selected for the Health Professions Scholarship Program and completed her residency in 2008 at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia, where she was chief resident. Following residency, she deployed to Kuwait as a medical officer. She has taught and supervised residents at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She left active duty in the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. After becoming a civilian, she went into solo practice, then joined Potomac Behavioral Solutions in 2014, where she served as medical director. Dr. Kim is a past president of the Virginia Psychoanalytic Society. She also lectures advanced mental health professionals for Lingyu International Psychology Centre based in Toronto. For established patients of Dr. Aileen Kim, please call 833-351-8255 to schedule an appointment and let the patient care coordinator know you are an established patient from her prior practice.

Dr. Bellavia is an experienced board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in adult psychiatry. He was a faculty member of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle for 8 years and has been a medical director and attending psychiatrist in several clinical settings including academic medical centers, outpatient private practice and consultation. Dr Bellavia works collaboratively with each patient to identify presenting problems and stressors and utilizes evidence-based medication treatments along with individualized supportive and short-term psychotherapy strategies to reduce symptoms and improve function. If clinically indicated, he may recommend adding a psychotherapist to your care team. Dr. Bellavia has a particular interest in treating psychiatric conditions including, but not limited to, depression and bipolar disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, and adjustment problems. He has extensive experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as university students, creative and tech professionals, and expat communities. He uses a relaxed, nonjudgmental, empathic approach that is holistic and considers the biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors that impact mental well-being.

Dr. Michael Fiori is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. He has practiced general psychiatry for 37 years, and has also sub-specialized in Addiction Psychiatry for the past 20 years. Dr. Fiori's practice emphasizes Diagnostic Clarification, which is an ongoing process. He is highly trained and experienced in the biological and psychosocial underpinnings of psychiatric problems. He typically follows diagnostic evaluations with 30-minute follow up visits for medication adjustments and brief therapy. Dr. Fiori often enjoys collaborating with outside therapists when needed. Dr. Fiori graduated from Amherst College and received his medical degree from NY Medical College. He subsequently completed his residency in psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC. He excelled in Academic Psychiatry as both a teacher and a mentor. His practice has always combined medications with evidence-based therapies to alleviate suffering and maximize functioning. In addition to his work as a Board Certified Adult Psychiatrist, he has specialized in helping patients suffering from Substance Use Disorders. Dr. Fiori is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine, and helps patients understand the interrelationships between their Substance Use Disorders and their Psychiatric illnesses.