SHEPPARD PRATT - Key Persons
Alis Africano, LCPC is an offsite therapist for Sheppard Pratt. She received a master's degree in professional counseling from Argosy University, and has vast experience working with families and individuals of all ages addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, traumatic experience, domestic violence, grieving, blended family, reunification, the acculturation process, and more. Alis strives to assist the client in feeling confident that they can work together to reach their goals in life. Alis values her client's feelings of happiness and success. When working with families, Alis prides herself in being with the family system in every step of the therapeutic process. Alis is fluent in Spanish, and provides services in Spanish when needed.
Job Titles:
- Mental Health Therapist, Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick
Allyson Murphy, LMSW is a social worker and mental health therapist at Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick. She received her Master's in Social Work at The University of Buffalo in 2018. Allyson works in the Off-Site Counseling Program, serving children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, and families. Allyson utilizes a person-centered approach focused on self-determination and equality.
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, Psychotic Disorders Unit and Hospital Outpatient Clinic
Andrew Charles Warren, MD is an attending physician on the Psychotic Disorders Unit at Sheppard Pratt and at Sheppard Pratt's Hospital Outpatient Clinic. He is also an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Warren earned his bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctorate degree in cell and molecular biology from The Queens College at Oxford University. He went on to earn his medical degree from Guy's Hospital Medical School. Dr. Warren worked as the house physician and then house surgeon at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, before completing his residency at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then completed fellowships in the Department of Pediatric Genetics and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Warren worked as an attending physician at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Department of Community Psychiatry, Inpatient Psychiatry, Learning and Memory Disorders Clinic. He is widely published in the field; his research interests include developmental disability, Alzheimer's Disease in individuals with Down's Syndrome, and geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Warren has also won a number of awards including the Post-Doctoral Investigation Award at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the W.M. Keck Foundation Clinician Scientist Award at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Special Appreciation Award from The Arc, Professional of the Year Award from The Arc, and the Executive Director's Award from eMerge Inc., "Maryland's Choice for People with Disabilities." He is a licensed medical practitioner in Maryland and Pennsylvania and is board certified in general psychiatry and neurology. Dr. Warren has served on the Ethics Committee at Sheppard Pratt. He was also a board member at eMerge Inc. Before coming to Sheppard Pratt, he worked as a psychiatrist at many institutions including Fairhaven Medical Services Inc., the Rosewood Center, and Pickersgill Inc. As a professor, Dr. Warren has worked at Copper Ridge Institute, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Drexel University, Saba University, and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Anne Jenkins, LCSW-C is a clinical social worker providing outpatient services at Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick. She is a registered Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) provider for the treatment of PTSD. She received her bachelor of arts in psychology from St. Mary's College of Maryland and her Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University in 1999. Anne provides individual and family therapy addressing a diversity of presenting issues, though her clinical focus in her work has been in supporting the process of healing from trauma. Anne is a certified massage therapist and integrates this in her clinical practice through mindfulness work and teaching self-care strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation and self-massage techniques. Previously, she worked in a variety of settings, including residential placements with children experiencing significant trauma and in outpatient mental health.
April Smith, LGPC is a mental health therapist at Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick. She received her master's of science in counselor education - clinical mental health track from McDaniel College in 2017. Smith works as a counseling in the Off-Site Counseling Program, providing outpatient individual and family services. She works with children, adolescents, and adults with a range of diagnoses, and uses various techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy, and solutions-focused and strength-based approaches. Smith facilitates intervention approaches in individual therapy focusing on self-esteem, confidence building, person-centered focuses, and goal-driven techniques to encourage clients to actively participate in their treatment. Smith utilizes include positive communication building skills, improving interpersonal relationships, and developing problem solving skills as a family unit.
Dr. Ariel Vitali is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt's hospital in Ellicott City. He earned his MD at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and completed his psychiatric residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Vitali also completed a pediatric residency and a child and adolescent psychiatry residency at the University of Connecticut. Prior to his work at Sheppard Pratt, Dr. Vitali gained extensive experience working in outpatient, intake, consultation/liaison, and crisis settings. Dr. Vitali is board certified in general psychiatry and has more than a decade of experiencing providing care to children and adolescents in a variety of treatment settings; he is fluent in Spanish. Dr. Vitali is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and is a member of the Maryland Psychiatric Society.
Job Titles:
- Nurse Practitioner in the Child Unit and Child and Adolescent Day Hospital
Ashley A. Lester is a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the Child Unit and Child and Adolescent Day Hospital at Sheppard Pratt in Towson, MD. She previously served as a registered nurse at The University of Maryland Medical Center and Northwest Hospital in Randallstown, MD. Ashley also served as a nurse at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt. She earned her MSN at Walden University, and her BS at the University of Maryland University College.
Job Titles:
- Lead
- Lead Psychologist, the Trauma Disorders Program
Ashley Maher, PhD, is the lead psychologist at The Trauma Disorders Program, an internationally-renowned program for the treatment of complex trauma-related disorders such as dissociative identity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Maher completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, where she focused on posttraumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and combat-related distress; prior to that, she completed an internship at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology and MS in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Maher earned her BA in Psychology at the University of Miami.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Predoctoral Internship, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
PhD, Clinical Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
MS, Clinical Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Ashley Saltzman, LCPC-S, NCC is a mental health therapist who has been with Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick since 2014. She is a registered Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) provider for the treatment of PTSD. Saltzman received her master's degree in the counseling track of applied psychology from the University of Baltimore in 2013. Saltzman currently works as an off-site counselor, providing outpatient individual and family counseling services. She works with children, adolescents, and adults with a range of diagnoses. Saltzman utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy techniques as well as strength-based approaches. She is a Maryland BOPCT approved supervisor, a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society, a member of the American Counseling Association, and a member of Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, Adult Services, Towson Service Chief, Sullivan Day Hospital
Caroline Hardesty, LCPC is a mental health therapist at Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick. Caroline received her master's degree in counseling psychology from Towson University in 2012. She works as a therapist in the On-Site Counseling Program, and works with adults, adolescents, and children. Caroline employs a cognitive-behavioral based approach with clients and provides both individual and family therapy. Caroline works with clients to develop healthy coping skills and strategies for managing symptoms, stressors, and adjustment-related issues.
Caroline Perlman Cahn, LCSW-C, is the senior clinician for Sheppard Pratt School and Residential Treatment Center in Towson, Md. Caroline is a graduate of Tulane University with a bachelor of arts in political science; she received a master of social work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. Caroline has practiced social work on several of the units on Sheppard Pratt's Towson campus including geriatrics, psychotic disorders, adult crisis stabilization, and co-occurring disorders. Caroline facilitates the Sheppard Pratt Social Work Internship Program and is a member of both the National Association of Social Workers and The Society of Social Work Leaders in Healthcare, where she participates on the Product and Practices Resource Committee. Caroline is a board-approved clinical supervisor by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners.
Carrie Etheridge, MSW, LCSW-C received her Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2005. Upon graduating, she served as a child and adolescent therapist at Kennedy Krieger High School for six years, and then at the Walter P. Carter Carruthers Clinic for three years. After leaving the Carruthers Clinic, Carrie joined the Sheppard Pratt team as a social worker at the Forbush Preschool Program. Carrie has served as a social worker on the psychotic disorders unit at the Towson campus for the past three years.
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, the Retreat
Celia Foster, MD is a psychiatrist at The Retreat by Sheppard Pratt. She earned her bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College, followed by a medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine, where she graduated cum laude and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Foster completed her residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she also served as chief resident. She has additional training in interpersonal psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the William Alanson White Institute and completed the psychoanalytic fellowship at the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.
Job Titles:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Chad Lennon, MD is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt's Baltimore/Washington Campus. He is board certified in neurology and child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Lennon received his bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall College, attended a post-baccalaureate program at CUNY City College, and earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine. He completed the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Residency Program, followed by a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program at Mt. Sinai Elmhurst Hospital. Dr. Lennon was psychiatry chief resident at Adventist Behavioral Healthcare-Shady Grove Medical Center and then worked as lead psychiatrist on the adolescent unit. Dr. Lennon has won a number of academic excellence awards including the Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center Physician RISES Individual Award and the Franklin & Marshall College Sydney N. Bridgett '51 Award. He is a member of a number of professional societies including Black Psychiatrists of America, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry, and Maryland Psychiatric Society. He is also widely published, has authored numerous blogs, and participated in many speaking engagements. Dr. Lennon's presentations have included topics such as suicide, anxiety, and lectures series for both medical students and residents, respectively. His blogs have included topics such as the stigma of mental illness in the African American community, and managing stress, trauma, and anxiety in children and adolescents. Dr. Lennon has also participated in medical mission work.
Job Titles:
- Senior Child & Adolescent Psychologist
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, the Retreat
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, the Retreat
Job Titles:
- Mental Health Therapist, Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Adult Neuropsychiatry Unit Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Center for Autism
Job Titles:
- Chief of Medical Staff Medical Director, Outpatient Services
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, GBMC Emergency Psychiatry Services
Job Titles:
- Director of Clinical Psychology
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Service Chief of the Adolescent Female Unit
- Service Chief, Adolescent Female Unit
Dr. Adefolake Akinsanya is the service chief of the Adolescent Female Unit. She completed her fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, where she served as chief fellow. Dr. Akinsanya completed her residency at Case Western Reserve University MetroHealth Program. She earned her MD at Windsor University School of Medicine. Dr. Akinsanya is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Nigerian American Psychiatrists Association.
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist
- Member of the American Medical Association
- Service Chief, Adolescent Mood Disorders Unit
Dr. Afifa Adiba is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and is service chief of the adolescent mood disorders unit at Sheppard Pratt. She completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine. During fellowship, she was the Vice President of Connecticut State Medical Society Resident Fellow Section and co-chair of Diversity and Inclusion Council for Yale Resident Fellow Senate. She completed her Adult Psychiatry Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and served as a chief resident of the UMMC Adult Psychiatry Program. She was awarded Doctor of Distinction from Mississippi State Medical Association for outstanding leadership and clinical excellence.
Dr. Adiba is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and American Psychiatric Association (APA). She is currently serving on the AMA International Medical Graducates (IMG) Governing Council. Previously, Dr. Adiba was awarded the APA Resident Recognition Award, and received AACAP's Stubblefied Award and served as AACAP representative to AMA Residents & Fellow Section. Dr. Adiba also served as the SAMSHA-AACAP fellow, focusing on increased accessibility of care in the post pandemic era. She is the current Chair of Early Career Psychiatrists at the Maryland Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. Ameya Amritwar is an adult psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt specializing in addiction psychiatry; he also serves as associate service chief of ECT. Dr. Amritwar completed his residency training at St. Elizabeths Hospital, and completed a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at Kansas University Medical Center. He earned his MBBS from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.
Job Titles:
- Associate Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Services at Sheppard Pratt Health System
- Associate Medical Director, Child and Adolescent Services
Dr. Anis Merson is the associate medical director of child and adolescent services at Sheppard Pratt Health System.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Pharmacist at Sheppard Pratt Health System
Dr. Ann Marie Ruhe is a clinical pharmacist at Sheppard Pratt Health System. Dr. Ruhe collaborates in the management of medication regimens for patients with psychiatric diagnoses on the child and adolescent inpatient service line, which includes a 16-bed child unit, a 20-bed male adolescent unit, a 20-bed female adolescent unit, and a 14-bed neuropsychiatric unit. She also leads a weekly medication education group for patients on the adolescent female unit as well as a guardian-focused medication education group for the entire child and adolescent service line. In addition to her patient care roles, Dr. Ruhe contributes to the Sheppard Pratt Pharmacy Phacts newsletter and serves on both the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Infection Control Committee. Dr. Ruhe serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and peer reviewer for both the Annals of Pharmacotherapy and the Mental Health Clinician. She will begin her term on the Editorial Board of the Mental Health Clinician in April 2019.
Dr. Ruhe earned her Doctor of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and PGY2 psychiatric pharmacy residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Ruhe has also completed the academician preparedness program at the Medical University of South Carolina as well as the teaching certificate program at the University of Cincinnati. She is licensed to practice pharmacy in Maryland, South Carolina, and Ohio and is a board certified psychiatric pharmacist.
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist at the Retreat
Dr. Benjamin Ehrenreich is a psychiatrist at The Retreat, Sheppard Pratt's premier, private pay residential program. Dr. Ehrenreich completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt residency program, and completed a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He earned his MD at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Dr. Ehrenreich is a recipient of the Dr. Eugene Brody Award for Excellence in Psychotherapy, the Dr. Eugene Brody Award for Excellence in Community Psychiatry, and the Dr. Russell Monroe Award for Excellence in Research. He is board certified in psychiatry and has a buprenorphine waiver.
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Sheppard Pratt Outpatient Clinics Schools
Dr. Bimla Rai is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Sheppard Pratt's outpatient clinics and schools. Dr. Rai completed her fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and completed her residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She earned her MD at Xian Jiao ‘tong University College of Medicine. Dr. Rai is board certified in psychiatry.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director of Adult Services
Dr. Borglarka Szabo is the medical director of adult services at Sheppard Pratt's flagship campus in Towson, Md. Prior to her role as medical director, she served as the service chief of Sheppard Pratt's Sullivan Day Hospital and as an attending psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt's hospital in Towson. Dr. Szabo earned her MD at Penn State University College of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency at Johns Hopkins University. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Psychotic Disorders Unit
Job Titles:
- Director of Medical Education
Job Titles:
- Mental Health Therapist, Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, the Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics
Job Titles:
- Director of Psychology, Research, and Education
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, Adult Inpatient Unit
Job Titles:
- Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hospitals
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Job Titles:
- Mental Health Therapist, Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, the Retreat
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit
Job Titles:
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick
Job Titles:
- Director of Pharmacy, Hospitals
Job Titles:
- Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Sheppard Pratt Community Services
Job Titles:
- Chief of Government Relations
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Social Work
Job Titles:
- Chief Strategy Officer
- Senior Vice President
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick
Job Titles:
- Director, the Center for OCD and Anxiety
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Adult Unit
Job Titles:
- Therapist, Outpatient Mental Health Center - Frederick
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, Schools and Residential Treatment Centers
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Safe Passage Center
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Regional Director, Sheppard Pratt School
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Senior Vice President
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, Baltimore / Washington Campus Service Chief, Harbor Unit
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Young Adult Unit ( Baltimore / Washington Campus ) Service Chief, Psychiatric Urgent Care ( Baltimore / Washington Campus and Towson Campus )
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, Outpatient Mental Health Center
Job Titles:
- Chief of Medical Staff Medical Director, Geriatric Services
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Child and Adolescent Day Hospital
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Job Titles:
- Medical Director, the Retreat
Job Titles:
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Young Adult Unit
Job Titles:
- Inpatient Service Line Chief - Child Unit
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Collaborative Care at GBMC
Job Titles:
- Associate Chief Medical Information Officer
Associate Chief Medical Information Officer; Director, Point-of-Care Research & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Adolescent Male Unit
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, the Retreat
Job Titles:
- Chief Science Officer, Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Psychiatrist, the Retreat
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit
Job Titles:
- Associate Service Chief, Sheppard Pratt School and Residential Treatment Center
Job Titles:
- Psychologist, the Retreat by Sheppard Pratt Clinical Coordinator, the Center for Eating Disorders
Job Titles:
- Chief Medical Officer
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Child & Adolescent Weekend Attending Staff / Specialties: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, Pediatric Mood Disorders, Pediatric Trauma - Related Disorders
Job Titles:
- Senior Neuropsychiatrist, Research and Education Stulman Scholar, Clinical Neuropsychiatry / Specialties: Neuropsychiatry, Neuroscience, Adult Psychiatry
Job Titles:
- Interim Service Chief, Trauma Disorders
Job Titles:
- Service Chief, Adult Co - Occurring Disorders Unit