Beatrice Desir, DO

Dr. Carolyn Benson has 21 years of experience in treating adults, adolescents, and children. After graduating medical school at Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina, she moved to Rochester, NY to complete her residency and fellowship at University of Rochester School of Medicine. Her focus over the last ten years has been on working with young adults, children/adolescents, and their families. Her expertise covers a wide array of therapeutic modalities and mental health diagnoses. The primary focus of her sessions is to provide medication management with education on treatment options. She will provide therapy models that are appropriate within that 20�30 minute medication session. If longer therapy time frames are indicated, she will discuss the need to add a therapist to your treatment team to achieve optimal care. Her successful treatment outcomes are based on experience, staying current on psychiatric treatments, and having open communication with patients and families of children/adolescents so they can choose the most effective treatments. Prior to medical school, she worked in both marine and biochemical research venues and was coauthor in several research papers. She has an avid interest in the emerging field of neuroscience and frequently gives talks to colleagues and students on current research topics. Her primary objectives in her work are to help patients achieve success in both treatment and life goals and to always take time to truly listen to her patients.

Dr. Mendez-Maldonado is double board-certified in general psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry. She received her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. She then moved to New York to complete her residency training at Mount Sinai Beth Israel where she stayed to complete her fellowship in geriatric psychiatry. After her fellowship, she proceeded to work at Woodhull Hospital where she worked as an attending before becoming unit chief and running their Special Pathogens Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. She focuses on medication management and offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, a focus on nutritional psychiatry, and 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. Mendez-Maldonado focuses on integrating nutrition, physical activity, and mindfulness techniques alongside pharmacotherapy to achieve a well-rounded approach to mental health.‍

Dr. Mordukhaev believes individuals are more than a diagnosis and considers each patient’s biology, emotions, relationships, culture, and life circumstances to understand each human as a whole. She offers individualized, well-rounded care blending medication and psychotherapy. In a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space, she partners with patients to foster greater insight into themselves, walking alongside them with compassion in their mental health journey.

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Background and credentials

Dr. Sinner is board-certified in Psychiatry. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. With over 14 years of experience, he has worked in a variety of settings, including five years in inpatient psychiatry in Vermont, where he served as Medical Director for a state hospital psychiatric unit and taught medical students. He then spent five years working in an outpatient community mental health center in Pennsylvania before transitioning to telepsychiatry, providing care to individuals in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Sinner employs a collaborative, patient-centered approach, tailoring treatment plans to meet each individual's specific needs. His practice integrates pharmacotherapy with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive therapy as needed. He specializes in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, neuropsychiatric disorders, developmental disorders, and personality disorders. His philosophy is to provide personalized care that makes a meaningful impact at different stages of a patient’s life.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation focused on understanding their mental health concerns, history, and treatment goals. Dr. Sinner takes a compassionate and collaborative approach, working closely with patients to create individualized treatment plans. He ensures that each patient receives a balanced and effective combination of medication management and therapeutic interventions suited to their unique needs.

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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.

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Dr Marc Whaley is a Board Certified Psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry, with extensive clinical experience over the past 50 years, mostly in outpatient treatment, and some in-patient settings, in addition to Forensic (legal) ones. He received his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and his medical degree at Tufts Medical School in Boston, and then went on to train at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, for his psychiatry residency. He has held leadership roles, Chief of Department of Psychiatry in a community hospital, President of the local Psychiatric Chapter of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, and founder of a private group outpatient psychiatric practice on Cape Cod called The Psychiatric Collaborative. In 2018, he closed his private practice, seeking more free time in the later years. It did not take long, however, to get back to active practice, first by reviewing files for insurers around the issue of medical necessity, disability, and other psychiatric determinations. He got his first experience in Telepsychiatry when working remotely for a community hospital, far from his home, evaluating patients presenting to their busy ER; He experienced this as a practical and efficient way of delivering psychiatric services. When that contract ended after 3.5 years, he learned about and joined Talkiatry to work as a Staff Psychiatrist, in their well-organized comprehensive program. Dr. Whaley has been recognized by his peers for his career achievement, and he was the 2022 recipient of the Outstanding Psychiatrist Award for Clinical Psychiatry from the MA Psychiatric Society. He has also been a regular panel member, over the past 13 years, for a monthly NPR Radio Talk Show, ( WGBH Cape Cod affiliate, WCAI), The Point with Mindy Todd, focusing on multiple mental health topics.

Dr. Clark is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She is fellowship-trained in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has been in practice for 11 years. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Clark then completed her residency training and continued her training in child and adolescent fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Clark works with patients to create an environment where they feel comfortable and supported. She focuses on medication management along with supportive therapy. Normally visits are 30-minute follow-ups that allow time to focus on areas of support needed. If additional therapy is recommended, she will request a therapist be added to your care team to meet all your needs. Dr. Clark has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings with adult, child, and adolescent populations. She has worked in private practice as well as community mental health, where she worked with reaching under-served communities. Dr Clark has a passion for treating both adult and child and adolescent patients with anxiety and depression.