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Dr. Andrew Rucker: Your Partner in Mental Health Care

Dr. Andrew Rucker has been committed to providing exceptional psychiatric care since 2017. With a focus on children, adolescents, and young adults, he understands the unique mental health challenges faced by these age groups and is dedicated to offering compassionate, personalized treatment. His goal is to help patients achieve better mental health in a supportive and comfortable setting.

Dr. Rucker’s medical journey began at Lincoln Memorial University, where he earned his degree in medicine. He went on to complete his Psychiatry residency at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and further specialized in treating younger patients through a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Florida – jacksonville. His education and experience give him the expertise to treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and mood disorders with a thoughtful and evidence-based approach.

What patients appreciate most about Dr. Rucker is his commitment to creating a warm and welcoming environment. He believes that mental health care should be as comfortable as possible, and he works hard to build trusting relationships with his patients, ensuring that they feel understood and supported at every step of their treatment.

Outside of his practice, Dr. Rucker enjoys staying active through baseball, basketball, and working out—values that reflect his belief in the importance of both mental and physical health. His well-rounded approach to life helps him connect with his patients on a personal level, building rapport and trust.

If you or your loved one are in need of compassionate psychiatric care, Dr. Andrew Rucker is here to help. His dedication to understanding his patients’ needs and providing high-quality care makes him a trusted partner on the journey toward better mental health.

Muhammad Nawaz is a highly experienced psychiatric nurse practitioner with over eight years of dedicated practice in a wide array of psychiatric settings. From psychiatric hospitals to detox centers, nursing homes, adolescent correctional facilities, Assisted living facilities (ALFs), and LGBT community centers, Mr. Nawaz has cultivated a deep understanding of diverse mental health challenges and developed a holistic, patient-centered approach to care.

What sets Mr. Nawaz apart is his multifaceted strategy to mental well-being. While he recognizes the importance of medication, he also emphasizes the need for a personalized and comprehensive treatment plan. He takes time to build strong trust with each patient, tailoring his approach to address the emotional and psychological nuances that accompany mental health issues. His ability to listen, understand, and collaborate with patients ensures that every individual feels valued and supported throughout their treatment journey.

Before entering the field of psychiatry, Mr. Nawaz served as a U.S. Army medic for seven years. His time in the military instilled in him an unmatched level of discipline, commitment, and empathy—qualities that he brings into his psychiatric practice every day.

Muhammad Nawaz holds an impressive academic background, with a Master of Public Health from the University of North Texas, a Master of Nursing from Florida International University, and an MBBS, comparable to a U.S. MD. His extensive education and experience equip him to handle a broad range of mental health conditions with expertise and care.

For those seeking a compassionate, knowledgeable, and empathetic mental health provider, Muhammad Nawaz offers a comprehensive and individualized approach to psychiatric care. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, or complex emotional struggles, Mr. Nawaz is here to help you navigate your mental health journey with confidence and support.

I am dual board certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist. I see clients from age 12 and up. People come to treatment for all sorts of reasons — anxiety, depression, trauma, difficulty functioning at work or school, family conflict, challenges in relationships, low self-esteem, or simply a desire to learn more about themselves. As a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist with expertise in both medication management and psychotherapy, I can help patients develop a treatment plan that meets their needs. My style is guided by warmth and flexibility, with the goals of helping patients build insight and reduce symptoms. I create individualized treatment plans, assessing patients' goals, unique life experiences, and biological risk factors. While medication is useful in some cases, I am dedicated to helping my patients achieve lasting change through therapy as well.

Dr. Pawar is double board certified in Neurology and Vascular Neurology with an interest in hyperacute management of stroke and establishing systems of care. He received his medical degree at B.J. Medical College in India before going on to Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio to complete an Internal Medicine residency followed by neurology residencies at Loyola Medical Center in Chicago and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Following completion of his residencies, Dr. Pawar completed Fellowships in Vascular Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, Endovascular Neurosurgery and Interventional Radiology at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania, and Advanced Vascular Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is coming to us from Duke University Medical Center where he served as Stroke Medical Director. He is widely published. He has varied interests and has participated in multiple clinical trials.

Dr. Trevor D. Barton, DO is a board-certified neurologist with advanced fellowship training in vascular neurology. Dr. Barton earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University's Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. During his time there, he was selected for the prestigious Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) Fellowship, where he gained additional clinical and academic training in osteopathic manipulative medicine and holistic patient care.

Following medical school, Dr. Barton completed his neurology residency at HCA HealthONE Swedish Medical Center. He went on to complete a fellowship in Vascular Neurology at the same institution, focusing on acute stroke care, stroke prevention, and advanced neuroimaging.
With board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Barton is dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with stroke, epilepsy, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders.

Ivan Mikolaenko, MD, is a neurologist who completed medical school in Ukraine. He was a post-doctoral Fellow in Neurology at John’s Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. He finished his neurology residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. Following that, he completed a Neuro Critical Care Fellowship, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dr. Mikolaenko is well versed in EMG NCS as well as reading EEG’s. He’s an experienced and diligent physician who’s proficient in many neurological disorders.

He has practiced for many years in New York and looks forward to serving the South Florida community.

Menachem Nagar, MD, is a neurologist with specialized training in vascular neurology. He works closely with patients at The Neurology Institute in Coral Springs and Sunrise, Florida.  Dr. Nagar is fluent in English, Yiddish and Arabic.

Dr. Nagar completed medical school at the Technion Faculty of Medicine in Israel and his neurology training – including residency and fellowship in vascular neurology – at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Dr. Nagar is skilled in diagnosing and treating diverse acute and chronic neurological conditions. He also has strong skills in interpersonal communication, teamwork, and patient care. 

His interests in neurology are broad-ranging, including stroke, acute care, hospital-based neurology, neuro-immunology, and epilepsy. Dr. Nagar is trained in multiple neuro-diagnostic modalities, including neurovascular ultrasound. 

Overall, Dr. Nagar's approach to medicine welcomes all patients, even those with the most challenging neurological disorders. 

Dr. Nagar currently accepts new and existing patients and looks forward to partnering with those in his care.

Mabel Rodriguez is a highly skilled and compassionate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with expertise with diverse populations affected by PTSD, trauma, Depression, OCD, Anxiety and Substance Use Disorders. With over 7 years of experience in the field, Mabel has dedicated her career to providing comprehensive mental health care and support to those in need. Mabel holds advanced degrees in nursing and psychiatry, ensuring her ability to provide holistic and comprehensive care to her patients. Committed to improving the lives of her patients, Mabel advocates for mental health awareness and strives to reduce the stigma surrounding psychiatric disorders. She has a proven track record of success in helping individuals overcome the challenges of complex mental health disorders and is a trusted and respected practitioner in the field. Mabel's dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of her patients make her a valuable asset to the My Psychiatrist team.

Dr. Morris earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He is currently completing his residency in Psychiatry through Broward Health. He is interested in working with diverse and underserved patient populations, including the LGBQT+ population. He currently has budding interests in psychotherapy and novel techniques for treating mental health conditions.

Dr. Sandeep Mendiratta completed a combined BS/MD accelerated program at Northeast Ohio Medical University. From there, he went on to be trained at the University of Florida and subsequently became a Board-Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Mendiratta has significant clinical inpatient and office experience with adults, adolescent and children across different disciplines of psychiatry, neuropsychiatry and addiction medicine. He is also ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) certified and Suboxone certified for opiate addiction. Dr. Mendiratta serves as a clinical investigator at Research Centers of America having contributed clinical research in over 25 clinical trials. Dr. Mendiratta was previously a clinical assistant professor on the faculty of The University of Miami/Jackson School of Medicine and the Florida International University/Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine.

Dr. Shawn Shekar earned his medical degree from the Trinity School of Medicine in St. Vincent and Grenadines. He is currently completing his Psychiatric residency at Broward Health Imperial Point and Broward Health Medical Center. Dr. Shekar is focused on Adult Inpatient and Outpatient Medicine. His areas of interest include interventional psychiatry (TMS Therapy and ECT), Dr. Shekar is dedicated to his patients and gives the best care to his patients.

Dr. Ventre completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Science from the University of Puerto Rico and continued his medical studies at San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He earned his medical degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo and completed residencies at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Cabrini Medical Center for Internal Medicine and Psychiatry and completed his Psychiatry Residency at the University of Florida Psychiatry Program.

Crystal Adkins, MSN, APRN, APN-C, PMHNP-BC, is a compassionate dual-certified adult nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner offering dedicated care to patients at Brighter Life Psychiatry, located in Coral Springs, Florida.

Experiencing profound personal adversity at age 29, Crystal confronted immense challenges following her husband's death. Wrestling with the weight of widowhood while expecting a child, she navigated through the darkness with the aid of grief therapy and antidepressants. This transformative journey inspired her to transition into psychiatry professionally, driven by a genuine desire to guide others on their paths toward healing and renewal amidst grief and loss.

With a rich nursing tenure spanning over 18 years, Crystal has honed her expertise across various specialties, including psychiatry, addiction medicine, medical-surgical nursing, and oncology. She commenced her academic journey by obtaining an Associate of Science in Nursing from Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, in 2003, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2006. In 2009, she earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. 

Crystal's professional growth has been nurtured through collaborations with eminent psychiatrists and addictionologists in South Florida, fostering a robust foundation in evidence-based practices. Under the mentorship and clinical supervision of esteemed professionals, she remains committed to delivering cutting-edge care to her patients. 

Beyond her clinical endeavors, Crystal enjoys spending time with her expansive blended family. An avid lover of the ocean, she finds respite in its embrace, drawn to the serenity of its shores. Additionally, her affection for turtles is evident in her enduring companionship with Eurtle, a Florida box turtle she has lovingly cared for over the past 32 years.

To request an appointment with Crystal, call the office or reach out online.