Mark Varela,MD

Dr. Shaughnessy is boarded in adult psychiatry and has over 30 years of experience. Dr. Shaughnessy practices medication management in a supportive collaborative environment. Treatment recommendations may include psychotherapy with another professional in addition to medication management .Dr. Shaughnessy has worked with individuals having the spectrum of psychiatric disorders but is particularly interested in working with those with mood and anxiety disorders.

Dr. Ellis is a graduate of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ. He completed his psychiatric residency at Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center in Camden, NJ, where he served as Chief Resident his senior year. Dr. Ellis has served as Assistant Medical Director of the community mental health center of Gloucester County for 28 years, providing care to a diverse population. Additionally, Dr. Ellis maintained a private practice for 15 years, treating individuals and their families with ongoing collaboration with therapists and other health care providers

Darcie Farrell is an ANCC Board Certified Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.  She has worked exclusively in the field of psychiatry during her forty-year nursing career.  She has worked in many care settings, including as a psychiatric Home Health Nurse and as a Certified Case Manager (CCM) in Psychiatry at Blue Cross Blue Shield. During her time at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, she realized the urgent need for psychiatric nurse practitioners, so enrolled in the BSN/MSN program at the University of Rochester, graduating in 2016 with her BSN and in 2018 with her MSN.  She has strong skills and experience in Motivational Interviewing, having worked as a Motivational Counselor for a University of Rochester's Pediatric Research Program.   She has worked for the past seven years as a Nurse Practitioner in Geriatric Outpatient Psychiatry.

Darcie Farrell is a compassionate provider who is client centered. I rely on evidence-based scientific research when determining the best treatment options for clients.  

Darcie Farrell has a very relaxed process for working with patients which allows the client to provide information that is pertinent to their goals for care.  Then, together, we determine which treatment options are likely to be best for the client.

‍

Dr. Tahira Akbar specializes in adult psychiatry, she completed her four years of residency training at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus NJ and additional two years of geriatric psychiatry fellowship from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. During her final year of the of residency training, she was appointed as the chief of research. She utilized her extensive research experience to guide and mentor her fellow residents. Under her supervision the program submitted maximum number of research papers and presented medical posters to various psychiatric platforms including American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Akbar was introduced to tele-psychiatry during the second year of her fellowship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She appreciated that tele-psychiatry allowed her to continue to serve her patients in the comfort of their own homes. During the challenging times of social distancing, she recognized the importance of collaborative care involving family members, social workers, medical team, and therapist to work together in the best interest of her patients while protecting their privacy and individuality.

Dr. Akbar has excellent communication skills, she believes that an open communication is essential for any relationship to prosper especially that of doctor-patient relationship. She provides a comforting environment for her patients to be able to express their needs and encourages feedback while preparing their individual treatment plan. She is experienced in providing psychiatric care to all age groups while her clinical interest focuses on taking care of adults and geriatric population. Dr. Akbar emphases on medication management utilizing a multidisciplinary methodology when treating each patient based on their requirements and tailoring treatment appropriately.

Dr. Robert Dugger is a board-certified psychiatrist in General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Born and raised in Miami to a Virginian father and Cuban mother, he is bilingual in English and Spanish. He earned a B.A. in Biology and Political Science from the University of Miami, a Master of Public Health in Health Policy from New York Medical College, and his M.D. from Stony Brook University School of Medicine. He completed residency and fellowship training in New York through the Northwell Health System and BronxCare Health System, where he served as Chief Fellow in Child Psychiatry. He has also worked as a researcher at institutions including Columbia University. Outside of work, he enjoys gaming, sci-fi fantasy, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, hiking, sailing, and sportfishing.

Dr. Dugger strives to create a supportive and respectful environment where patients feel genuinely heard and understood. He values careful listening, curiosity, and follow-through, and takes a practical, individualized approach to care. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions, he collaborates with patients to clarify goals, track progress, and focus on changes that meaningfully improve daily life.

Dr. Dugger begins by developing a thorough understanding of each patient’s history, current concerns, strengths, and goals. Early visits focus on understanding context—what is happening now, what has been tried, and what the patient hopes to change. Treatment plans are developed collaboratively and adjusted over time, with follow-up visits emphasizing steady, sustainable improvement through integrated and comprehensive care.

Dr. Cabrera is a board‐certified psychiatrist with several years of experience working with an ethnically and culturally diverse population in outpatient, inpatient, and psychiatric emergency room settings. Most recently, Dr. Cabrera practiced privately treating adults with a wide range of mental illnesses both in person and via telepsychiatry. Prior to this, she was an attending psychiatrist in the outpatient department and in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Center at Mount Sinai Beth Israel where she also served as Associate Training Director of Psychiatric Residency Training. Dr. Cabrera has a strong background in psychopharmacology and supportive and psychodynamic psychotherapy.