Saria El Haddad, MD

Dr. Leslie Chavez is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with a diverse background in clinical and academic medicine. She completed her medical school and residency at the University of New Mexico, where she later served as a psychiatrist and assistant professor, treating high-need patients and teaching residents and medical students. During the pandemic, she transitioned to telehealth and has been dedicated to this field for the past four years. Dr. Chavez is known for making her patients feel seen and heard, using both medication management and supportive psychotherapy. Dr. Chavez began her academic journey as a physics major at UNM and then studied biophysics at the University of San Diego, California. During her postdoctoral fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratories, she was inspired by presentations about professionals working with patients in African countries, which sparked her interest in medicine. During this time, her father died of cancer, and she saw the impact of mental health therapy on his quality of life, further solidifying her motivation to attend medical school. Witnessing the profound impact of mental health on her patients and family, she specialized in psychiatry. Dr. Chavez is a seasoned psychopharmacologist and emphasizes the importance of nutrition, exercise, and community in mental health. She enjoys all aspects of medicine and combines her extensive knowledge with a patient-centered approach.

Background and credentials

Dr. Jessica Matthews is a board-certified general psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed her psychiatry residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. After her training, she was stationed at Fort Hood, TX, where she worked as a staff physician in the inpatient unit at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and later became the inpatient medical director. She subsequently transitioned to outpatient care, serving as a staff physician and later as clinic chief in the outpatient embedded behavioral health clinics. She continued working as a staff physician after leaving the military.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Matthews specializes in medication management, often incorporating supportive and cognitive-behavioral-focused therapy into treatment. Follow-up visits typically last 30 minutes, during which she evaluates progress and adjusts treatment as needed. She takes a collaborative approach and may recommend additional therapy when she believes it will optimize patient outcomes. Her primary areas of focus include treating adults with depression, anxiety, and stress/trauma-related disorders.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation where Dr. Matthews takes the time to understand their symptoms, history, and treatment goals. She prioritizes a structured yet patient-centered approach, discussing medication management options while considering therapeutic interventions tailored to individual needs. If necessary, she may recommend additional therapy as part of a well-rounded treatment plan.

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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.

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Education and training

Stony Brook University (Bachelor of Science)

American University of Integrative Sciences (MD)

Davenport University (MBA)

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (residency)

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University (fellowship)

Dr. Mohammed Islam is board certified in both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He completed his undergraduate studies at Stony Brook University and attended medical school at the American University of Integrative Sciences. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center followed by completion of a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University where he served as Chief Fellow. Prior to joining Talkiatry, he has trained/worked in a combination of various healthcare systems across New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Kentucky.

Dr. Islam treats patients of various ages- in addition to medication management he is a strong proponent of therapy in various forms. His approach to the treatment of adults and children/adolescents incorporates the impact of various things such as family history of mental health/medical conditions as well as any adverse childhood experiences/trauma. In addition to screening for common conditions such as bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression in all patients, he also emphasizes the importance of screening for conditions that can manifest in childhood (such as ADHD, Autism) as well as first-episode psychosis in young adults.

From the initial visit and onward, Dr. Islam prioritizes a collaborative effort with his patients (and at times their families). In addition to medication adjustments, he emphasizes the importance of optimizing additional tools such as therapy while making appropriate lifestyle changes. During every follow up visit, he takes care to ensure that the current treatment is not hindering his patient’s progress in any way.

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Dr Cardiel- Sam is Board Certified in both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He completed undergraduate training at University of Miami followed by medical school at St. Georges University. He has completed Residency in Psychiatry at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and fellowship training for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Penn State University.  

His training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has given him a unique perspective on mental illness. He has found that these conditions rarely start in adulthood, but rather, are a product of multiple factors and years of lived experience. For this reason, Dr Cardiel- Sam approaches his patients through a trauma informed lens; an acknowledgement of the unique story and challenges that each individual has faced. He is comfortable treating a wide variety of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD and many more.

Working with Dr Cardiel- Sam, you can expect holistic and collaborative psychiatric treatment. He believes that medication along with therapeutic treatment should fit seamlessly into a patient’s life, with minimal inconvenience. He strives to empower patients in shared medical decision making, making time to explain risks/benefits and alternatives for treatment.

Dr. Hong Chen is a board certified adult psychiatrist and has been in practice since 2010. Dr. Chen received her doctorate degree in medicine at the University of Florida. She then completed her residency training at the University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Chen has worked mainly in outpatient settings and often tailors 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 disorders, OCD, Bipolar type 2 and ADHD.

Dr. Chen’s practice is based on a holistic approach to mental health care; with special emphasis on self-care, mindfulness practices in addition to medication treatment. Dr. Chen

truly believes that focusing on wellness in conjunction with medication mediated symptom reduction will lead to a better outcome for patients. As a result, patients often enjoy the

supportive therapy, insight-oriented therapy and psychoeducation that is provided to them during their sessions with Dr. Chen.

Wadzanai Lee is a board-certified Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with Talkiatry. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Nursing from University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX in 2013 and Master’s Degree at The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Tx in 2016. She enjoys treating a wide range of psychiatric and mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar and mood disorders, OCD, PTSD and ADHD.

Wadzanai's patient care approach embodies a blend of professionalism and compassionate understanding. She fosters an environment that supports her patients and encourages their active involvement in their health journey. Her care technique prioritizes the patients’ needs, creating a supportive and understanding space and ensuring each individual feels seen, heard, and valued. Her patient care style is characterized by her deep empathy and firm commitment to her patients' well-being. She understands the debilitating effects of mental health conditions and is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their mental health goals.

Each appointment ensures that every patient is treated with respect and receives the care necessary for their recovery and overall mental health. She believes in providing individualized therapeutic care to meet your specific needs using a compassionate and non-judgmental approach.

Her services to you will include psychiatric evaluations, medication management and therapy. If you are looking for a psychiatric and mental health provider who will partner with you on your journey to mental wellness, please call to schedule an appointment today.

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