Cecilia Fitz-Gerald, MD

Background and credentials

Dr. Robert Whelpley, M.D., is board-certified in both Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry. He completed his undergraduate studies at Binghamton University and earned his medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. He then went on to complete his residency and fellowship training at the University of Rochester. Throughout his career, he has worked with patients and families across the lifespan in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency psychiatric settings.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Whelpley believes in collaborative care, working closely with treatment providers, patients, and families to ensure that mental health concerns are addressed as a team. His approach integrates talk therapy techniques, including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and supportive psychotherapy, alongside medication management. He customizes treatment to maximize each patient’s mental health and overall wellness, sometimes incorporating a therapist into the care plan when beneficial.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation where Dr. Whelpley takes time to understand their symptoms, background, and treatment goals. His approach is patient-centered and team-oriented, ensuring that care is personalized and collaborative. He works with patients to develop a treatment plan that balances medication management with therapeutic interventions, fostering long-term mental wellness.

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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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Emily-Rose Virden, PMHNP-BC, earned her advanced nursing degree at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and has many years of experience as both a psychiatric nurse and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She has practiced across a wide range of mental health settings, including inpatient, outpatient, partial programs, and Emergency Room care.

She strives to build trusting relationships with her patients and values open, honest communication throughout the treatment process. Emily-Rose creates an inclusive, supportive environment where every patient feels heard, respected, and genuinely cared for.

During initial appointments, she explores each patient’s history and current concerns to determine the most appropriate treatment plan. She works collaboratively with patients to set meaningful goals and encourages ongoing participation in each session to support strong, successful outcomes.

Thomas Ittoop, MD has experience practicing in both academic and community settings. He earned his medical degree from Central Michigan University and completed his psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine. His background reflects a commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care grounded in clinical rigor and human understanding.

Dr. Ittoop fosters a warm, collaborative environment rooted in genuine human connection. He values uncovering core patterns, meaning, and the story beneath symptoms. His approach emphasizes curiosity, emotional insight, and self-understanding. Patients can expect transparency, clear communication, and shared goal-setting that honors their strengths, long-term vision, and capacity for resilience and wholeness.

He begins with a thorough initial evaluation exploring symptoms, personal and family history, personality patterns, and desired life changes. Together, he and his patients identify core goals and develop a personalized treatment plan. His integrative therapeutic style includes thoughtful medication management, regular check-ins, and a focus on long-term transformation—building clarity, resilience, and a grounded sense of self that extends beyond treatment.

* THIS PROVIDER CANNOT PRESCRIBE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES FOR MN PATIENTS * Dr. Dung ("Young”) Truong is board-certified in both psychiatry and family medicine. Prior to joining Talkiatry, he worked in a busy Minneapolis emergency room for 20 years. He cared for patients presenting in mental health crisis, treating their acute presentation and helping find solutions to their concerns, ranging from starting and adjusting medications to identifying and addressing contributing factors such as medical illness, substance use, and life stressors. Dr. Truong has extensive experience and can comfortably manage a wide range of illnesses and problems. He sees patients of all ages and ethnicities, including LGBTQ+ populations. He has interests in mood disorders during and after pregnancy, and immigrant and refugee mental health. Dr. Truong's approach is to help you ultimately feel better and move forward with a hopeful plan involving medication management, education about your illness, and therapy to manage your emotional and environmental stressors. He is known for his calm demeanor and his excellent instincts. He strives to meet your expectations. Recognizing the challenges and complexities of the mental health condition, he also encourages input from your established care provider, therapist, and loved ones who want to be involved in your care. He feels such collaboration provides optimal treatment .Dr. Truong has also worked as a psychiatrist in an integrated primary care clinic. He has taught and supervised medical students, psychiatric residents/fellows and family medicine residents. He has collaborated extensively with social workers, therapists, and other health care providers to achieve the best outcomes for his patients. He works on staying current with the latest evidence-based care and mental health treatments.

Alana Ward is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Alan has been practicing since 2018 and has experience with individuals of all ages. Prior to becoming a PMHNP, Alana worked as a registered nurse in critical care and psychiatry. As a PMHNP, she has experience working on inpatient adult and geriatric psychiatric units, as well as providing psychiatric evaluations and consultations to individuals on medical units and emergency rooms at hospitals. Alana is very experienced working in outpatient settings managing various psychiatric diagnoses. She has also helped manage individuals in long term care facilities and assisted living facilities. When Alana is not providing direct patient care, she will on occasion help with instructing future nurses at Kent State University. Alana graduated with her Master's of Science in Nursing from Kent State University, and is board certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurse Credentialing Center. Alana enjoys treating a variety of mental health diagnoses including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, and various psychotic disorders. She believes in client-centered care, where clients get a say in their treatment in order to help make them feel their best. Alana truly believes that therapy is a crucial part of successfully treating any mental health diagnosis, in combination with medication management when warranted. Alana likes to add mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to her medication management appointments to help individuals receive effective, quality care.

Dr. Patricia de la Cabada earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Central Florida/HCA Consortium in Gainesville, where she served as outpatient chief resident and received the Excellence in Psychotherapy award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Florida and has experience in outpatient, inpatient, and consult-liaison psychiatry. Dr. de la Cabada is fluent in Spanish and has special interests in OCD, depression, perinatal depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and PTSD.

Dr. de la Cabada approaches care with empathy and compassion, creating a warm, supportive environment. She values strong therapeutic relationships and uses a holistic lens that considers lifestyle and psychosocial factors. Her collaborative, patient-centered style focuses on creating personalized treatment plans.

She begins with a thorough history and discussion of concerns and goals. Treatment plans include medication management, supportive therapy, and lifestyle strategies, with follow-up visits to monitor progress and adapt care as needed.