Desai Health is home to a multidisciplinary team of board-certified psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and licensed therapists dedicated to delivering high-quality, evidence-based mental healthcare. Our providers offer a broad range of services, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults. With diverse clinical expertise and a shared commitment to personalized care, our team works collaboratively to support each patient’s unique needs with professionalism, compassion, and respect.
Dr. Chirag Desai is a board-certified psychiatrist with specialized training in both general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. He also completed a fellowship in consult-liaison psychiatry, allowing him to expertly address the interface between medical and psychiatric care.
Dr. Desai has a deep interest in developmental psychiatry, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. He works closely with individuals and families to support emotional wellness across the lifespan, with a focus on evidence-based, compassionate care.
Dr. Victor Santos is a board-certified psychiatrist with training in both general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. His clinical interests include anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and mood and behavioral challenges in children, teens, and young adults.
Dr. Santos is known for his thoughtful, patient-centered approach, emphasizing trust, collaboration, and individualized care. He works closely with families to understand the unique needs of each patient and develop treatment plans that promote long-term wellbeing.
Christopher Calandro is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with two decades of experience in the mental health field. He began his career as a licensed counselor before advancing his clinical training in psychiatry, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both therapeutic and medical approaches to mental health.
Chris specializes in the evaluation and treatment of adults ages 18 to 60, offering medication management and supportive psychotherapy. His approach is thoughtful, evidence-based, and grounded in a strong commitment to patient-centered care.
Prior to joining Desai Health, Chris worked in an academic medical setting alongside Dr. Desai and continues that collaboration as part of the practice’s integrated care team.
Christina Sigmon is a psychiatric physician assistant with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions across a wide age range. She provides medication management services for patients ages 6 to 60, using a compassionate, individualized approach grounded in clinical best practices.
Before joining Desai Health, Christina held positions at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and UF Health Jacksonville Psychiatry. At UF, she worked closely with Dr. Santos and now continues that collaboration alongside both Dr. Santos and Dr. Desai as part of the Desai Health team.
Dr. Shannska Scott is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a strong commitment to patient-centered, holistic mental healthcare. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in adolescents and adults, providing comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy.
Dr. Scott brings over five years of experience from her work at UF Health Psychiatry in Jacksonville, where she developed a reputation for compassionate care and thoughtful clinical insight. She is dedicated to understanding each patient’s unique experience, including the social and family dynamics that shape mental wellness.
Dr. Erica Flamm is a Jacksonville native and dual board-certified nurse practitioner with 19 years of nursing experience. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of North Florida and completed her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification at Florida State University.
Dr. Flamm provides psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive care for children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety and ADHD, approaching care with a strong focus on open communication, collaboration, and individualized treatment planning. Her work considers the full context of each patient’s life, including family, environment, and social factors, to support long-term mental wellness.
After completing clinical training with Dr. Santos, Dr. Flamm continues to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care at Desai Health.
Dr. Lauren McAlister is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), specializing in comprehensive mental health evaluation and treatment for adolescents and adults, beginning at age six. She conducts psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy, taking a holistic approach to care that considers the full range of factors impacting mental well-being. Dr. McAlister completed clinical training with Dr. Santos, and will continue this collaboration as part of the clinical team at Desai Health.
Dr. McAlister brings over a decade of clinical experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner, including her most recent work at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville managing patients with mental health conditions. Her practice is rooted in thoughtful, patient-centered care, empowering individuals to achieve long-term wellness through evidence-based treatment.
Katherine Reagan is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner who provides comprehensive care across the lifespan. She offers psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive psychotherapy specific to each patient’s individual needs.
With more than a decade of experience in women’s health, Katherine has a particular focus on perinatal mental health. She provides specialized care for conditions such as postpartum depression, anxiety, birth trauma, OCD, PTSD, complicated grief, and other reproductive mental health concerns. Known for her compassionate, patient-centered approach, Katherine creates a healing and supportive environment where patients can pursue holistic wellness.
Ann Frecker is a licensed clinical social worker and a registered play therapist with a deep commitment to helping young people build emotional resilience and navigate life with greater stability and confidence. She specializes in the treatment of trauma, attachment disorders, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges.
Ann provides individual therapy to children and adolescents ages 8 to 17, and to young adults ages 18 to 25 who are currently enrolled as students. Her therapeutic approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and other evidence-based modalities tailored to each client’s needs and developmental stage.
Allison Dyal is a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in psychotherapy for adolescents and adults. She integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused techniques to help patients clarify their goals, manage challenges, and improve overall emotional well-being.
In addition to her clinical work, Allison has a background in parenting education, which informs her ability to support healthy communication and connection between parents and teens.
Dr. Scott brings over five years of experience from her work at UF Health Psychiatry in Jacksonville, where she developed a reputation for compassionate care and thoughtful clinical insight. She is dedicated to understanding each patient’s unique experience, including the social and family dynamics that shape mental wellness.
Dr. Teresa Tuason is a licensed psychologist and university professor with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her therapeutic approach draws from interpersonal process therapy, narrative therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on helping individuals and families create lasting change, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of well-being.
Dr. Tuason is especially skilled in family therapy and couples counseling, supporting clients through transitions, challenges, and emotional growth in a collaborative, compassionate environment.
Adria Forte is a licensed mental health counselor with more than 20 years of experience providing clinical and social services to children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and nutritional psychology, using a whole-body, whole-person approach to promote lasting behavioral health and wellness.
Adria tailors her work to each individual’s needs, considering the physical, emotional, and social factors that may contribute to mental health challenges. With children and adolescents, she collaborates with academic and social support systems to ensure continuity of care and treatment success.
