Erica Mark, MD

Dr. Alexandra ("Sasha”) Blaes is a board-certified psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, she practiced consult-liaison psychiatry, seeing medically ill patients with psychiatric problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she also treated veterans in nursing homes. Dr. Blaes graduated from New York University with a B.A. in philosophy and photography and worked in nonprofit marketing in New York before deciding she wanted to pursue a life in medicine. Following a post-baccalaureate, pre-medical program at Columbia University, Dr. Blaes completed medical school at The University of Maryland, followed by a psychiatry residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. While at Johns Hopkins, she mastered clinical assessment and treatment of general psychiatric problems. She also received specialized training in eating disorders, addiction, reproductive psychiatry, chronic pain, and geriatric psychiatry, an interest she pursued further with a fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In fellowship and in her subsequent experience at the VA, she developed expertise in caring for the difficulties that can accompany aging, including depression, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as the stress of medical illness. Dr. Blaes' practice focuses on medication management. She works to foster a safe and collaborative space in which patients can address psychiatric illness and other barriers holding them back from the lives they want to lead. Typically, she offers appointments for medication management coupled with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute sessions. When Dr. Blaes feels that additional therapy is needed, she will suggest inviting a therapist to join the team for additional support and guidance. She welcomes collaborations with other clinicians, be they therapists or other physicians caring for her patients. She strives to build strong therapeutic relationships that help patients grow and meet their goals - whatever their situation, challenge, or life stage. Dr. Blaes welcomes patients from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds and is LGBTQ+ friendly. In addition to her background in geriatrics, she has experience working with peripartum women and enjoys working with patients navigating major life changes.

Mary Birse is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (ANCC) with over 20 years of nursing experience. She graduated magna cum laude with a BSN from Florida Atlantic University and earned her MSN from the University of Florida. She completed a Psychiatric NP Residency at the VA in Charleston, SC. Mary has worked in a variety of settings including the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, the Palm Beach County Firefighter’s Clinic, various outpatient telehealth platforms, and a child and adolescent inpatient facility. She was also an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College.

Mary believes in empowering patients through education and collaboration so they can play an active role in their mental health journey. She works to create a warm and welcoming space where patients feel safe, heard, and understood. Whether the treatment path includes therapy, medication, integrative approaches, or a combination, she ensures that the plan reflects the patient's needs and goals.

Mary takes a thorough and holistic approach to care. She spends time understanding each patient’s history and past treatments—what has or hasn’t worked—and listens carefully to their current concerns and future goals. By factoring in lifestyle and preferences, she works with patients to build thoughtful, individualized treatment plans.

Dr. Jacqueline Hong is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who takes a genuine interest in her patients and values collaborative decision-making. Over the past 4 years of practicing, she has followed a holistic model of care that accounts for the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of the individual. She has a down-to-earth, patient, and warm personality, and prides herself on timeliness and professionalism. Though Dr. Hong focuses on medication management, she has a passion for supportive therapy with elements of CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness. She may also recommend that a therapist be included in your care team if more specialized therapy is required. Dr. Hong graduated summa cum laude from Grove City College, and completed medical school at UTMB at Galveston. She finished her residency at Memorial Healthcare System in FL, where she held a leadership position in Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Hong has experience in treating a wide range of disorders, including depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addiction. She has worked with adolescent, geriatric, pregnant, and medically complex patients. Growing up in a Korean immigrant household and training in the ethnically diverse South Florida region has informed her of the unique struggles that immigrant populations face. Dr. Hong has a special interest in treating mood and anxiety disorders. Outside of the office, Dr. Hong enjoys art, cinema, and powerlifting.

Dr. Santos is a highly experienced, Board-Certified Adult Psychiatrist with over 10 years of clinical experience in English and Spanish. He graduated from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine and completed a rigorous 4-year psychiatric residency training in NYC at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center.

In his residency and post-residency practice, Dr. Santos has provided high-quality care to culturally diverse communities, and has extensive experience helping patients with Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. He understands that choosing and seeing a psychiatrist can be stressful and is committed to providing a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where patients can feel free to discuss their concerns.

Dr. Santos takes a personalized approach to treatment, considering the unique psychology, biology, and lifestyle of each individual patient when determining the best course of action. His practice focuses on medication management in conjunction with supportive therapy, and he conducts follow-up visits in 30-minute increments. He believes that the most successful treatments integrate physical health, therapy, mindfulness, and medication, when necessary, to provide the most effective solutions for his patients.

If you are looking for a compassionate and experienced psychiatrist who is fluent in both English and Spanish, schedule an appointment with Dr. Santos today. His dedication to his patients and his extensive experience makes him an excellent choice for those seeking to improve their mental health.

Dr. Peter Szeibel is board certified in adult psychiatry and has been practicing for over 36 years. His practice has focused primarily on medication management within the context of a supportive psychotherapeutic relationship. He also utilizes cognitive behavioral techniques. If the patient requires more intensive psychotherapy, Dr. Szeibel refers the patient to a therapist and collaborates with the therapist. Dr. Szeibel has experience in treating Depressive Disorders, PTSD, Panic Disorder, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, and many other conditions. He feels his personal strengths include his inquisitiveness, scientific curiosity, and his desire to understand his patients better. Dr. Szeibel was born in Hungary, just a few months before the Hungarian Revolution against the Soviets broke out in 1956. He and his family fled under difficult circumstances and immigrated to the United States. Dr. Szeibel grew up in New York City. He attended The Bronx High School of Science, followed by Columbia University for his B.A., where he took a double major in chemistry and music. After obtaining his M.D. from S.U.N.Y in Syracuse, he returned to New York City for residency and fellowship training. During this time he won the Bendheim Fellowship Award at Cohen Children's Medical Center for his research study which examined the effects of background music on the academic performance of children with ADHD. His current areas of interest include adult ADHD, psychiatric and medical co-morbidities, and the LGBTQ population.

Getting to know meDr. Kishan Peddanna is a board-certified general psychiatrist with experience treating patients across the lifespan. He attended The Ohio State University for his undergraduate studies and earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Peddanna completed his residency in General Psychiatry at The Ohio State University and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Peddanna values continuity of care and collaboration, working with patients toward long-term improvements while building meaningful connections. His approach is grounded in shared decision-making, ensuring treatment plans align with each patient’s goals. He has extensive experience managing conditions such as ADHD, mood disorders, and anxiety.

Dr. Peddanna’s practice focuses on medication management complemented by supportive psychotherapy. He uses evidence-based assessments and interventions to guide individualized treatment planning, fostering a care experience that is both effective and patient-centered.