Skip to main content

Mona Ismail, MD

Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
SPECIALTIES
Medication Management
ADHD
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
PTSD/Trauma

Education and training

  • Faculty Of Medicine - University Of Cairo (Cairo, Egypt) Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • St Vincent's Catholic Medical Centers (Residency)
  • Saint Vincents Hosp & Med Ctr New York, NY (Fellowship)

Get to know

Mona Ismail, MD

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.

Get matched with a clinician like this one

Ready to book your first appointment? Take our 10-minute assessment. We’ll match you with a clinician who meets your needs, has availability, and takes your insurance.

Get started
More Clinicians

Lauren Broderick, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Lauren Broderick is a Harvard trained, board certified psychiatrist. She completed her medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University. She then completed her adult psychiatry residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital, both teaching hospitals at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Broderick has held clinical appointments at Harvard Medical School and Duke University Medical School. At both institutions, she has been recognized for clinical excellence, receiving awards for outstanding patient care and clinical teaching. Dr. Broderick's practice uses a collaborative, evidence-based approach to understand and treat a person's psychiatric symptoms. Her sessions are usually 30 minutes. In addition to focusing on medication management, Dr. Broderick's practice also prioritizes a whole person approach, incorporating aspects of nutrition, lifestyle, mindfulness, and supportive or brief cognitive behavioral therapy into the treatment plan. Occasionally, Dr. Broderick may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you see a separate therapist to provide the best outcome. She has clinical expertise in the treatment of anxiety disorders and mood disorders, specifically focusing on the clinical treatment of young adults going through early life transitions. Dr. Broderick strongly believes in providing high quality, equitable care and empowers her patients to be active players in their treatment plans to facilitate the best care possible.

Geoffrey Peckover, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Peckover is a Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult Psychiatry. He has been practicing for three and a half years. Dr. Peckover provides patient-centered care with an emphasis on medication management, psychoeducational, and lifestyle adjustments. He typically provides supportive or integrative therapy along with medication management, but some cases will require the addition of a therapist to the treatment team. Dr. Peckover received a Bachelor's of Medical Science from the University of Western Ontario in Canada and received his Medical Degree from Ross University. He completed his residency at Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan, where he served as chief resident in his final year. He then worked as a psychiatrist in the outpatient department at Kings County hospital, where he also supervised residents from SUNY Downstate. As an outpatient psychiatrist, Dr. Peckover has an extensive history of treating patients of all ages with a wide variety of psychiatric disorders, with an emphasis on mood and anxiety disorders. He treated patients remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak, helping to manage the increase in stress that came with the pandemic.

Michael Gravenstein, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Michael Gravenstein earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he also completed his psychiatry residency. During training, he was recognized with multiple awards, including the Malcom Randall VA Resident of the Year Award, the Ross A. McElroy Psychotherapy Award, and the John “J.D.” Dorian Award for best sense of humor. He has worked across outpatient, inpatient, and consult liaison settings, and has experience treating a wide range of conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, personality disorders, and transitional age concerns. He also has expertise working with LGBTQIA+ patients and provides psychodynamic, CBT, and supportive therapies.

Dr. Gravenstein believes in a comprehensive approach to treatment that integrates medications, therapy, and lifestyle interventions. While medications can be very effective, he views them as just one part of a broader treatment plan tailored to each patient’s needs. He emphasizes individualized care and sees treatment as a team effort, meeting patients where they are and progressing at a pace they feel ready for.

Dr. Gravenstein strives to create a warm, collaborative environment that fosters open communication and genuine connection. He may challenge patients therapeutically but always with careful attention to their readiness and comfort. His goal is to build trust so that meaningful conversations and progress can occur. For him, success is always shared—when patients succeed, they succeed together; when challenges arise, they regroup and move forward together.

Jillian Saad, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Jillian Saad is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who specializes in patient-centered care. She has been practicing for over 8 years in private practice and academic medicine .Dr. Saad focuses on medication management in 30-minute follow-up visits in conjunction with supportive and emotionally focused therapy. She takes a patient-centered approach that acknowledges all the psychosocial aspects of each individual to ensure they receive the most effective treatment possible. She received her medical degree from UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ, then moved to Pennsylvania to complete her residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Upon completion of training, Dr. Saad went into private practice for 5 years in southern NJ where she treated children, adolescents, and adults with a wide array of psychiatric disorders. She then went into academic medicine at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ, where she served as the Associate Program Director of the Psychiatry Residency Program supervising and teaching both residents and medical students .Dr. Saad has experience working with a broad range of psychiatric disorders including mood disorders, PTSD, OCD, and ADHD. She also has a strong interest in Women's Mental Health and alternative treatment options.

Alexander Wittenberg, DO

Staff Psychiatrist

Background and credentials    

Dr. Alexander Wittenberg is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society. He earned his medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was a  member of the Psi Sigma Alpha Osteopathic Honor Society. As chief resident at  Mount Sinai Beth Israel, he gained extensive experience working in outpatient  settings and managing patient care at one of New York City's busiest clinics. Dr. Wittenberg has expertise in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, trauma and stressor-related disorders, and OCD.    

Treatment approach    

Dr. Wittenberg offers highly individualized and empathic treatment, primarily focusing on medication management. He frequently recommends integrating therapy into treatment plans and may suggest collaborating with a therapist. Dr. Wittenberg prioritizes a holistic approach, emphasizing overall well-being alongside symptom relief. He encourages the incorporation of mindfulness, self-compassion, exercise, nutrition, and attention to interpersonal relationships into his treatment strategy.    

What you can expect in a first visit    

During an initial visit with Dr. Wittenberg, patients can anticipate a collaborative, patient-centered, and non-judgmental environment designed to foster a meaningful therapeutic relationship. He will thoroughly discuss individual concerns and treatment goals, exploring potential therapeutic interventions, including medication management and holistic strategies to support mental health and overall wellness.

   

Why Talkiatry?    

We’re a virtual mental health practice that makes it easy to find great care. We combine quality and convenience to help you thrive—faster. Our providers, like this one, are highly trained experts who specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

Swarnalata Debbarma, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Debbarma is double board certified in General Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. Dr.Debbarma is also certified in mindfulness therapy. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Debbarma was working as an attending psychiatrist and teaching faculty in an Academic hospital. She has experience of managing diverse patients ranging from chronic severe mental illness , dual diagnosis patients, crisis management and high functioning outpatients population.

Dr. Debbarma is an International medical graduate from India with post graduate training in Psychiatry and Family Medicine.  

To better understand USA public health and preventive care, Dr. Debbarma pursued advanced degree in Master of Public Health from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia. Due to interest in global health, Dr. Debbarma worked as a post-doctoral fellow in Global Health at Rutgers university. Dr. Debbarma completed psychiatry residency from Cooper University Hospital and served as a chief resident.

Dr. Debbarma has diverse experiences in health care. Prior to moving to USA, she worked as a medical officer in government hospital system. Dr. Debbarma has years of experience in treating patients from different cultural and religious background.

As an Individual Dr. Debbarma is intrigued by human mind and behavior that’s why she choose to specialize in psychiatry. She focuses on "wholeness" by understanding the whole person not just their symptoms.

Her treatment approach includes bio-psycho-sociocultural model and patient centered care.  She offers medication management and supportive therapy. Based on clinical need Dr. Debbarma also incorporate CBT, Mindfulness, MI.

Dr. Debbarma has special interest in women mental health and cultural psychiatry.

Ready to get matched?

Start our short assessment
Specialties
Medication Management
ADHD
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
PTSD/Trauma
States
North Carolina
New Jersey
Florida
Virginia
Languages
English
Takes insurance
Virtual visits
years experience