Jennifer Ruch, DO

Dr. Lucky Ly is a board-eligible psychiatrist who received his medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed training in the psychiatric residency program at Millcreek Community Hospital. He has experience treating various psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other related disorders. Dr. Ly uses evidence-based treatments and supportive psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy to help his patients. He encourages open communication and active participation as he believes they are key to successful treatment.

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. David Wait, MD is American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certified and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. A skilled psychopharmacologist and psychotherapist, he has over 30 years’ experience successfully helping people overcome a diverse range of emotional, psychiatric, and addiction challenges.

David was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and is a graduate of Augustana College. He obtained his MD at the USD School of Medicine. His residency was at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock where he was trained in both psychotherapy and biological management of psychiatric challenges.

Following residency training, Dr. Wait continued to work with UAMS and the State of Arkansas in research and program development focusing on implementing and then teaching novel strengths focused care for people with severe mental illness for the first 12 years of his career.

Later, Dr. Wait moved with his wife and three children to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He has since been in clinical practice and leadership roles in inpatient, outpatient, and telehealth psychiatric care settings.

Rather than focus primarily on illness or problems, Dr. Wait’s approach is to first evaluate his patients comprehensively, then utilize what’s learned from this to treat and empower them to make and then practice choices that lead to improved health and well-being, using an integrative model that recognizes that mental, physical, social, and spiritual health are one.

‍

Dr. Shahan Syed is a Board-Eligible Psychiatrist who offers personable, compassionate, and empathetic care. Before completing his residency in psychiatry, Dr. Syed graduated from International American University College of Medicine and recently completed his residency at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, NJ. He gained experience as a clinical researcher, emergency medical technician, and a registered nurse in both psychiatric and emergency departments prior to his formal training. This diverse background equipped him with valuable tools to deliver empathetic care to a wide range of patients with experience treating anxiety disorder, traumatic disorders, depressive and bipolar disorders, substance use disorders, ADHD, OCD, and psychotic disorders. During his residency, Dr. Syed also took on the role of chief resident, demonstrating a remarkable ability to educate both his patients and colleagues. Throughout his residency, Dr. Syed actively pursued additional training opportunities at various safety net hospitals in New Jersey to care for underserved populations.

Dr. Syed places significant importance on collaborating with patients and all relevant parties to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting the patient's life before making treatment recommendations. Additionally, Dr. Syed emphasizes the importance of lifestyle, sleep, mindfulness, and nutrition, and their impact on overall mental health. He has experience in utilizing interpersonal and supportive psychotherapy, along with principles of motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy, to foster resilience and meaningful change in partnership with other mental health professionals involved in patient care.

Dr. Syed employs a range of therapeutic methods alongside medication management to ensure a thorough and holistic approach for every patient. His goal is to create a safe environment that encourages healing and wellness, enabling individuals to remain motivated and live their lives to the fullest.

‍

Dr. Yolan Shaw earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX and completed her psychiatry residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She has experience in both outpatient and inpatient care through her work at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX, where she served veterans and caregivers. As a faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine, she also taught and supervised medical students and residents.

Dr. Shaw creates a warm, supportive environment where patients feel heard, understood, and respected. She values open communication and believes in working collaboratively with patients to establish clear, achievable treatment goals that reflect their individual needs and preferences.

Dr. Shaw begins the treatment process by thoroughly understanding each patient's history, concerns, and goals during the initial session. From there, she develops an individualized treatment plan designed to align with those goals and support meaningful progress over time.

Dr. Alexandra Held is a general psychiatrist who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She completed her psychiatry training at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include mood and anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD. She is passionate about incorporating psychotherapeutic tools into her practice, including supportive psychotherapy.

Dr. Held takes a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental approach to care. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive space where patients feel heard and empowered to take an active role in their treatment, using a combination of supportive psychotherapy and medication management.

During the first few sessions, Dr. Held will take time to get to know the patient—their history, current concerns, and what they hope to achieve through treatment. Together, they will develop a comprehensive plan that may include psychiatric medications and supportive therapy. Follow-up visits are typically focused on checking in, adjusting treatments if necessary, and continuing to build on progress.

‍