Deborah Edelman, DO

Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is double board certified in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has worked in various settings with culturally diverse populations. Her primary focus has been caring for children in the outpatient programs. Dr. Wharton-Mohammed has spent over ten years as an administrative leader. She has chaired and co-chaired committees overseeing the practice of fellow Psychiatrists and served as the Discipline Chief. She has been teaching/ supervising Nurse Practitioner students and Physician assistant students.

Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is experienced with a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses and therapeutic modalities. She is a dedicated clinician who looks out for her patients. She views each patient and their caregivers circumstance as unique. She takes a holistic approach with a collaborative approach to help patients understand their options. While the focus may be on psycho education and medication management with supportive and psychodynamic therapeutic interventions there may be a need for additional therapy.  She may ask that a therapist be added to your treatment team. She works towards establishing a meaningful trusting relationship and looks forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals.

Amanda Rivera, PMHNP, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the lifespan, certified by the ANCC in 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a biology minor from Clarkson University, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from St. John Fisher College. Amanda has over 15 years of experience in mental health, beginning in 2010 as a Therapy Aide at Rochester Psychiatric Center. She has practiced across inpatient hospitals, state psychiatric facilities, outpatient community clinics, correctional settings, group homes, and telehealth/private practice. She works with patients ages 16 and older and is highly experienced in trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism, psychotic and personality disorders, substance use, and parenting challenges. She values working with families to strengthen the family unit.

Amanda values open communication and collaborates with patients to establish clear, meaningful treatment goals. She provides a warm, supportive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take ownership of their mental wellness. Treatment is individualized, with medication decisions guided by a careful balance of safety and symptom relief. Appointments are conversational in nature, allowing care to be more personalized as patients share openly.

Amanda begins each visit by ensuring privacy and safety, then explores the concerns prompting care before gathering a biopsychosocial history through collaborative discussion. She provides education throughout sessions to help patients understand diagnoses and lived experiences. Medication options are discussed based on comfort level and clinical need. Follow-ups are scheduled at the end of each visit, with frequency adjusted as stability is achieved.

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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. John "Will” Banks is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed his General Psychiatry residency training at Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, NY. During his residency training at Stony Brook University Hospital, Dr. Banks was selected by faculty to serve as an administrative chief resident based on his leadership qualities and integrity. He received numerous awards during his residency training including the Excellence in Compassionate Care Award, Academic Achievement Award, and Harold Pass Excellence in Psychotherapy Award. He also served as an Outpatient Senior Resident to help junior residents acclimate to the outpatient treatment setting and telehealth format. Dr. Banks implements an integrative approach to his practice that primarily utilizes medication management and various psychotherapy disciplines such as cognitive-behavioral, supportive, and psychodynamic techniques. While Dr. Banks is trained in a variety of therapeutic fields, he works collaboratively with therapists and may recommend their inclusion as part of your treatment team to provide you with the level of care you deserve. The duration of follow-up appointments with Dr. Banks is typically 20-30 minutes. He received his master's degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX. He then completed medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Seton Hill in Greensburg, PA where he served as president of his medical school's chapter of Sigma Sigma Phi Honorary Service Fraternity and co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Campus Club. Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Banks completed his residency training in General Psychiatry at Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, NY.

Dr. Olivia Plante is a board-eligible psychiatrist with a focus on evidence-based medicine including psychopharmacology and nutritional psychiatry in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of psychiatric disorders.

She is originally from New York, having completed her undergraduate degree in psychology from The City College of New York, followed by a master’s degree in medical anthropology from Binghamton University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University at Buffalo. She completed psychiatric residency training at the Zucker School of Medicine/Northwell Health, with experience in medication management, psychotherapy, and collaborative multidisciplinary care of adults and adolescents in the outpatient, inpatient, partial hospital and emergency settings.

Initial evaluations will involve collecting history about social circumstances; past medical, psychiatric, substance use, and family conditions; as well as current lifestyle habits such as sleep, nutrition, supplement use, level of physical activity, and stress management skills.

Treatment sessions will explore the mind-body connection and individual lifestyle factors in combination with psychoeducation for a personalized wellness approach.

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Dr. Rodriguez is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He earned his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed his residency at the University of Southern California. Dr. Rodriguez has experience working in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, community mental health, and correctional facilities.

Dr. Rodriguez specializes in treating depression and anxiety. He acknowledges that while medications can be necessary, they are not magic, and a holistic approach is essential for achieving mental health. With this understanding, Dr. Rodriguez spends time getting to know his patients, focusing on helping them achieve mental wellness rather than simply prescribing medications. When he became a doctor, he made a pledge to "do no harm." He takes this commitment seriously and only prescribes medications, especially those with addictive properties, when it is safe and clearly indicated.

The first one or two appointments focus on a thorough assessment to establish a provisional diagnosis, which is essential for effective treatment planning. Once this initial diagnosis is made, Dr. Rodriguez collaborates with his patients to develop tailored treatment recommendations. During follow-up appointments, he actively listens to his patients and proposes adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.