Sameerah Akhtar, MD

Dr. Carolyn Benson has 21 years of experience in treating adults, adolescents, and children. After graduating medical school at Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina, she moved to Rochester, NY to complete her residency and fellowship at University of Rochester School of Medicine. Her focus over the last ten years has been on working with young adults, children/adolescents, and their families. Her expertise covers a wide array of therapeutic modalities and mental health diagnoses. The primary focus of her sessions is to provide medication management with education on treatment options. She will provide therapy models that are appropriate within that 20�30 minute medication session. If longer therapy time frames are indicated, she will discuss the need to add a therapist to your treatment team to achieve optimal care. Her successful treatment outcomes are based on experience, staying current on psychiatric treatments, and having open communication with patients and families of children/adolescents so they can choose the most effective treatments. Prior to medical school, she worked in both marine and biochemical research venues and was coauthor in several research papers. She has an avid interest in the emerging field of neuroscience and frequently gives talks to colleagues and students on current research topics. Her primary objectives in her work are to help patients achieve success in both treatment and life goals and to always take time to truly listen to her patients.

Dr. Juliet Nichols has been a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 2002 and has been practicing psychiatry for over 25 years. While an expert in psychopharmacology, Dr. Nichols has an integrative approach to treatment and she often incorporates psychotherapeutic techniques when appropriate, tailoring every treatment to each patient's individual needs. She completed her Psychiatry residency at Stony Brook-SUNY and Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Over the last two decades, Dr. Nichols served as an attending psychiatrist at JT Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY, where she became proficient in delivering stellar psychiatric care in a variety of settings. She specializes in treating adult and geriatric mental illnesses, including: Depression, Anxiety Disorders (eg, OCD, Panic Disorder, GAD, PTSD), ADHD, and Cognitive Disorders in the elderly. Dr. Nichols strives to help her patients gain insights into their inner conflicts, unveil their strengths, accept their limitations, and build their coping skills. Her approach is dynamic, straightforward, and empathic so patients always feel safe, understood, and at ease. She engages the patient to be an active participant in treatment decision-making, creating a strong therapeutic alliance.‍

Dr. Blanca Osorio-Candelaria is a board-certified adult psychiatrist and has been practicing for over 16 years. Her practice focuses on medication management, which she typically combines with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. If Dr. Osorio-Candelaria feels you would benefit from working with a therapist in conjunction with medication management, she welcomes collaboration with your therapist to make for the best outcome. ‍Dr. Osorio-Candelaria is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan, PR. She completed her residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, followed by a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her years of experience started as a medical officer for the Army, including a deployment to Iraq. Her working experience after her military service includes working as a medical director of a community health center, a medical director of a community hospital, a medical director of an inpatient unit, and working for an Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT) specializing in the Serious Mentally Ill population.‍Dr. Osorio-Candelaria specializes in psychopharmacology, especially tailoring individualized treatment to serve the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. She has a lot of experience in treating patients with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, Insomnia, and ADHD. She also has experience in treating patients with medical comorbidities.

Dr. Pan is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 10 years of experience. She holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from UT Southwestern Medical School and completed her medical specialty training in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She has served as faculty at UT Southwestern, teaching medical students and mentoring psychiatry residents.

Dr. Pan is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Pan specializes in medication management for adults with a broad range of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, bipolar, depression, insomnia, PTSD/trauma-related disorders. Medication treatment may be complemented with elements of supportive psychotherapy, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Dr. Pan works collaboratively with patients to develop evidence-based treatment plans tailored to their unique needs. If further psychotherapy is needed, she may recommend working with a therapist as well. Asking for help can be difficult, especially when it comes to mental health. During the first visit, patients can expect a welcoming space where they can share their concerns. The visit will also focus on a psychiatric evaluation covering symptom details, psychiatric and other medical history, prior treatments, and how the current symptoms affect the person as a whole.‍

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Dr. Clayton Stone (he/him) is a native of the Tennessee mountains who specializes in treating both children and adults. He completed a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis and a general psychiatry residency in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Stone has worked in academic medical centers, public schools, state hospitals, a transgender health clinic, and a residential eating disorder center. He is experienced in caring for LGBTQIA+ individuals and underserved rural communities.

Dr. Stone offers a friendly, nonjudgmental space where patients feel supported and empowered. His collaborative style emphasizes respect, transparency, and shared decision-making. He is especially passionate about helping people navigate stress, build self-esteem, and develop healthy relationships. Depending on patient needs, he uses tools like talk therapy, lifestyle changes, parent coaching, and medication management to support healing.

Sessions begin with a detailed review of each patient's history, current concerns, and goals. Dr. Stone then works together with the patient to create a personalized care plan that may include therapy techniques, medications, psychoeducation, or coping strategies. When treating children or teens, he often includes family involvement or parent coaching to promote meaningful progress.

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.