Palo Verde Behavioral Health is the perfect destination for people who want to participate in a growing and innovative organization that prides itself on patient care and security. Learn more about our staff below.
John T. P. Liggins, MD, MS
Chief Medical Director
Specialty: General Adult Psychiatry
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine
Board Certified through ABPN
Mark J. Helms, MD
Director, Consult and Liaison Services
Specialty: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Medical School: University of Arizona
Nazia Ahmed, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Specialty: Psychiatry
Medical School: St. Matthews University
Board Certified through ABPN
Allison R. Optican, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Specialty: Adult and Adolescent Psychiatry
Residency: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University
Board Certified through ABPN
John Leipsic, MD
Associate Medical Director, Adolescent Inpatient Unit
Specialty: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Board Certified, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (C/A)
Medical School: Medical College of Virginia
Residency: St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of Boston, Adult Psychiatry
Fellowship: University of California at Davis, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Jennifer Stokes, M.Ed, LPC
Chief Executive Officer
Maria Bartlett
Director of Clinical Services
Taiwan Savage
Director of Business Development
Debra (KC) Currin
Director of Plant Operations
Jeni Whetstone
Director of Performance Improvement and Risk Management
Lynn Myers
Chief Financial Officer
Bernice Whittaker, MSN-RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Mark Pargas
Director of Human Resources
Katie Studenski
Director of the Business Office
John Boyer
Director of Pharmacy
Trisha Solano
Manager of Health Information Management
Ashley Coulter, LMSW, BHP
Director of Intake
Tom Cleereman, LCSW
Director of Outpatient Services
Sam Jaeckels, LMSW
Director of Utilization Management
Rosa Elias
Credentialing/Medical Staff