Sameerah Akhtar, MD

Dr. Shari Sengupta attended the University of OK as a National Merit Scholar and went on to graduate with her MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She specialized in Adult Psychiatry at the University of NC Hospitals where she was a chief resident. She received psychotherapy training in insight-oriented and cognitive-behavioral approaches and trained at the Psychoanalytic Institute of the Carolinas. She has 18 years of experience providing medication management and psychotherapy in both private practice and community mental health settings and over 10 years of experience in telepsychiatry providing care to underserved communities. Dr. Sengupta has experience treating a variety of mental health concerns but has a particular interest in depression, anxiety, and mental health in the perinatal period. Her practice focuses on medication management from a holistic perspective. She believes that mental health is the cornerstone of overall well-being and that treatment is a collaborative journey toward improved health and function in life, work, and relationships. She offers culturally sensitive treatment to people from all backgrounds and sexual orientations. As a staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry, her treatment approach focuses on medication management informed by a background in psychotherapy.‍

Dr. Sabish Balan is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with subspecialty certifications in Geriatric Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. He completed his medical education in India at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, followed by psychiatry training at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. After relocating to the United States, he pursued residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center and advanced fellowships at The Zucker Hillside Hospital and St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center. With over 17 years of psychiatry experience in the U.S., he has held leadership roles at NYC Health + Hospitals – Harlem and currently provides care at Northwell Health Phelps Hospital Addiction Treatment Services and the BeHealth Program. Fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam, Dr. Balan brings a global perspective to patient care.

Dr. Balan strives to meet patients where they are, offering a warm and supportive environment that values the whole person. He integrates a bio-psycho-social approach to care, ensuring that patients feel heard, respected, and understood throughout their treatment journey.

In initial sessions, Dr. Balan takes a detailed history to understand each patient’s concerns, background, and goals. From there, he collaborates with patients to develop individualized treatment plans that align with their personal values and objectives, fostering partnership and long-term wellness.

Dr. Ruiz is a compassionate psychiatrist specializing in adult and maternal mental health. She develops personalized treatment plans to address anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, PMDD, and perinatal conditions. Her goal is to help patients reconnect with their values and live balanced, fulfilled, and meaningful lives.

Her passion for medicine began in childhood, inspired by curiosity about the mind and body. She earned an Honors Chemistry degree with  magna cum laude and completed her medical training and psychiatry residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. With a strong scientific foundation, Dr. Ruiz understands the role of medications, and embraces holistic healing through connection, gratitude, and spirituality.

Dr. Ruiz has experience in diverse clinical settings and has received national awards including the AWP International Fellowship and ADMSEP Innovations Award. She is dedicated to advancing maternal mental health screening and treatment through clinical care and education.

Dr. Ruiz combines pharmacotherapy (medication) with psychotherapy to create individualized treatment plans. Therapy provides powerful tools to manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that support balanced brain chemistry. Research shows that medication helps restore this balance more quickly and effectively, especially in moderate to severe cases.  

Dr. Ruiz likens medication for the brain to fertilizer for a garden. Imagine your mental health as a vibrant garden—when well-nourished, it can thrive with resilience, beauty, and balance. But when symptoms like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or mood instability take hold, they act like invasive weeds, crowding out healthy growth and making it hard to enjoy the space. Medication acts like fertilizer, strengthening the garden’s natural systems so the healthy parts can reclaim their place and flourish. Just as some gardens need only seasonal care while others require more consistent tending, medication plans are personalized to support each person’s long-term mental wellness. When the garden is healthy, there's more room to grow, connect, and fully enjoy life.

With a strong background in chemistry and pharmacology, Dr. Ruiz prioritizes educating her patients about how medications work and why they can be helpful. She believes patients should take an active role in understanding their diagnosis and treatment. Her approach emphasizes diagnostic clarity, medication management, patient education, and brief psychotherapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Your first appointment is a supportive, in-depth conversation to share your story, challenges, and goals. Dr. Ruiz will review your medical and psychiatric history and assess symptoms using a whole-person approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

Together, you’ll develop a personalized plan that may include lab work, medication, and therapy. Initial visits last 60 minutes for thorough evaluation; follow-ups typically last 20–30 minutes, focusing on medication management and brief therapy. If needed, Dr. Ruiz can refer you to in-house or community therapists for add-on therapy support.  

Throughout your care, Dr. Ruiz prioritizes shared decision making to ensure you feel informed, empowered, and supported.

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Dr. Melody Santos is dual-trained in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, with experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She served as Chief Resident and Deputy Chief Resident in East Carolina University’s combined residency program, where she led academic and clinical initiatives. Dr. Santos has published research on topics including adult ADHD and metabolic psychiatry, with presentations at national conferences. She earned her MD from the American University of the Caribbean and a BS in Biology with a minor in Jazz Piano from the University of Tampa. A native Spanish speaker, she is active in community service and church-based outreach.

Dr. Santos values open and clear communication, creating a safe, non-judgmental space where patients feel heard and respected. She blends traditional and innovative approaches, including metabolic psychiatry and dietary strategies, to support wellness. Her care is culturally sensitive and patient-centered, always tailored to each individual’s needs and values. Through empathy and education, she empowers patients and fosters resilience.

Dr. Santos begins with a thorough assessment of each patient’s medical, psychiatric, and lifestyle history. She collaborates with patients to build personalized, evidence-based treatment plans that reflect their goals and preferences. Her holistic care model considers social, cultural, and environmental influences, and she ensures consistent follow-up to adjust care as needed, promoting informed, long-term wellness.

Dr. Divya Khosla, MD, is a double board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist. She received her undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and her medical degree from Ross University, completing all of her clinicals in Maryland, D.C., and NYC. She completed her adult psychiatry residency at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Then she returned to the east coast, where she completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, New York. Dr. Khosla has participated in a variety of innovative academic clinical research, and has presented research at annual national meetings of the American Psychiatric Association. Her robust clinical experience with varying demographics at different clinical sites around the country has allowed her to treat patients in an evidence-based way, tailoring treatment to an individual's specific needs. Although Dr. Khosla's practice focuses on medication management, she also implements supportive therapy and motivational interviewing in sessions to allow for a more comprehensive approach to treatment. Her clinical interests include depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and ADHD.

Dr. Stephen Geisler is a board-certified adult psychiatrist and has been practicing for over 37 years. His practice focuses on medication management, and typically offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. If Dr. Geisler feels you would benefit from working with a therapist in conjunction with medication management, he welcomes collaboration with your therapist to make for the best outcome. Dr. Geisler is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the Zucker Hillside Hospital of Northwell Health after finishing his residency training there. He is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Over the years Dr. Geisler has received a number of awards including NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award, The APA Irma Bland Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Residents, the Zucker Hillside Hospital Department of Psychiatry Recognition Award for Education, and twice received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from the graduating residents' class. Dr. Geisler is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the Nassau Suffolk District Branch of the APA and the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Through the years, Dr. Geisler has participated in many clinical research projects, has been the co-author of many papers, and has made many presentations. Dr. Geisler specializes in psychopharmacology, especially tailoring individualized treatment to serve the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. He has a lot of experience in treating patients with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and OCD.