Sabrina Ghim, MD

Dr. Jenna Hartman is double board certified in General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Hartman graduated from Tufts University before completing medical school at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. She then completed residency at Maimonides Medical Center, where she was a Chief Resident, and then pursued an addiction psychiatry fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Dr. Hartman was also trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy by the Psychoanalytic Association of NY. Following her training, Dr. Hartman returned to Maimonides Medical Center, where she worked as an attending adult outpatient clinic, treating patients from many different backgrounds with a wide array of diagnoses. She holds a special interest in treating mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and OCD. Dr. Hartman uses a compassionate and thoughtful approach in order to form a collaborative partnership with her patients. She believes in treating the person as a whole and tailoring treatments to each individual's specific needs. Dr. Hartman works with patients in 30 30-minute follow up sessions, where in addition to medication management she provides supportive and at times psychodynamic therapeutic techniques.

Dr. Alexandre is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed his psychiatry training both in Brazil and in the United States, where he served as Chief Resident in both programs. He is fluent in both English and Portuguese and is especially attuned to the unique challenges faced by international and immigrant populations. Dr. Alexandre is passionate about helping patients achieve meaningful and sustained improvements in their mental health.

He brings over a decade of experience in mental health care and has a strong foundation in evidence-based treatment. His clinical interests include mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, and cross-cultural psychiatry.

Dr. Alexandre incorporates a collaborative and compassionate approach to care, combining medication management with elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, and interpersonal strategies when appropriate.

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Dr. Akhtar is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in compassionate and comprehensive mental health care. She focuses on medication management for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, providing supportive therapy to help individuals navigate life's challenges and enhance their overall well-being, while emphasizing lifestyle changes and the development of coping skills. Dr. Akhtar completed her medical degree at the American University of Antigua, gaining a profound understanding of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of mental health. Following her residency at Bergen, Newbridge Medical Center, where she was appointed Chief Resident in her fourth year, she worked for several years in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. Committed to holistic wellness, Dr. Akhtar believes in empowering individuals to make positive changes in their lives and offers guidance on nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management techniques. She is dedicated to fostering a therapeutic alliance built on trust, empathy, and collaboration. Her approach is rooted in evidence-based practices and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual under her care.

Dr. Bardugon is a board-eligible psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of adults. He has experience in treating patients with various forms of depression and anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, and substance use disorders. He seeks to provide a safe, non-judgmental, gender affirming space for patients as they strive to lead a happier, more contented life. After a pediatrics residency, Dr Bardugon worked for 13 years as a pediatric ER physician. His interest in psychiatry was piqued during this time as he witnessed the emergence of a child and adolescent mental health crisis. While ultimately deciding to focus his efforts on the treatment of adults, Dr Bardugon is keenly aware of the influence of child development and family systems on the behavioral health of adults. Dr Bardugon employs a holistic, multimodal treatment approach. Aiming to treat the whole person, he stresses the importance of nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Dr Bardugon believes an informed patient actively engaged in decision making surrounding treatment has the best chance of effecting lasting change. Believing in the synergistic effect of talk therapy and medication, he incorporates one or more talk therapy techniques including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and supportive and psychodynamic psychotherapies into most sessions. He often recommends formal participation in some form of talk therapy and is happy to collaborate with other providers.

Dr. Sallie Jo Hadley holds the position of Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She is board-certified in psychiatry and pediatrics and is board-eligible in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has been practicing for 22 years. Dr. Hadley's practice is focused on medication management with supportive therapy in follow-up sessions of 15 or 30 minutes. Dr. Hadley is experienced with collaborative treatment and encourages adding a therapist to your care team in those situations where additional therapy might be helpful. Dr. Hadley is a graduate of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine's triple-board program (psychiatry, pediatrics, and child and adolescent psychiatry). She completed post-doctoral research fellowships at Mount Sinai's Seaver Center for Autism Research/Compulsive-Impulsive Anxiety Disorders and at Columbia University's New York State Psychiatric Institute, the latter focusing on metabolic and weight issues in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Dr. Hadley had an early background as a nurse, receiving her B.S. in Nursing from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her experience in neonatal, psychiatric, and hospice nursing led her to pursue her degree in medicine. Dr. Hadley has worked in pharmacologic research in both academic and industry settings. Prior to joining Talkiatry, she practiced in a multi-specialty clinic for individuals and families dealing with autism or intellectual disabilities and complex medical co-morbidities. Dr. Hadley enjoys working with motivated individuals of all ages who are seeking to better their life or better cope with life circumstances. She has particular expertise in working with individuals and their families suffering from anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Dr. Jennifer Ruch is a board-certified psychiatrist who strives to understand her patients' lived experiences and aspirations to develop supportive therapeutic relationships through empathetic listening, mutual trust, and respect. She collaboratively creates individualized care plans that align with personal treatment goals in a safe and judgment-free environment. After completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology with a focus in psychology from the University of California, Merced, she earned her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Ruch completed her General Psychiatry Residency at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in New York. Her clinical experience involves treating individuals of all age groups from diverse populations and socioeconomic backgrounds suffering from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. She has provided care in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, emergency rooms, state facilities, and an inpatient chemical dependency center. She also performed pre-procedure psychological evaluations for bariatric and spinal cord surgeries, and psychiatric consult liaison services on medical units and has clinical training in inpatient and outpatient neurology. Her clinical experience incorporated treatment modalities such as pharmacotherapy and interventional psychiatry, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Spravato. Dr. Ruch integrates a wide array of psychotherapy as needed; however, her practice primarily focuses on medication management while utilizing referrals to therapists and providing collaborative care for optimal outcomes.