Jennifer Cenker, MD

Dr. Erlach is a board certified adult psychiatrist who has previously worked for the United States Air Force and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, graduating in 2009, followed by active duty military service in the United States Air Force until 2024. He completed residency training at the combined military-civilian Wright State University/Wright Patterson AFB training program in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Erlach enjoys working with all types of patients. He takes a collaborative approach to patient care and develops a treatment plan alongside the patient so that both are fully invested in the plan. He generally has weekend and evening appointments only.

Dr. Erlach incorporates therapy into medication management appointments. Dr. Erlach feels that addressing psychosocial stressors and developing coping mechanisms are a vital component to treatment.

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Dr. Ismail is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from Cairo University, where she also completed her neurology residency at Cairo University Hospitals. Following this, she pursued psychiatric training at New York Medical College at St. Vincent’s Hospitals, where she was appointed Chief Resident and recognized as Resident of the Year.

Dr. Ismail further specialized with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UMDNJ/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Her career includes multiple leadership roles, notably serving as Chief of the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs (PHP) at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, where she provided direct care to young patients. She has also held Medical Director positions across various clinical settings, including child and adolescent inpatient units, outpatient programs, and intensive outpatient services for both adolescents and adults with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders.

An active educator, Dr. Ismail has been a teaching faculty member, delivering lectures and providing supervision and evaluations for medical residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. Her academic contributions extend to research, where she has served as a principal investigator on multiple studies.

Throughout her career in leadership and teaching, Dr. Ismail maintained an integrative private practice in New Jersey, serving residents of the NJ and NY metropolitan areas before relocating to North Carolina.

Dr. Ismail is passionate about integrative medicine, which combines evidence-based alternative therapies with conventional treatments to optimize outcomes. Her approach focuses on promoting overall wellness, keeping both the body and mind in harmony.

During the diagnostic evaluation, Dr. Ismail will review your medical history and past treatments to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that prioritizes your overall wellness. In addition to medication management, she incorporates supportive, cognitive, or psychodynamic psychotherapy during follow-up visits, as time allows. When appropriate, she may also recommend referrals to specialized psychotherapists to address your individual needs as part of a holistic treatment approach.

Dr. Reaghan Hicks is a double board-certified psychiatrist in General and Addiction Psychiatry. She completed her undergraduate training at The College of Charleston followed by medical school at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Hicks completed Residency in General Psychiatry at The University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville followed by Fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at The Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Hicks is an experienced clinician that specializes in treating individuals with a variety of diagnoses including adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and substance use disorders.‍She has an approachable style and values building rapport with her patients. She believes it is a privilege to be a part of someone's journey towards recovery and wellness. Dr. Hicks aims to meet each patient where they are while maintaining a nonjudgemental, patient-centered, and evidenced-based treatment approach. Dr. Hicks provides supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral skills, and utilizes motivational interviewing to meet the needs of her patients. She believes effective utilization of therapy skills in conjunction with medication management can help patients meet their individualized treatment goals.

Dr. Jerry Sayers is a double board-certified psychiatrist in General Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Dr. Sayers completed an Internal Medicine internship in Youngstown, Ohio. He then completed his residency in General Psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins Hospital followed by fellowship training in Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology at Johns Hopkins Bayview. He most recently finished his fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at the University of Maryland. Dr. Sayers has had the opportunity to care for a diverse group of patients with neuropsychiatric, neurological, and other general medical conditions. His work allowed him to work on a proactive, collaborative psychiatric consultation team designed to be involved early in the care of vulnerable patients with complex neuropsychiatric conditions. Dr. Sayers has experience in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and partial hospitalization programs. He works hard to tailor therapy to the needs of the individual patient by adapting techniques that have been successful across different treatment settings. His desire to ensure exceptional care is evident in his ability to relate to and understand an individual patient's needs and concerns.

Dr. Illise Perlmutter is the Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Talkiatry. She is double board-certified in child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry. Before joining Talkiatry, Dr. Perlmutter was the Chair of Behavioral Health and Addiction Services at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. Prior to Bergen New Bridge, she was the Director of Inpatient Psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center-Wakefield, in New York. Over 35 years, Dr. Perlmutter has held numerous leadership roles with some of the largest hospital systems in the New York Metro Area. Dr. Perlmutter is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has received awards for her contributions both locally and nationally. Dr. Perlmutter was included in Castle Connolly's "America's Top Doctors” list from 2006-2011 and 2017, as well as "Best Doctors in America” from 2009- 2012. Dr. Perlmutter received her MD from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. After an internship in pediatrics, she completed a residency in Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Medical Center followed by a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Perlmutter has held leadership roles in several academic institutions and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. Dr. Perlmutter has authored numerous publications and research articles and has lectured and presented extensively on clinical, epidemiologic, and psychopharmacologic issues in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has made frequent media appearances addressing topical issues in disaster psychiatry during the course of her work in disaster psychiatry outreach.

Dr. Delane Casiano is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with specialized interest and expertise in cultural psychiatry. She earned her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. She completed psychiatry residency and research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Such organizations as the American Psychiatric Association, National Institute of Mental Health, and Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health have recognized her research examining cultural influences on mental health beliefs and service utilization.

Dr. Casiano brings a systems-based, culturally informed perspective to her work. With over 15 years of experience, she has supported individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities. Examples of her leadership of multidisciplinary teams include serving as associate medical director of a women's trauma program and founding an integrated care program for underserved communities. She has directed academic training programs, presented at national conferences, and led numerous community-based events focused on mental health awareness and stigma reduction.

Dr. Casiano values compassion and collaboration in the treatment relationship. She helps patients navigate depression, anxiety, ADHD, and post-traumatic stress, while also supporting those facing major life transitions.

Her approach combines evidence-based medication management, supportive therapy, and

psychoeducation. She tailors each treatment plan to the individual while offering encouragement and structure.