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Dr. Eric Kaplan, M.D.
Medical Director
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Eric Kaplan, M.D. graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1986. He completed a residency in Psychiatry at the University of South Florida of Medicine in 1990. Dr. Kaplan was Chief Resident at USF in the Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Kaplan is a member of the Affiliate Faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of South Florida.
Dr. Kaplan is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Board of Forensic Medicine, and the American Board of Disability Analysts.
He has a private practice in Lutz, Florida where he treats patients who suffer from a variety of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders. In addition, Dr. Kaplan provides psychiatric consultation at NeuLifeRehab (residential rehabilitation facility specializing in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries). Previously, Dr. Kaplan was the Medical Director of Charter Hospital of Pasco, a mental health inpatient hospital.
Dr. Kaplan is the Chief Corporate Medical Officer for Lakeview Health, a company specializing in Addiction Residential and Outpatient Treatment.
He is a Forensic Psychiatrist providing the courts with expert opinions regarding a wide variety of criminal and civil issues.
Dr. Kaplan has participated in phase 3 and phase 4 research studies regarding psychiatric medications. He has published various articles in peer-reviewed journals. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Kaplan has lectured over 100,000 medical professionals, nationally and internationally.
Dr. Kaplan has consulted with various health and disability insurance companies during the past 25 years providing services including peer review, utilization review and quality of care issues. Dr. Kaplan was the Medical Director of Mental Health Services at Saint Augustine Health Care from 1995 to 2000, the first Medicaid HMO to provide carved-in Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Kaplan is currently a consultant for Consolidated Health Plans.
Credentials
University of Miami School of Medicine
University of South Florida School of Medicine
• Field Of Study Psychiatry
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Andrea McShane, MBA, MSW
Chief Operating Officer
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Andrea has worked in the Behavioral Health field since 2007 when she served as a Social Worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Andrea worked with families who were suffering from mental health and substance use disorders, domestic violence, environmental hazards, and neglect.
Relocating to Florida in 2009, Andrea joined the Florida Department of Children and Families as a Child Protective Investigator. Over the next 7 years, Andrea worked in various roles in the Child Welfare system, serving as a Dependency Case Manager, Mental Health Targeted Case Manager, Family Services Coordinator, and Parenting Instructor. In 2014, Andrea joined Centene Corporation as a Trainer II for the Child Welfare Specialty Plan offered by Sunshine Health. In this role, Andrea provided trainings on various Behavioral Health topics to Child Welfare Stakeholders and at conferences such as the Florida NASW (National Association of Social Workers) annual conference.
While working in these multiple Behavioral Health settings, Andrea earned her Master of Social Work degree and completed two internships: one at an inpatient hospice facility and the other with a primary substance use residential program. Andrea worked with the patients and families involved in the programs and provided treatment and support for their respective challenges.
In 2017, Andrea was offered a full, merit-based scholarship for the full-time, accelerated, Master of Business Administration program at the University of Florida. After earning her MBA in 2018, she joined the CEO Development Program with Universal Health Services, Inc. In this role, she served as the COO for free-standing, psychiatric hospitals. She helped open a brand-new 74-bed psychiatric hospital, Palm Point Behavioral Health, in Titusville, Florida, and oversaw multiple departments. After working with Palm Point for two years, Andrea moved to Central Florida Behavioral Hospital, a large psychiatric hospital in Orlando, Florida that offers inpatient, outpatient, and ECT services. Andrea joined Harmony Hills in August of 2021.
Credentials
Stonehill College in Massachusetts, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and Sociology
Florida State University, Master of Social Work (MSW)
University of Florida, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
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Melinda Marino LCSW ACHP-SW, QS
Clinical Director
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Bio Coming Soon
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Cassie Newlun
Director of Nursing
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Cassie Newlun is a Board Certified Registered Nurse. Cassie currently works as the Director of Nursing with Harmony Hills Behavioral Health in Altoona Florida. Cassie directs a diverse team of experienced, and attentive LPNs RNs and NPs, to follow Harmony Hills Behavioral Health policies and procedures and uphold the team’s Vision, Mission, and Core Values ensuring Harmony Hill’s guests receive the highest quality care. Cassie and her team of Nurses are required to be not only compassionate and helpful but also capable of making difficult and emergent decisions and always administer the right medical care to our guests.
God, Family, Loyalty, Intelligence, and Humanity are some of Cassie’s core values that provide the groundwork for her actions and decisions. Cassie believes in the effective evidence-based treatment that is offered at Harmony Hills Behavioral Health. Cassie knows that by combining a team of Certified Clinicians, Nurses, and Nurse Practitioners, along with a triple Board Certified Psychiatrist, the guests at Harmony Hills are receiving the highest possible level of quality care. Cassie feels focusing on individual care while utilizing today’s technology of Genesight DNA profiling, has accelerated guest healing and recovery and added to their success. Cassie’s goals are to help mend families back together by helping their loved ones heal and find the road to recovery.
Cassie has 10 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and has spent over 6 years gaining knowledge and experience by cross-training to work in Medical, Surgical, Cardiovascular, Skilled, Wound Care, Outpatient, ICU and ED, and Psychiatric Nursing. Cassie has spent the last 4 years working in Substance Abuse and Mental Health which she has strived to make her permanent and primary focus.
Cassie’s certifications are in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Cassie is also a member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses and is currently working on her SANE (sexual assault nurse examiners) certification.
Cassie is a 2010 graduate of West Virginia Northern Community College in West Virginia where she graduated with honors holding an Associate’s Degree in the Applied Science of Nursing.
Credentials
West Virginia Northern Community College
• Degree Name Associate’s Degree
• Field Of Study Applied Science of Nursing
Certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support
A Member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses and is Currently Working on Her SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) Certification
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Summer Sievert, ARNP
Nurse Practitioner
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Summer Sievert is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who works with mental health and addictions. My goal is to help others grow from their struggles, heal from their pain, and overcome barriers that prevent them from reaching their fullest potential through medication, supplementation, and psychotherapy. Every person has unique struggles and I strive to individualize an approach for the most successful outcome for the future.
Summer has worked in forensics and mental health for over 10 yrs educating, training, and assisting sexual assault and mental health patients and representing patients as an expert witness in legal proceedings. Most recently serving as the Vice President of the International Association of Forensic Nursing and seeking certification in Integrative Mental Health Medicine. Summer is also board certified as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Summer was the valedictorian of her nursing class at Breckinridge School of Nursing. She graduated from Western Governors University with a Master’s in Nursing Education degree with high honors and from Regis College with her post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with high honors.
Credentials
Western Governors University
• Degree Name Master’s Degree
• Field Of Study Nursing Education
Regis College
• Degree Name Post-Master’s Degree
• Field Of Study Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Board Certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
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Julia Veach CAC, CRSS, CRRA
Sr. Admissions Manager
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Bio Coming Soon
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Rachelle Taylor
Business Office Manager
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Rachelle is a Business Office Manager who works with the Executive Director and assists with day to day operations.
Rachelle believes anyone can make a difference in someone else’s life and that being a part of someone getting their life back is very rewarding.
Rachelle has worked in the medical field for over 20 years and specifically the Behavioral Health field for 7 of those years.
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Stephen Sirmones
Safety and Engagement Department Manager
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Mr. Sirmones has 26 years of correctional experience with the Florida Department of Corrections. During his career, he advanced through the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, and Assistant Warden, prior to his retirement in 2008. He served as a Deputy Sheriff for Union County, and a Police Officer for Groveland and The Town of Oakland for six years collectively. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army Reserve at the rank of E-4 after six years of loyal and dedicated service.
Mr. Sirmones has a wealth of training, knowledge, and experience through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to include Basic Recruit Training, Emergency Response Training, FEMA Emergency Management Training, and a host of other professional training.
Mr. Sirmones served as the Behavioral Health Technician Supervisor at Harmony Hills. He also served as Assistant Facility Program Director at Bridges of America and the Quality Assurance Officer with Seminole County Sheriff Office, Juvenile Justice Department.
His professional memberships have included Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency, National Associations of Blacks in Criminal Justice, and the Correctional Peace Officer Foundation.
Mr. Sirmones is dedicated to ensuring a safe and holistic environment for guests to successfully heal and engage in treatment.
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