The Recovery Village Editorial Team

Amanda Agazio received her Bachelor’s in Biology and Secondary Science Education from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her love of research began in the Rocky Mountains where she completed field work to study mountain goat behavior and high alpine black fly population dynamics. Amanda is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the... Read More

Rob Alston has traveled around Australia, Japan, Europe, and America as a writer and editor for industries including personal wellness and recovery.

With over 11 years experience in academic, hospital, and ambulatory pharmacy, Frances has a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry, assisting physicians with the development of pathways or protocols to improve clinical practice. She interprets evidence-based literature... Read More

Amy Armstrong is a licensed addiction counselor in the state of Colorado. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. Amy went on to complete her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. A National Certified Counselor (NCC) trained in... Read More

Nicole Arzt is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working in Southern California. She has been privileged to provide therapeutic services for a wide variety of individuals, couples and families. Her clinical emphasis lies in working with females with substance use, eating disorders, and complex trauma. A passionate writer, she has authored... Read More

Born in North Texas and raised in North Eastern Pennsylvania, Robert Ashford devotes his time to behavioral health recovery and social justice advocacy. Robert most recently served as the National Program Director for Young People in Recovery.

Taylor Atwater manages content & daily digital communications across six websites. Taylor also manages freelance talent and the internship program including a team of freelancers with specializations in mental and behavioral health. Her efforts help The Recovery Village produce hundreds of pieces of content monthly for its audiences.

Dr. Tiffany L. Bell is a Central Ohio trained physician in Psychiatry. She is currently practicing Addiction and General Psychiatry in Columbus, OH. She has a background in working with a multitude of mental illnesses and substance dependencies.  Dr. Bell has worked and trained in broad and diverse settings that include Community Mental... Read More

Samuel Bennett is a registered nurse who specializes in the fields of addiction, dual diagnosis and psychiatric patient care. He earned his Associate of Science from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, his Bachelor of Science in nursing from Mercy College of Ohio, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Nursing Practice with a specialty in executive nurse administration... Read More

As an avid traveler, yogi & confessed self-help junkie, Carly writes about her adventures in life & sobriety on www.MiraclesAreBrewing.com where she offers inspirational concepts for enlightenment, spirituality, and embracing epicness.

Christina is a mud runner, dog lover, and amateur photographer located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She also runs her own blog, My Life in Wonderland, where she writes about newlywed life, fitness, mental health, and her life as a whole. Christina is obsessed with Harry Potter, always has a collection of lip balm in her purse, and never passes up an... Read More

I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Bastyr University in Seattle in 2003. The focus of my education and training was in marriage and family therapy. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor with a license through the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. Prior to getting my Master’s... Read More

Melissa Browning oversees Orlando Recovery Center’s nurses and behavioral health technicians while ensuring state and federal compliance for quality patient care. As an experienced registered nurse and leader, Melissa has spent more than 14 years helping people heal in a wide range of settings, including emergency rooms, medical intensive care... Read More

Bonnie Bullock received a bachelor’s in History from Tulane University with an additional major in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2012. She is currently a 5th year PhD student in the Cancer Biology program at the University of Colorado... Read More

“There is no greater honor on earth than to have the opportunity to positively influence the life of someone less fortunate.” A transformational servant leader, Michael has decades of experience at every level of the residential continuum, working with disadvantaged, disabled and disenfranchised youth. Prior to joining the Next Generation... Read More

Mike Candelaria is a 30-year veteran of the magazine industry in Central Florida, having served as a writer and editor for numerous publications. Those publications range from city/regional and business magazines to travel/leisure and sports magazines. Formerly, he was the editor of Orlando magazine and the 1996 president of the Florida Magazine... Read More

Christina Caplinger is a licensed pharmacist in both Colorado and Idaho and is also a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist. She completed a fellowship program in infectious disease pharmacy, in which her research interests included antimicrobial stewardship and appropriate antimicrobial prescribing, resulting in several publications in... Read More

With over a decade of editing experience, Tom is a content specialist for Advanced Recovery Systems, where he edits the great research articles, news releases and blog posts that are produced every day. Working with such a passionate team of dedicated writers inspires Tom to ensure that the quality of the content remains top-notch so that as... Read More

Daron Christopher is an experienced speechwriter, copywriter and communications consultant based in Washington, DC. He brings a wealth of experience in ghost writing and editing for a wide range of clients, including entrepreneurs and senior government officials. He specializes in helping authors ensure that their authentic voice is... Read More

Laura Clarke is the Senior Vice President of Operations for Advanced Recovery Systems. Laura is responsible for overseeing the successful management of each ARS treatment facility and recovery residence, always prioritizing quality patient care, above all else. Laura has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has worked with... Read More

Paula H. Cookson is a psychotherapist and freelance writer who lives and works in midcoast Maine. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring new areas for camping and beachcombing during the summer months. With over a decade of experience in the field of mental health, she is always amazed at the strength, beauty, and resilience... Read More

Dr. Candace Crowley received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and her Ph.D. in Immunology from UC Davis, where her thesis focused on immune modulation in childhood asthma.  Candace has 12+ years in the life sciences sector, including experience writing and editing for both scientific and lay audiences. When she is not... Read More

Dr. Sarah Dash is a postdoctoral research fellow based in Toronto. Sarah completed her PhD in Nutritional Psychiatry at the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University in 2017 and her research interests include public health, lifestyle medicine, noncommunicable disease prevention, and mental health.

As the content manager at Advanced Recovery Systems, Renée Deveney is passionate about helping people struggling with substance use disorder. She leads a team of dedicated writers who provide insightful material for individuals seeking treatment. With a family history of addiction, Renée is committed to opening up a proactive dialogue about... Read More

Dr. Drury has been involved in the care and treatment of children, adolescents and adults with mental health and substance abuse issues for over 30 years as a psychiatric attendant, registered nurse, and psychiatrist. He is actively involved in the care and treatment of his patients and utilizes evidence-based practices and treatments that... Read More

Brooke Dulka is a neuroscientist and freelance science/medical writer. Her primary areas of research are stress and memory. She earned her Ph.D. in biological psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2018.

Artur graduated from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2014 with a doctor of pharmacy degree. In addition to learning about various medications, Artur took pathophysiology and several different therapeutics courses, which helped him understand disease states and how to select the proper medications for a disease. Artur enjoys educating people about disease states and... Read More

Jonathan Eisenberg oversees acquisitions, development and marketing for ARS. Prior to joining ARS in April 2014, Jonathan worked in Credit Suisse’s Mergers and Acquisitions departments across a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology and consumer / retail. Representative transactions included Neiman Marcus’ sale from TPG and Warburg Pincus to Ares... Read More

Mitchell Eisenberg, MD co-founded Sheridan Healthcare in 1994. He has served on the board of directors since inception and as its chairman and CEO from 1994 to November 2012. From November 2012 until November 2013 he served as its executive chairman and then as a director until the completion of the merger of Sheridan into AmSurg in July 2014. During his tenure as chairman... Read More

With over 20 years of experience working with clients living with mental health and substance use disorders, Todd Feasel brings a wealth of experience to The Recovery Village Columbus. As the clinical director, Todd leads and supervises a team of counselors who provide group, individual and family counseling, as well as music and recreation... Read More

As the director of admissions at Next Generation Village, Brandi Filppula values the opportunity to develop relationships with and change the lives of patients and families. Brandi spent 10 years as a hospital-based nurse focusing on critical care in emergency departments. Now in recovery from her own struggle with addiction, Brandi is... Read More

Robert Fishman is the vice president of admissions at Advanced Recovery Systems, a position he has held since May of 2013. Robert prioritizes customer service by ensuring a seamless experience for patients, insurance providers and other partners. Before joining the ARS team, he was the admissions director for The Recovery Place. Robert has been in recovery for 10 years,... Read More

Rob is a writer, producer, and content specialist based out of Austin, Texas who has been creating digital content in nearly every form imaginable for the past 9 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 2009.

Lara Frazier is a freelance writer and influencer living in the Tampa Bay area. She is a fierce advocate for addiction recovery and shares her own story of sobriety through her blog, A Story of Healing.

Johanna Galyen is a Registered Nurse and is passionate about helping others increase their understanding of their medical illnesses. She began working as a CNA in college and then received a B.S. in Nursing. Johanna has obtained a Compact RN license with 17 years of experience in the medical field. She has worked in Neuro-Trauma Med-Surg,... Read More

Dana Giblock, LCSW, has led an energetic and impactful career in social work for nearly 20 years. A University of Tampa (BS) graduate, Dana’s devotion to helping people strengthened as she completed her master’s degree in social work (MSW) at Barry University, achieving LCSW status.

Lewis Gold, MD Co-Founded Sheridan Healthcare in 1994 and was Executive Vice Chairman and on the board of directors of Sheridan Healthcare. Dr. Gold served on the board of directors since the company’s inception and was instrumental in their multiple financial transactions, including an IPO in 1995 and four private equity sales since 1994. Dr. Gold was Executive Vice... Read More

Jessie Gould lives in Phoenix, Arizona and writes regularly at various websites, news publications and blogs.

Michael R. Griggs is the senior house manager at Next Step Village. Mr. Griggs assists the program manager and is responsible for overseeing daily operations at Next Step Village Maitland and support of Next Step Village Eustis. He is a graduate of The Recovery Village in Umatilla and Next Step Village Eustis. Mr. Griggs offers comprehensive... Read More

Denise-Marie Griswold is a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist. She earned her Master’s Degree in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling from East Carolina University in 2014. She has worked primarily in a residential, inpatient setting treating patients with substance use and co-occurring disorders. She lives in Wilmington, NC—recently... Read More

Ceta Gugliemotto is currently a Clinician at The Recovery Village Columbus and a contributor at The Recovery Village.

Dr. Nicolas Gutierrez has a PhD in Cellular Biology and Physiology. He is an experienced medical writer and is fluent in English, Spanish and French.

Stephanie Hairston received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English from Pomona College and her Master of Social Work degree from New York University. She spent several years in the field of clinical social work before transitioning into professional writing and editing. As a social worker, she provided group and individual therapy,... Read More

Lindsey Hall is an author contributing to The Recovery Village with writing on topics related to eating disorders and mental, behavioral health issues.

Marisa Hall is the nursing director at the IAFF Center of Excellence, where she oversees patient care and staffing while serving as the facility risk manager. As a nurse, Marisa listens empathically, acts with compassion and serves with purpose. As a leader, she ensures that each member of her team goes above and beyond to connect, advocate and... Read More

Aleishia Harris-Arnold is a know-it-all who is happiest when she’s teaching others. She has been studying and teaching science since 1998.

Krisi Herron is an Adjunct Psychology Professor, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a Freelance and Ghost Writer who contributes to several mental health blogs. Krisi obtained her Master of Arts degree in Psychology through Texas A&M University in Commerce and has worked in the Mental Health industry for 11 years.  Her work with Texas... Read More

Bryan Hindin is a Florida State University alumni and current resident of Tallahassee, Florida. Bryan is law clerk with years of experience working in personal injury, criminal defense, and employment law firms. In his professional background, Bryan has worked intimately with addiction treatment centers like The Recovery Village, to assist clients... Read More

Callie Hoebel is a Research Associate at The Reilly Group, with a focus in Neuroscience. Ms. Hoebel is a proud graduate of San Diego State University, where she has a B.A in Psychology and an M.A in Neuropsychology.

Dr. Timothy Huckaby, medical director for Orlando Recovery Center, is a clinical expert, and a triple board-certified physician in pain medicine, addiction medicine and anesthesiology. A graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Dr. Huckaby completed his residency in anesthesiology at LSU and received additional training at Brigham and Women’s, Harvard... Read More

Megan Hull is a content specialist who edits, writes and ideates content to help people find recovery. As a Florida born-and-raised writer with a family history of addiction, Megan is driven by her desire to connect people to treatment that works. As a writer and editor for The Recovery Village, she has covered various aspects of addiction... Read More

Michael Hunter has been helping those struggling with addiction for over twenty years. In addition to providing direct client care, he has worked in executive roles across a variety of health care settings. He has helped integrate behavioral health care into primary medical care facilities, served as C.O.O. for an electronic health records company, and collaborated with... Read More

Sherice Jacob is a copywriter with over 20 years of experience working within the medical, marketing, financial and technology industries. She speaks three languages and enjoys being out in nature, playing the electric guitar and traveling. She’s also the author of Blog Prompts : 101 Creative Topics That Attract Customers, Invite... Read More

Jenni Jacobsen is a freelance writer living in Ohio. She has seven years of experience working in the social work field, including work with clients with both mental health and addiction-related diagnoses. She has a master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University and is in pursuit of a doctoral degree in psychology. She has... Read More

Nate is a practicing clinical pharmacist specializing in managed care and drug information. He has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Doctor of Pharmacy degree, both from the University of Wisconsin. He enjoys medical writing and education and has developed several accredited continuing education courses for pharmacists.

Dr. Denise Josey has dedicated her career to social justice, studying mental health and chronic pain and mitigating the opioid crisis in suburban and urban areas. She holds board certifications in Public Health and Preventative Medicine and Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Katz graduated with her medical degree from the Kishinev Medical University in the Republic of Moldova, where she was recognized for academic excellence. She then completed a residency program at the University of Louisville in Psychiatry. Dr. Katz has earned numerous awards including San Diego Top Doc and Psychiatrist of the Year. She is board... Read More

Hi! I’m Shannon. I have worked in the marketing industry for 5+ years and am passionate about all things relating to content marketing, creativity, and making the world a more connected place. I am increasingly excited about the ways technology and communication are intersecting in the 21st century and hope to use my voice to educate, inform,... Read More

Jason Kimbel is a resident doctor of internal medicine and hold a Masters of Health Administration from UAMS – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. For nearly two decades he has pursued a path of scientific and medical education. Dr. Kimbel has a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Chemistry from Florida State University as well as... Read More

Erika Krull has a master’s degree in mental health counseling and has been a freelance writer since 2006. She is a healthcare writer specializing in mental health content for professional training modules, blogs, and websites. Her writing has been featured on Mindcology.com and PsychCentral.com.

Originally from Boston, MA, Julie is a well-rounded healthcare professional with nearly 20 years of experience as a registered nurse. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Massachusetts. After graduating, she enrolled in a Master of Science and Master of Business Administration dual degree program at Grand Canyon University, where she... Read More

Kimberly Langdon M.D. is a retired University-trained obstetrician/gynecologist with 19-years of clinical experience. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and then completed her OB/GYN residency program at The Ohio State University Medical Center. She was awarded first-place for her senior research project and placed in... Read More

Megan is a writer in Recovery with a passion for healing others through the power of word. She believes in speaking her truth, being loud and proud about her story, and she hopes to inspire others to share theirs through her website, Healing Hopefuls. She is based out of Jacksonville, FL, but enjoys connecting with people from all over the... Read More

Liz Lazzara is a freelance writer and editor living and working in Boston, MA. She is working on three large projects:

Beth is a contributing author for The Recovery Village, a newspaper reporter and a graphic designer from Minnesota. Beth regularly writes about the realities of getting sober young. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and like her blog for updates.

Dr. Heidi Lightfoot, MD is an anesthesiologist in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Alongside her clinical work, she has an interest in medical writing and clinical research.

Kathleen is a licensed pharmacist in New Jersey. She earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Rutgers University. She currently works in the retail setting as a pharmacist and also has experience as an independent consultant pharmacist for skilled nursing facilities. She is passionate about ensuring that her patients are empowered with knowledge and information regarding the... Read More

Bryan is a registered pharmacist and currently serves as the founder and chief consultant pharmacist at Kepney Pharmacy Services, a pharmacy consulting firm providing clinical services to patients all over Texas. He is also an adjunct clinical instructor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Maureen is an academic researcher with a passion for science communication. She has a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, where she majored in Molecular Genetics and minored in English. She has worked in multiple labs, studying the genetics of cancer and is currently a PhD student at Northwestern University, where she is... Read More

Hunter Mefford is the Chief Marketing Officer of Advanced Recovery Systems, LLC, parent company to The Recovery Village. Since joining The Recovery Village in 2015, he’s overseen marketing efforts that’ve helped Advanced Recovery Systems educate millions across the globe impacted by behavioral health issues. His efforts have led to the... Read More

Dr. Miller is a board-certified adult psychiatrist specializing in psychiatry with a focus on pharmacology, addiction, public psychiatry and psychodynamic psychotherapy. She is experienced in treating people at all levels of care. She promotes a holistic approach to addiction treatment.

A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Abby Morris is a board-certified psychiatrist with diverse experience in community mental health, substance abuse, inpatient and private practice settings. She is responsible for all inpatient care, training and future operations planning. She develops the individualized plan of care that... Read More

Patrick is a nationally certified Family Nurse Practitioner who primarily works with adult patients with mental health conditions or problems with addiction. With a background in primary care, he has expertise in both acute and chronic medical conditions. Outside of mental health, he has extensive experience with cardiovascular disease and diabetes... Read More

As director of operations at Next Step Village, Troy brings more than 20 years’ experience working in the fields of mental health and substance abuse dependency. He has held positions in Juvenile Justice and Dual Diagnosis facilities as a therapist, Clinical Director, and Program Administrator. Troy displays a professional and hard work ethic... Read More

Dr. Ochsner completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, graduating Magna Cum Laude in EPO biology with a minor in biochemistry. He received a health professions scholarship through the United States Air Force and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Ochsner completed his family... Read More

Dr Helen Okoye is a highly accomplished and sought after American Public Health Physician with a Medical Degree (MD), an MBA in Healthcare Management, and a Masters in Epidemiology/Public Health. She has been featured on NBC News, Yahoo News, The Huffington Post, The Reader’s Digest Tonic by VICE, She Knows, Massage Magazine, Carol Roth, among... Read More

Eric Patterson is a licensed professional counselor in the Pittsburgh area who is dedicated to helping children, adults, and families meet their treatment goals. As contributor for the American Psychiatric Association, he helped shape the content in the DSM-5. For the last five years as a freelance writer, Eric has worked to spread reliable,... Read More

Doug Paul has been providing treatment for substance use disorders since 2007. At Orlando Recovery Center, he directs all clinical operations on-site, along with programming at Maitland Outpatient and Next Step Village, a nearby sober living community. His dedicated leadership and advocacy for mental health enable him to provide quality care for patients while fostering... Read More

Stephen Perme is the clinical director at The Recovery Village Palmer Lake. With more than 18 years of experience in treating mental health and substance use disorders, he has incorporated evidence-based techniques, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, in helping individuals of all age groups better manage their co-occurring disorders.

Writer and wellness advocate, Olivia Pennelle (Liv), is in long-term recovery. She passionately believes in a fluid and holistic approach to recovery. Her popular site—Liv’s Recovery Kitchen—is a resource for those on their journey toward health and wellness in recovery. You will find Liv featured amongst top recovery bloggers and fellow... Read More

David Petersen is an independent consultant, trained & licensed in clinical social work and addictions counseling. He assists individuals, families, agencies, and organizations through training, counseling and consultation. David’s vocation is to help restore lives in the worst of circumstances, with family wellness as a peak priority. He is... Read More

Dr. Anna Pickering has a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology. Anna works as a medical writer. She grew up in Oregon, where she developed a love for science, nature, and writing.

David A. Porter has a Master’s degree in Psychology from Sage Graduate School, 18 years clinical experience in a variety of settings including private practice, community mental health clinics, a MAT (Medication-Assisted treatment) Program and a program for the severely/chronically mentally ill. He also has 21 concurrent years of teaching... Read More

Andrew is a full-time freelance writer from Canada. His passion is making the wonder and elegance of science accessible for all readers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, an MD from Queen’s University, and has completed post-graduate studies in medicine. He practiced as a primary care physician from 2001 to 2016 in general... Read More

Gretchen Pruett is a writer and editor based out of Detroit, specializing in academic and evidence-based content. Born and raised in the economically distressed city of Flint, Michigan and from a family history of addiction and mental illness, Gretchen is aware of the daily challenges that people face and the need for treatment that so many... Read More

Dr. Pyhtila is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist based in Baltimore, Maryland with practice sites in inpatient palliative care and outpatient primary care. She is a double board certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) and a Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS). She completed both a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency and a PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy... Read More

Dr. Navin Ramchandani is a Medical Doctor/ Diagnostician and Owner of R&R Medical Centre in Barbados. He is also an Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) International instructor with the Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG), and a Paediatric BASIC (Basic Assessment and Support in Intensive Care) international... Read More

Kendrick has a Master of Science in Biotechnology and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Loyola University, Chicago. He is a research professional at a university in Chicago, and has experience in clinical research, grant application writing, SOP and protocol development, scientific writing and editing, as well as various forms of creative... Read More

Cami Renzoni is a creative writer and editor for The Recovery Village.  As an advocate for behavioral health, Cami is certified in mental health first aid and encourages people who face substance use disorders to ask for the help they deserve.

As the medical director associate for The Recovery Village Ridgefield, Daniel Roa promotes an inclusive culture within the medical community. Believing that everyone should feel welcome to access treatment, Daniel’s dedication has helped countless people throughout the Pacific Northwest achieve healthier lives and receive necessary care.

James D. Buck Runyan leads the operations of Orlando Recovery Center by developing key staff competencies and overseeing each department within the facility. He has worked as a therapist and administrator at each level of care, providing a unique understanding of client needs and development for staff. 

Jodi is a graduate of Allegheny County College and the University of Phoenix, with degrees in psychology, human service management and phlebotomy. With nearly 20 years of experience in direct patient care and operational management within the behavioral healthcare field, Jodi’s true passion lies in the treatment of addiction. She knew early in her... Read More

Yulia is a cell and molecular biologist with expertise using embryonic stem cell models, 3D human tissue models, and animal models to investigate different human disease phenotypes including impaired wound healing, cardiovascular disease, and cancer metastasis. She is interested in translational stem cell research and therapeutic applications of... Read More

Vishwani is a residency and fellowship trained adult and child psychiatrist. She attended medical school in India, and then went on to train at Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center and University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. She is passionate about writing, specifically on psychiatric topics.

Tony A. Santa has been a part of the South Florida behavioral health community for over 30 years. He is dedicated to engaging with community resources to ensure every individual receives the help they need to sustain recovery. Tony believes in holistic treatment for patients living with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. He is an advocate for effective... Read More

Patrick Santilli is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Ohio who works in private practice as well as online therapy. Patrick obtained his Master of Education degree in Counseling through Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and has worked in the mental health industry for 6 years. He has experience working in various mental... Read More

Carey Sabera is, above all, an advocate. As the executive director of The Recovery Village Ridgefield, she oversees the clinical, nursing and medical operations at one of the leading behavioral health care centers in the Pacific Northwest.

Hailey Shafir is a licensed therapist with over a decade of experience supporting the recovery of those struggling with mental illness and addiction. In her career she has developed several specialty areas of practice including behavioral addictions, anxiety disorders, trauma, and impulse control disorders. She has received additional training and... Read More

Dr. Kanika Sharma-Mittra is a medical writer with professional experience in scientific writing and editing for professional and lay audiences. She received a 5-year fellowship for pursuing her doctoral studies from the UGC, Government of India. Her doctoral research at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, India, was based on the evaluation of... Read More

Dr. Sheehy completed his BS in Molecular Biology at the University of Idaho and went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Washington in Seattle. Since graduation, He has enjoyed varied experience in the areas of psychiatric pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and has worked as a provider with 1-on-1 patient appointments to... Read More

Dawn Sheets is a registered pharmacist who works with Advanced Recovery Systems to review web pages for medical/pharmaceutical accuracy. She has been a pharmacist for over 15 years and has worked in both retail and hospital settings. She has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Toledo and doctor of pharmacy degree from the Ohio... Read More

Deep graduated with a PhD in neuroscience from Georgia State University in December 2018. He has a diverse background in biology, having transitioned from a background in cellular and molecular biology to neuroscience and integrative biology. He enjoys reading, writing and conceptualising information. He is interested in political philosophy and the impact of science on... Read More

Dr. Sippel is a diversely trained scientist with expertise in cancer biology and immunology. She received her PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus and has completed two postdocs, one at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and one at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Her... Read More

As an integral part of the leadership team at The Recovery Village Palm Beach, David Sloan draws on his experience as a clinical director for various treatment facilities since 2014. As a manager, he is responsible for leading therapists, counselors and behavioral health technicians. His experience spans different levels of care, including intensive... Read More

Tracy Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor, an Approved Clinical Supervisor, and a mental health freelance and ghostwriter.  Tracy received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling from Monmouth University.  Tracy has been in the mental... Read More

Shannon Smithwick is The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake’s nursing director. She focuses her efforts on patient welfare as she leads the nursing staff and supports the executive team. She is dedicated to improving client care through risk management and positive leadership. Before leading the team at The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake, Shannon... Read More

Matthew Sowada earned his Bachelor of Science in Genetics and Biotechnology from the University of Iowa. After completing his undergraduate degree he worked in laboratories at both the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and contributed to Little Village magazine in Iowa City. He enjoys reading philosophy and getting... Read More

As director of nursing, Julie Spang oversees Next Generation’s full team of nursing and behavioral health technicians. This work includes instituting procedures and safety guidelines that ensure clients are well cared for from intake to discharge. Six years of clinical experience working as a registered nurse and 12 years of managing a full-service contracting business... Read More

A dynamic leader and award-winning business strategist, Nanci Stockwell brings years of industry experience in behavioral health care to her role at Advanced Recovery Systems. As chief clinical and education officer, she develops and implements effective, evidence-based programs of care for several of Advanced Recovery Systems’ facilities nationwide. Her dedication to... Read More

Jonathan is a writer and loves every second of it. He graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2017 and has been writing professionally ever since. When he’s not writing, he likes to make music, draw, and read.

Davis has a bachelor of science in neuroscience, a bachelor of arts in psychology and a medical degree. His education has allowed him to gain a deep understanding of the vast complexities of the human condition, and he enjoys sharing that knowledge with others, which is why he works as a freelance writer. Davis’ next academic adventure is pursuing a masters in business... Read More

Ashley Sutphin Watkins is a professional writer and blogger. A native of North Carolina, she received her degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in psychology and journalism. For the past eight years, she has worked with clients throughout the country on writing projects. Now based in Knoxville, Tennessee, when she isn’t... Read More

Before serving at The Recovery Village Palm Beach, Angela Thackery was the director of nursing at The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake in Colorado. She is responsible for overseeing the nursing team to provide excellent care for each patient. As a nursing professional, she is committed to helping patients heal through evidence-based treatment.

Annie earned her PhD in molecular neuroscience from the University of Iowa, where she studied migraine pathophysiology. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado – Denver, where she studied immunology. Annie is passionate about promoting scientific literacy and evidence-based policy making. She also loves... Read More

Ashley has a history of working in public relations, communications, and digital publishing industries. She possesses a Bachelor’s in Human Communications and a minor in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida. Ashley has worked for The Recovery Village and Advanced Recovery Systems, LLC in a variety of roles and now... Read More

Dr. Karen Vieira has a PhD in Biomedical Sciences. Her passion is finding existing research on dietary and lifestyle changes that prevent, cure or improve various health conditions.

Emily has a BS in Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience and is currently a PhD student studying pharmacology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her thesis work focuses on the immune microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and how to combat resistance to current therapeutics. When she’s not in the lab, she can be found baking cookies,... Read More

Allison Walsh is the Vice President in charge of Business Development and Branding for Advanced Recovery Systems, LLC. the parent company of The Recovery Village. Allison is responsible for all community outreach, partnership development, continuing education, and events. In her role as VP, Business Development & Branding for The Recovery... Read More

Dr. Kevin Wandler is the Chief Medical Officer of Advanced Recovery Systems. In addition, he serves as the medical director at The Recovery Village Ridgefield and at The Recovery Village Palmer Lake. With more than 30 years of experience in addiction medicine, Dr. Wandler ensures the latest research-based techniques in addiction treatment are being... Read More

Wendy J. Weber is a pharmacist with almost 20 years of experience in acute care clinical practice, hospital pharmacy leadership, medication safety, and clinical research. Her professional background also includes community pharmacy, government contracting, and association leadership.

Dr. Hillary Webster is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor and a self-proclaimed Hormone Advocate. She helps high achievers uncover and repair their hidden hormonal and nutrient deficiencies to get their world-conquering energy back. She loves dogs, writing articles, and grey sweaters and sees patients in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Lauren Weinand is an M.D. medical writer and poet. She enjoys translating medical literature into digestible content, and perspective into poetry. The aim of her work is to advance health literacy and health advocacy.

For over a decade, Dr. Jeffrey Weinheimer has forged an impactful career in the public health field. A University of Alabama graduate, Dr. Weinheimer served in a diverse range of roles including chief resident during his hospital-based residency and lead investigator while obtaining a Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology, before... Read More

Benjamin “Caleb” Williams is a registered nurse who grew up in New Zealand and moved to the United States in 2008.

After graduating from the University of Denver, Kelsey began her career at an L.A.-based boutique PR agency where she worked with clients in the consumer goods, healthcare and live entertainment industries. In 2008, she joined the global Paul Mitchell marketing team and contributed to product launches, created copy for promotional campaigns and was... Read More

Lena Wooten, the clinical director of The Recovery Village^®Columbus, provides a compassionate approach to each patient and helps them work toward long-term recovery. Each encounter with Lena showcases her expertise in substance use disorder treatment. She empowers people to overcome personal obstacles and understands that empathy and... Read More

Sendra is a pharmacist with a specialty in drug information. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Wingate University School of Pharmacy and completed a one-year postgraduate residency in acute care pharmacy and a second postgraduate pharmacy residency in drug information. Her experience includes hospital pharmacy, drug/medical information,... Read More

Joy Youell is a writer and content developer with a background in educational research. Using sound pedagogical approaches and expert-backed methods, Joy has designed and delivered adult learning content, professional development, and company training materials for organizations.