Dr. Eshkevari, PhD
Founder & Co-CEO
Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, CRNA, LAc, FAAN, is Co-CEO and Founder of Avesta Ketamine Wellness, which now has three locations: Washington, DC McLean, Virginia, and Bethesda, Maryland.
Dr. Eshkevari is a professor Emeritus at Georgetown University where she was full time faculty for 25 years, educating graduate nursing and medical students. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors from the University of Maryland and her Master of Science in nurse anesthesia from Columbia University in New York City. She earned her doctorate in physiology and biophysics from Georgetown University. She is an expert in the area of stress related depression, anxiety, anesthesia, pain management, and alternative medicine, and holds a diplomate degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.
Dr. Eshkevari has been published in numerous peer reviewed scientific journals and has been highlighted in several popular magazines such as National Geographic, and Time Magazine. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, the highest honor bestowed on nurses both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Eshkevari is one of the first ketamine providers in the DMV area, and many providers use her protocols after following her in her original Chevy Chase, MD office.
Dr. Bielamowicz, MD
Dr. Anne Bielamowicz, MD has been a practicing anesthesiologist in the DC area for more than twenty-five years. After receiving her Bachelors of Science from the University of California at Davis, Dr. Bielamowicz earned a medical degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). She completed her internship in pediatrics at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center and her residency in anesthesiology at UCLA where she served as Chief Resident. She is a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Anesthesiology and is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiology and the Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists. She has extensive background in post-operative pain management utilizing a multimodal approach and expertise in multiple ultrasound guided regional anesthesia nerve block techniques.
Upon her initial relocation from California to the DC area, Dr. Bielamowicz worked as an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at Georgetown University Hospital. In addition to teaching medical students, residents, and student nurse anesthetists, she served as the Department Director of Quality Assessment and Improvement. Additionally, she held positions on numerous hospital committees including Quality Assurance, Risk Management, and Pharmacy. She later joined OrthoVirginia (formerly Commonwealth Orthopaedics) where she served as Chief of Anesthesia for over fifteen years.
Deborah
Co-CEO
Deborah Tan, MBA, is co-CEO of Avesta Ketamine and Wellness. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from Brigham Young University, after which she started her career at JPMorgan in New York City before getting her Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Deborah is dedicated to improving the patient experience and expanded access of cutting-edge mental health treatments for patients across the US.
Ganapathy Premkumar (GP)
Chief of Staff
Ganapathy Premkumar (GP) is the Chief of Staff at Avesta Ketamine and Wellness. He earned his Master of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Having worked across early-stage companies in the realm of home healthcare services and medical devices, GP has witnessed, first-hand, the transformative impact on the health outcomes of patients. He is passionate about bringing innovative and effective mental health treatment approaches to patients across the country.
Stephanie
Operations & Patient Care Lead
Stephanie graduated from the University of Miami with a BA in public health and psychology in 2018. After graduating, she engaged in the psychology field as a Registered Behavioral Tech (RBT) for young children with autism. As an RBT, she worked with Behavioral Analysts, parents, and teachers to develop and implement behavior therapy plans for children. There, she found a passion for helping people and families through difficult times. Now as part of Avesta’s team, she strives to influence the healthcare system, facilitating access to treatments, like Ketamine therapy to become affordable, better understood, and incorporated as a holistic approach to mood and pain disorders. She fully believes in the combination of Ketamine infusions and cognitive therapy, and fits well with Avesta’s mission in helping people with mood disorders optimize their health, and wellbeing, and live their best lives!
Sam, NP
Regional Clinical Lead
Sam is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner with 14 years combined experience in the health care field. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Maryland and his Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University. As an ER travel nurse he practiced throughout Los Angeles and Baltimore before transitioning into hospice care as a clinical manager. Sam has an affinity for altruism and developed a personal interest in mental health care after his own experience with lack of access. He is compassionate and disciplined in promoting unconditional positive regard with all clients. He takes special joy in teaching, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Lauren, NP
Lauren is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner with 8 years experience in nursing after exploring other career avenues. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Central Florida, Bachelors of Science in Psychology and minor in Sociology from University of South Florida and her Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University. She spent the last 6 years of nursing working in outpatient surgery, before taking a travel assignment in Charlottesville, VA with UVA. Lauren has lived in several regions of the United States such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. She has also traveled extensively around the country as well as abroad for adventurous pursuits. Lauren makes it her mission to make others comfortable and feel special, offering authenticity with a non-judgmental, down to earth approach. Lauren engages in many hobbies such as hiking, soap making, running, cycling, baking, karaoke and dancing. She is always up to try something new with a love of learning and being able to share that love.
Joyce, NP
Joyce is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University. Practiced as a cardiac transplant and cardiac intensive care nurse for 3 years and then as an outpatient infusion nurse. Joyce has developed a personal interest and passion for mental health due to the lack of access, resources, and providers in the Midwest. She enjoys conversing and connecting with patients. She takes joy in traveling, hiking, playing sports, and exploring new restaurants with friends and family.
Danielle, NP
Danielle is a board certified family nurse practitioner. She has been working in the medical field for 9 years. She graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from American Public University and earned her Master’s of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University. As a nurse, Danielle worked in various areas of healthcare including the emergency room, hospice care, and home health care. As a nurse practitioner, Danielle has worked in primary care, urgent care, and mental health care. She has a passion for providing mental health care to her patients and is particularly interested in alternative therapies to treat mental health disorders. Danielle enjoys connecting with her patients and feels honored to be a part of their mental health journey. She finds joy and fulfillment in providing mental health care to her patients at Avesta. In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with her husband, family, friends, and 3 fur babies. She enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, crocheting, and riding her Peloton.
Naomi, Integration Coach
Naomi, a certified Transformational Recovery and Integration Coach, specializes in supporting individuals through their ketamine therapy journey. With an M.S. in Child and Family Studies and a minor in Psychology, she brings a solid academic foundation to her coaching practice. Having embarked on her own medicine journey seven years ago, Naomi intimately understands the transformative power of these experiences.
Her holistic approach to coaching integrates breathwork, meditation, and yoga, enhancing the therapeutic process by fostering mind-body harmony. Naomi also draws on her culinary background to incorporate nutrition into healing, recognizing its crucial role in overall well-being. As a prep and integration coach, Naomi is dedicated to helping clients navigate the profound effects of ketamine therapy, guiding them toward healing and self-discovery on their path to wholeness.
Monica
Monica has worked in various fields within healthcare, starting in hospitality in 2010. As an in-home caregiver she found the administrative side of healthcare and started working towards a degree in Health Information Technology and Medical Billing and Coding in 2017. In 2023 Monica graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor’s in Technical Management with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. She has been working on Insurance Coverage for Experimental and Investigational treatments for 3 years to help patients gain access to treatments.
Christina
Practice Manager
Christina graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in biology and has a background in biological and clinical research as well as rehab counseling. While at school, she studied abroad in Melbourne Australia and did a marine botany course on the South Coast where she snorkeled and collected marine plant specimens. In her free time she spends time with her two cats and rabbit, plays video games and enjoys practicing American Sign Language.
Koby
Koby is a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill where he studied biology, chemistry, and medical literature. During his time at UNC, Koby volunteered in the neurology unit at UNC’s hospital and worked in an infectious disease laboratory studying malaria in Rwanda. As an advocate for equitable health outcomes and holistic approaches, Koby has pursued additional training as both a birth doula and mental health first aider. Through his work, Koby has seen firsthand the impacts of limited mental health resources and is passionate about closing the gap one patient at a time. At Avesta, Koby works alongside a team dedicated to improving the lives of others and addressing the mental health needs of their patients.
Lulu
Lulu graduated from University of Maryland with a degree in Biological Sciences and a focus in cellular biology and genetics. During her time there, she worked as a resident assistant and peer advisor, assisting students through the stressors and emotions of the first years of college. As someone who has witnessed and experienced the damaging effects of mood disorders, Lulu appreciates the work that Avesta is doing to improve the quality of life of its patients and is grateful for the opportunity to play a role in its mission. Outside of work, Lulu enjoys performing in community theatre and watching the newest movie releases.
Christian
Christian earned an Associate’s degree in STEM while in high school, followed by a B.S. in Public Health Science from the University of Maryland. Joining Avesta’s team in January 2022 as an eager undergrad, he is driven by a passion for mood disorders, medical innovation, and addressing health disparities, particularly in mental health. Alongside his commitment to Avesta, he finds fulfillment in community engagement. He serves as a tutor-counselor for first-generation and low-income students, represents the bone marrow registry for leukemia patients, and volunteers as a Spanish medical interpreter at free pop-up clinics for underserved demographics. Believing in the transformative power of compassionate healthcare, Christian plans to pursue graduate studies and ultimately become a physician, inspired by the positive impact Avesta has made in patients’ lives.
Jazlyn
Jazlyn graduated from Stetson University with a degree in biology with a pre-medical focus. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. During her undergraduate career, she worked part time as a fitness coach and building manager at her university’s gym, promoting physical and mental wellness amongst students. She was involved in many extracurricular activities as well. She loved planning and executing multicultural events on campus in efforts to create a safe and welcoming environment for all. In her spare time, she volunteered at a non-profit medical clinic serving county residents. She believes that the best gift you can give someone is their health, and has a passion for helping others. She enjoys socializing, dancing, exercising, cooking, and art.