John Bardugon, MD

Dr. Vanessa Valdes is an adult psychiatrist specializing in medication management and psychotherapy, with a strong focus on nutrition, wellness, and mindfulness. She earned her combined MD/MPH degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System, one of the nation's leading public healthcare systems.‍During her residency, Dr. Valdes gained broad experience in diverse areas of psychiatry, including inpatient psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, outpatient care, psychotherapy, hypnosis, child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, psycho-oncology, and addiction psychiatry.‍Dr. Valdes primarily provides supportive psychotherapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help patients better understand and address their stressors. She takes a holistic approach to care, emphasizing the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of her patients. Her goal is to inspire meaningful, sustainable changes in patients' lives through compassionate, comprehensive treatment.

Dr. Liss was born and raised in a neighborhood in the North Bronx. He attended Queens College, CUNY where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Hebrew. He completed Medical school at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, NY and thereafter was accepted to NUMC for psychiatry residency training. For his final year of residency training Dr. Liss was appointed to the position of Chief Resident for Academics & Research for the Psychiatry residency program at NUMC, Nassau University Medical Center. He received two awards during his residency training, including the Acute Mental Health Services Award and the Ambulatory Mental Health Services Award at the end of his 2nd and 3rd years of residency training, respectively. At NUMC, Dr. Liss underwent a rigorous training in a multitude of psychiatric settings and has experience with managing a wide array of psychiatric areas of treatment including mood/bipolar disorders, ADHD, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, as well as the intersection of medical disorders and psychiatric disorders. For his outpatient practice, Dr. Liss anticipates focusing on mood disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD, personality disorders, and family dynamics .Dr. Liss' practice focuses on a duality of treatment strategies: specifically psychotropic medication management in conjunction with non-pharmacologic treatment modalities including supportive psychotherapy, emotive supportive psychotherapy, as well as personalized variants of psychodynamic/interpersonal psychotherapy. Additionally, Dr. Liss has experience facilitating the coordination of psychosocial treatments in underserved populations.‍

Sonya R. Isler, PMHNP-BC, began her nursing journey over 30 years ago in a state psychiatric hospital in Goldsboro, NC, inspired by the poised nurse she admired at church as a child. Her path includes roles as LPN, RN, BSN, and multiple advanced practice degrees. Sonya has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, VA clinics, and private practices. She also serves as a preceptor for PMHNP students at her alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sonya creates a welcoming, respectful space where patients feel safe to communicate openly. She practices active listening and values patient input when setting therapy goals. Her approach is holistic—treating the whole person—and she encourages collaboration, helping patients feel seen, heard, and empowered in their care.

Sonya reviews a patient's history before each session and begins with clear introductions and goal setting. She invites open discussion of concerns and tailors' treatment plans with patient input. She often incorporates CBT, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy into care, promoting growth through supportive, personalized strategies.

Dr. Justine Sever Chilelli, DO, earned her medical degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship at the University of South Florida. She is board certified in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her experience includes treating children, adolescents, and adults across outpatient, inpatient, consultation-liaison, school-based, and residential settings.

Dr. Chilelli values a collaborative, team-based approach where she and her patients work together to build a treatment plan. She emphasizes open and honest communication, aiming to improve quality of life and reduce the impact of mental health symptoms.

In the initial appointment, Dr. Chilelli focuses on understanding each patient’s history, concerns, and goals. She then develops individualized treatment plans that align with those goals, ensuring care that is thoughtful, supportive, and tailored to each patient’s needs.

Dr. Adele Veksman is double board-certified in adult psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, with over 14 years of experience diagnosing and treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions. She approaches each patient as a unique individual, offering a non-judgmental space to help patients develop into their best selves. She focuses primarily on medication management to alleviate symptoms while working with patients on behavioral changes to address underlying issues. If additional therapy is needed, she may suggest adding a therapist to your care team to provide the best outcome. Dr. Veksman received her medical degree from St. George's University and then completed a residency in psychiatry and fellowship in psychosomatic medicine at Zucker Hillside Hospital at Northwell Health. Next, she was an attending and ER psychiatrist at North Shore University Hospital providing psychiatric care to medically ill patients. She then transitioned to adult outpatient care at Maimonides Medical Center, treating various psychiatric illnesses. Throughout her career, she taught and supervised residents and medical students.

Dr. Kevin Lu is a board certified adult psychiatrist. In addition to medication management, he integrates elements of psychotherapy, psychoeducation, lifestyle changes, and relationship skills into his approach. He enjoys working with a variety of individuals and conditions, with particular experience with veterans, immigrants, and university students. He has a friendly and casual style, and prioritizes strong therapeutic relationships in his work. Dr. Lu completed his undergraduate studies at New York University's Stern School of Business, and after a short career in finance, he made a transition into medicine. He received his medical degree from the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and completed residency training in psychiatry at the University of Arizona in Tucson.