Meet Our Team
Our compassionate, expert staff members, many of whom are also in long-term recovery, are chosen for their ability to provide you with the most advanced care possible and their dedication to delivering an extraordinary treatment experience. We look forward to welcoming you.
Maryann Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Author, and Speaker with over 35 years' Experience
Karen Spedowfski, PhD
Executive Clinical Director & Clinical Psychologist with 20 Years' Experience
Steven L. Batki, MD
Primary Addiction Psychiatrist with 30 Years' Expertise in Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine
Helen “Py” Driscoll, MD
Primary Physician with 20 Years' Experience in Internal & Addiction Medicine
David Smith, MD
Addiction Medicine Physician with More Than 45 Years of Experience Treating Addiction
Bradley Zicherman, MD
Consulting Psychiatrist Specializing in Child & Adolescent, Addiction, & Forensic Psychiatry
Raghu Appasani, MD
Integrative & Addiction Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist, & Clinical Professor at UCSF & Mount Sinai NY
Laura Natta, PhD
Director of Neuropsychological Assessment with 20 Years of Experience in Clinical Neuropsychology, Trauma, & Addiction
Brian Seo, PhD
Neuropsychological Assessment Consultant & Licensed Clinical Psychologist Specializing in Addiction, Mood Disorders, & Personality Disorders
Deborah Bowman DNP, PhD, NP, CARN-AP, FIAAN
Nurse Practitioner
Lisa Corsello, SEP
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Jeffrey Farber, MSW, LCSW
Primary Therapist
Chandra Shanmugavel, LPCC
Primary Therapist
Jaq French, AMFT, APCC
Primary Therapist
Tarik Boukhari
Operations Director
Thomas Peña
Program Manager
Monika Lopez, LVN
Nurse Manager
Nico Fitzgerald, CTAS
Experiential Program Manager
Sandra Sims
Director of Alumni Services
Darren Davis
Client Care Coordinator
Stephen Cook
Executive Chef
Harmony Malone
Director of Admissions
Jeff Rocco
Senior Admissions Advisor
Employee Recognition
At Alta Mira, we know that client interactions with staff highly influence the results of our program. From the moment you arrive at Alta Mira, our team works to make sure you feel welcome, safe, respected, and comfortable. Because we understand just how important our staff is to the client’s experience at Alta Mira, we are highly selective in choosing team members. Each staff member is chosen based on their ability to provide clients with the most advanced care possible, while ensuring clients feel secure and understood. Many members of our staff are also in long-term recovery and have first-hand experience as clients in treatment. The perspectives of staff who have “been there” are highly valued, because they help increase understanding and empathy across our whole team. Alta Mira’s Luminary Excellence Award Program (LEAP) gives Alta Mira the opportunity to recognize the difference our employees make every day to fulfill our mission of bringing hope and recovery to the people we serve.
Congratulations to our Employee of the Year 2023, Tristan Hvid, Residential Support Staff II. Thank you, Tristan for your dedication to all those we serve!
“Tristan is the definition of integrity. He treats everyone equally and practices what he preaches. The clients adore that he ensures all of the rules are being followed as well as his tenacity. He has a great and kind heart.” – His teammates
