CAROLINA PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES - Key Persons
Ashton Carrigan, LISW-CP was born in Clarendon County and is a lifelong resident of South Carolina. After serving in the United States Air Force he had a career in the business world for over twenty years. In his late forties he returned to the University of South Carolina to pursue a degree in Psychology. Despite a lifelong struggle with educational systems and undiagnosed ADHD he graduated with honors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Encouraged by his success he then pursued and completed a Master's degree in Social Work at the University of South Carolina.
Mr. Carrigan joined Carolina Psychiatric Services, P.A. in 1987 and has served in numerous capacities including having been the Managing Partner. At present he maintains a limited private practice focusing on: life cycle transitions, depression and anxiety. Clients find him both compassionate and conscientious.
A man of many interests and skills, Mr. Carrigan enjoys reading, shooting, "fixing things" (or at least taking them apart), spending time with his grandchildren and sneaking up on people in his Prius. For many years he was an avid sailor, pilot, cyclist and runner but age has granted him wisdom.
Dr. Frank L. Quinn has served the Columbia community as a therapist since 1976. A native of North Carolina, his undergraduate and master's degrees were earned at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but he received his doctorate from the University of South Carolina. His early career focused on addictions and their impact on families. Dr. Quinn's groundbreaking research on electronic and convenience gambling helped end the scourge of video poker in South Carolina and earned him the Medal of Merit from the Parliament of Southeastern Australia.
Beginning in 1986 he has served as an adjunct professor at numerous local colleges, teaching undergraduate psychology at Columbia College and graduate students in the mental health counseling programs at the University of South Carolina, Webster University and Lenoir Rhyne University. He has been a guest lecturer at many universities including the University of Adelaide (Australia), the University of Edmonton (Canada) and Dalhousie University Law School (Nova Scotia).
Although widely regarded as one of the worst poets of his generation, his book Fat Dog Don't Run No Rabbit: Promoting change in overprivileged children and their families, is an essential read and received warm reviews on the John Boy and Billy Show, by noted critic Robert D. Raford. Dr. Quinn's forays into the world of poetry and literature have not yet met the acclaim that they richly deserve, but his professional writing has helped shape policies and treatment throughout the world. Two examples of this would be "The Effects of Psychoeducation Intervention with Chronic Schizophrenics" with Dr. Charles Goldman and "From Mad Joy to Misfortune: The Merger of Law and Politics in the World of Gambling" with Professor R. Randall Bridwell.
Dr. Quinn has been with Carolina Psychiatric Services since 1990 and has served as the managing partner since 2006. His therapeutic specialties include: anxiety, mood disorders, addiction and the evaluation/treatment of sex offenders.
Dr. Steele is a native of South Carolina who completed his undergraduate and medical school training at the University of South Carolina. After completing his psychiatric residency at Palmetto Health Alliance, he worked as an outpatient psychiatrist and managing partner at Midlands Psychiatry from 2007 until 2021. He is very excited to join the family at Carolina Psychiatric Services in 2022.
Dr. Steele enjoys working with a wide range of adults from college-aged students to the elderly. He provides treatment for a large spectrum of psychiatric illnesses including mood disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, and ADHD.
In addition to providing outpatient psychiatric treatment at Midlands Psychiatry, Dr. Steele currently services as the medical director for the Mental Illness Recovery Center (Mirci) of Columbia helping to serve the homeless, mentally ill population of the Midlands. Dr. Steele also served as the medical director for Newberry County Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Services from 2007 to 2018.
In his free time, Dr. Steele enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. One of his favorite activities includes hiking, especially recent adventures in Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Glacier National Parks. He also enjoys playing pool, ping pong, tennis and board games with his family. He is an avid Gamecock fan and he enjoys attending USC sporting events.
Robert J. Ornelas, M.D. is a native of Illinois, but has spent most of his adult life in the palmetto state. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, with a Bachelor's degree in Marine Science, he served as naval navigation officer on P-3 Orions tracking submarines for more than ten years. He currently is a Lt. Commander in the inactive reserves. Upon returning to South Carolina he entered the University of South Carolina School Of Medicine, graduating in 2001. While completing his residency he met Carl O. Kinard, M. D. who suggested that he join Carolina Psychiatric Services upon Dr. Kinard's retirement in 2011.
Dr. Ornelas has worked for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health both in a community mental health center and at G. Weber Bryan Psychiatric Hospital. He joined Carolina Psychiatric Services in 2011 and has been a partner since 2013. He is board certified in adult general psychiatry and certified in TMS. He is known by his patients for his punctuality and efficiency.
When not at work Dr. Ornelas is an avid runner and competes with his wife in Marathons, Half-marathons, Mud Runs, Zombie Runs, Spartan Runs and numerous random races. He also enjoys scuba diving, underwater photography and fine sports cars.
Susan W. Taylor, PMHCNS-BC is a native of Rochester, New York but has lived in South Carolina for more than thirty years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Rochester and a Master's degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mrs. Taylor is a Board Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (Psychiatric/Mental Health) and has prescriptive authority in South Carolina. She was a Clinical Nursing Instructor at the University of South Carolina before starting her private practice at Carolina Psychiatric Services in 1991.
In private practice, Mrs. Taylor has worked with hundreds of individuals, couples and families. She considers it a privilege and personally rewarding to have helped people achieve their personal goals of growth, health and happiness. She is certified as a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, but employs a variety of techniques and life experiences in her approach to therapy.
Away from the office Mrs. Taylor enjoys fitness walking, traveling and spending time with her family. She particularly cherishes the time she spends with her ten grandchildren.