Mental illness may be caused by a number of factors. Some people define mental illness as a chemical imbalance, while others believe it is due to some conflict, crisis, stress or trauma the individual is experiencing. If you, or someone you know, has some impairment in their normal thinking, emotional, or behavioral functioning, it is important that professional help is sought. Medication management, in addition to counseling, is usually the most effective treatment. Our medical team at Ponessa Behavioral Health consists of experienced psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses. Our goal is to help bring you, or someone you know, back into the swing of life.

For information about our psychiatric medical staff, see below:

Felicia F. DeJesus, MD, Medical Director

Specialties: General Psychiatry; Languages: English, Spanish
Education:

Medical School: University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Medical School, Camden, NJ
Internship: Montefiore Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Residency: Montefiore Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Fellowship: Administrative Psychiatry, Montefiore Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Maria Reis, MD

Specialties: General Psychiatry (Ages 5 and above); Languages: English
Education:

Medical School: University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Internship: Frankford Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Norristown State Hospital, Norristown, PA

David Prado, DO

Specialties: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Ages 5 - 17), General Psychiatry; Languages: English, Spanish
Education:

Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Bethany Brown, CRNP

Specialties: General Psychiatry (Age 18 and above, including 65+) ; Languages: English

Graduate Training: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN); Walden University, Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate training: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Lancaster General Hospital; Lancaster, PA

Mikaila Lugo Schlegel, CRNP

Specialties: General Psychiatry (Age 18 and above, including 65+) ; Languages: English

Graduate Training: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; Maryville University, St. Louis, MO
Undergraduate training: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Pennsylvania College of Technology; Lancaster, PA

Kristian Brady, CRNP

Specialties: General Psychiatry (Age 18 and above, including 65+) ; Languages: English

Graduate Training: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN); Walden University, Minneapolis, MN

  • Our Nurses

    • Sophia Harris, LPN, Nurse Supervisor
    • Erica Smith, LPN
    • Melissa Behney, LPN
    • Amanda Mitchell, LPN

  • Our Medical Support Staff

    • Carolyn Rineer

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