Kristy Lamb, MD
President and Founder
Dr. Kristy Lamb, MD
Dr. Lamb is the Founder and President of BOLD Health, where she has brought together a team of like-minded clinicians to provide integrated, full-spectrum, psychiatric care including medication management and psychotherapy for the treatment of mental illness and addiction.
As a clinician, Dr. Lamb works to co-create a personal relationship founded in respect and individualized care with each of her patients. Board certified in both Family Medicine and Psychiatry from UC San Diego, Dr. Lamb is well-versed in the most cutting-edge, evidence-based psychopharmacology. She has also pursued deeper training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, and believes firmly that psychotherapy is an integral part of personal transformation and healing for many people.
Dr. Lamb began her training as an undergraduate at Vanderbilt University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. She went on to obtain a master’s degree in Humanities, with a focus on Philosophy and Social Theory, from the University of Colorado. While in Medical school at Georgetown University, Dr. Lamb became acutely aware of the inseparable connection between mind and body. She realized that in order to treat her patients effectively and fully, she would need to understand their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. In order to care for her patients from this “whole person” perspective, she pursued combined residency training in both Family Medicine and Psychiatry. Dr. Lamb subsequently completed a fellowship in Community and Public Psychiatry at UC San Diego, as well as a fellowship in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at the San Diego Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She has trained over the past decade with world leaders in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy.
Dr. Lamb specializes in Psychopharmacology, Psychotherapy, Addiction Medicine, Maternal Mental Health and Physician Wellbeing. She is also a teacher and trainer and enjoys supervising and training therapists to support her dedication to lifelong learning.
Dr. Lamb spends her free time chasing after her two girls, working to hit PRs on her Peloton and editing her beloved husband’s novels and screenplays.
Katie Hirst, MD
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Katie Hirst, MD
A native Californian, Dr. Hirst grew up in the Bay Area before attending Stanford University for her dual undergraduate degree. She experienced two East Coast winters while teaching high school science outside of Boston, then returned West to attend medical school at UC San Diego, where she earned honors for leadership, academic accomplishment and patient care. After graduation, Dr. Hirst completed a dual residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at UC San Diego — and founded the UCSD Maternal Mental Health Clinic during her third year of training.
Dr. Hirst soon became a regional expert in the field of Reproductive Psychiatry, caring for women with anxiety, mood disorders and psychosis during pregnancy and the postpartum period. While serving on faculty in three departments at UCSD School of Medicine, Dr. Hirst delivered local and international lectures, wrote a teaching curriculum, published articles, supervised trainees and developed the first Maternal Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program in the Southwest United States.
Dr. Hirst developed an opioid addiction following the births of her children via C-section in 2008 and 2011, and left academic medicine to seek treatment in late 2013. Before returning to work in 2016, Dr. Hirst developed a personal mindfulness meditation practice, even completing teacher training. Today she is proud to incorporate her strong knowledge of psychological theory with mindfulness meditation practice in her work at BOLD Health.
Since returning to practice at BOLD Health in 2016, Dr. Hirst has pursued specialized training in psychotherapy and addiction medicine. She now serves as Medical Director at three local residential treatment facilities, supervising a team of providers to help patients detox safely and comfortably, and receive treatment for substance use disorders. Dr. Hirst’s work with individual patients at BOLD Health includes psychotherapy as well as medication consultation and management (when indicated). In addition to her expertise in Addiction Medicine, she continues to specialize in Reproductive Psychiatry, including pre-conception planning, infertility treatments, pregnancy and postpartum.
Dr. Hirst balances her rewarding work with personal time devoted to recovery, family and friends. She and her family are avid explorers of National Parks, and she is an enthusiastic indoor cyclist and (slow but steady) runner.
Mariel Janowsky, MD
Psychiatrist
Dr. Mari Janowsky, MD
Born in San Diego, Dr. Janowsky was raised on the East Coast in North Carolina. She made her way back to the West Coast, to complete her undergraduate education at UC Santa Cruz. For a while, she pursued a career as a high school teacher in Oakland, CA through Teach for America. But after careful consideration, Dr. Janowsky made the difficult and exciting decision to leave teaching to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a doctor and was accepted into the “pioneering class” of the combined MD/MPH program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She thrived in medical school and graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. UCSD’s combined residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry felt like a natural next step, given her affinity for combined training, commitment to public health, passion for education, strong belief in the possibility for behavioral change, and desire to provide comprehensive, holistic care to her clients and their communities. Dr. Janowsky is trained in multiple styles of treatment interventions including hypnosis, interpersonal therapy, mindfulness meditation, motivational enhancement, cognitive behavioral therapy and, now, intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy.
Dr. Janowsky joined the BOLD Team in June 2020 and is working as a co-facilitator for BOLD's Intensive Outpatient Program. She also sees clients individually for therapy with medication management when indicated. She has a talent for Integrative Wellness, Trauma-Informed Care and Addiction Medicine and sees herself as a partner in her clients' journeys to self-discovery and transformation. In doing so, she uses a variety of modalities including therapy and mind-body techniques.
When she is not working, you can find her on her yoga mat, hanging in her hammock, using kitchen gadgets, doing something outdoors or spending time with loved ones.
Sofia Elkind, MD
Psychiatrist
Sofia Elkind, MD
Dr. Elkind is a board-certified general adult psychiatrist with specialized expertise in the fields of
perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychodynamic
psychotherapy.
She has a passion for working with women in the perinatal period, college students, and individuals struggling with addictions. Prior to coming to BOLD, Dr. Elkind graduated from the Psychiatry Residency Program at UC Irvine and most recently worked as a Staff Psychiatrist at VA San Diego and as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSD.
While working at the VA, Dr. Elkind utilized her strong training in psychopharmacology to take care of patients
in a busy general outpatient practice. She also taught and supervised resident physicians,
contributed to the perinatal mental health monitoring committee, and collaborated closely
with primary care physicians within the Primary Care Mental Health Integration team.
Dr. Elkind deeply believes in the healing power of psychotherapy alongside traditional
medication management. She sees therapy not just as a practice but as an art: a mutual journey
with each person to understand himself and his world more clearly and completely. Dr. Elkind
has seen how, through the unique psychotherapeutic relationship, people can experience a
liberating freedom from engrained patterns of thinking that cause suffering, and ultimately
develop a healthier and more enduring sense of self.
Dr. Elkind began her education at University of Washington, where she majored in
Neurobiology and first developed a fascination with the workings of the mind and human
behavior. After college, she ventured out to the snowy midwest for medical school at
Northwestern University. While initially planning a career as an OB-Gyn, she found herself
captivated by the field of Psychiatry during a clinical rotation.
She realized the enormous impact that mental health has on overall well-being and on virtually every aspect of medical care. Dr. Elkind understands the stigma and cultural misconceptions of mental illness that often discourage people from seeking and accepting care. She values a collaborative and non-judgmental approach with all her patients. Dr. Elkind feels that becoming a psychiatrist was one of the best decisions of her life (along with marrying her husband, who was her med school classmate and is a current molecular pathologist at UCSD).
Dr. Elkind is very excited to join the team at BOLD and is looking forward to the opportunity to
practice psychiatry how she has always valued most- using a personalized, holistic approach to
care that combines both medications and psychotherapy.
Dr. Elkind doesn’t have much free time these days as she is still adjusting to life with a baby.
She loves singing to her little boy, playing the piano to him, and watching his curious mind expand.
In what now seems like a past life, she was an avid hiker and yogi and hopes to get back to these hobbies soon.
Neethu Jacob,
PA-C
Psychiatric Physician Assistant
Neethu Jacob, PA-C
A proud native of Detroit, Michigan, Neethu Jacob joined the team at BOLD Health with two years of experience as a Physician Assistant specializing in the field of Psychiatry. Her interest in mental health grew from a very young age, when she was introduced to the field by her mother, a renowned social worker. Upon graduating from PA School at Barry University, Neethu moved to Chicago and gained proficiency working in community clinic, private practice, long-term care and rehabilitation settings. She has served a wide range of populations, ranging from children in the foster care system to adults with challenging and complex mood disorders.
Neethu’s primary goal is to help her patients feel at ease when discussing, exploring and managing their mental health. She encourages her patients to understand that treating our brain is really no different than treating high cholesterol or a broken bone. She employs a holistic approach with treatment, focusing on whole-body wellness in tandem with mental well-being.
In her free time, Neethu loves exploring her beautiful new home base of San Diego. She is thrilled to experience all that California has to offer with her husband, Kevin and their cherished dog, Rylee. She also enjoys reading, live music and trying out new and delicious restaurants.
Megan Neaton,
PA-C
Psychiatric Physician Assistant
Megan Neaton, PA-C
Megan obtained her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University where she worked in a
lab focusing on aerobic activity’s effect on mental health disorders. This inspired her to purse
her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Arcadia University and work towards
breaking the stigma surrounding mental health care. Prior to joining the BOLD team, Megan
worked in an outpatient psychiatry clinic in Chicago treating patients of multiple different
socioeconomic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.
Megan’s goal is to act as a patient advocate and ensure her patients receive the best care
possible. She strives to create relationships based on mutual respect and trust by providing an
environment that is free of judgement. Megan believes in holistic medicine and treating the
entire person through lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and pharmacologic treatment. She is
committed to utilizing evidence-based medicine and empathetic listening while working with
her patients to determine the ideal treatment plan.
When she is not practicing medicine, Megan can be found attending a hot yoga class, reading a
new book, or at the dog beach with her beloved Samoyed, Augusta. She is known for being an
avid MSU Spartan sport’s fan and will be cheering her teams on from afar each season.
Katelyn Brady, PMHNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Katelyn Brady, MSN, PMHNP
Katelyn completed her nurse practitioner education at the University of California San Francisco and is a board-certified PMHNP. Following her graduation from UCSF in 2016, she was selected as one of 3 nurse practitioner graduates to complete a new joint fellowship between the San Francisco VA Healthcare system and UCSF School of Nursing. Choosing to specialize in addiction medicine and women’s mental health, Katelyn worked alongside her interdisciplinary colleagues at the VA to provide holistic and patient-centered care to veterans with complex mental health needs and comorbid conditions. While completing the program she was also very involved in teaching within the school of nursing and helped co-create a simulation exercise to assess for student competency related to veteran-centric and trauma-focused care, which she later presented on at the American Psychiatric Nursing Association (APNA)’s annual conference. Following the completion of her fellowship Katelyn accepted a clinical faculty position at UCSF and taught first-year NP students while continuing her clinical work in the San Francisco community, providing addiction treatment and consultation at the San Francisco VA, and expanding her practice to integrative care for patients with chronic mental health and medical conditions at St. Anthony's Foundation Medical Center.
After moving to San Diego in 2018, Katelyn joined the psychiatric consult liaison service at UC San Diego Healthcare Center and worked with healthcare professionals from various disciplines to provide psychiatric care to medically ill patients in the emergency department and medical floors. While at UCSD, Katelyn was able to continue providing care to pregnant and post-partum women through Labor & Delivery, as well as addiction medicine/detox services to medically ill patients in the hospital. Although she enjoyed inpatient work, Katelyn eventually felt the draw to return to outpatient care, where she can help a wider variety of patients, from adolescents to older adults.
As a California native Katelyn is constantly on the move, always trying new things and exploring the beautiful terrain. In her free time she enjoys being active outside in the sun, whether that be walking on the beach, biking around the bay, or hiking in the mountains. She recently completed her 200-hour yoga certification and would one day love to incorporate yoga into her psychiatric practice. Dance will always be her first love and she is eager for the day when she can safely compete again. As someone who believes in living a balanced lifestyle, Katelyn also loves a good cheese plate, and will never say no to bread. She is a HUGE foodie and cannot live without her morning cup of coffee.
Katelyn is thrilled to be a member of the BOLD Health team, and excited for the opportunity to use her experience to help improve the quality of life of her patients.
Veronica Sanchez, LMFT
Therapist
Veronica Sanchez, AMFT
San Diego native Veronica Sanchez has worked at BOLD Health since 2018, first as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and now as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Point Loma Nazarene University. Prior to joining BOLD, Veronica trained at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, where she provided psycho-education and counseling to adults experiencing a broad range of mental health issues, including eating disorders, depression, generalized anxiety and borderline personality disorder. Additionally, she has experience working in a non-profit setting, where she enjoyed assisting individuals by drawing from mindfulness, DBT and a family-systems approach.
Veronica’s goal as a therapist is to provide a safe and compassionate environment that provides patients with a true opportunity for deep self-exploration and growth. She shares the BOLD philosophy of tailoring treatment to each individual’s unique needs.
Veronica loves long summer days and is an avid soccer fan. She has co-published a children’s book with her husband and loves to travel and experience new cultures. Oh, and her favorite ice cream flavor is Rocky Road.
Scott Phillips,
LMFT
Therapist
Scott Phillips, LMFT
Scott Phillips strives to provide a safe, compassionate space where patients can safely and confidently work to accomplish the internal goals they have for themselves. Scott is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who has experience working closely with a variety of patients — including children, adolescents, adults and couples. He is well-versed in the treatment of patients who have dealt with substance abuse, anxiety, depression and marital distress. In order to account for all aspects of his patients’ lives, he practices from a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective. He also tailors his work to the individual needs of each patient.
Scott earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brandeis University and his Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. He completed his practicum training at the University of California, San Diego Family Medicine Clinic in La Jolla, where he worked alongside physicians and other medical professionals to provide patients with comprehensive health care that accounted for both their physical and psychological needs.
Rebecca Stein, MSW, ACSW
Therapist
Rebecca Stein, MSW, ACSW
Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Rebecca Stein joined BOLD Health in 2021 as an associate psychotherapist. Rebecca Stein received her Bachelors in Science with Phi Betta Kappa Honors in three years from The University of Georgia in Athens. Rebecca majored in Psychology with a minor in Child and Family Development. Her interest in the mind-body connection led her to obtain a Masters in Clinical Social Work from The University of Southern California in LA. In graduate school, she focused on adult mental health & wellness as an intern at The Relational Center and The Pain Psychology Center, emphasizing a broad range of somatic, cognitive therapies.
After graduation, Rebecca was successful in helping postpartum mothers at UCLA Medicine-Pediatrics Comprehensive Care Center focus on the mind-body connection to cope with anxiety and postpartum depression. Rebecca’s work also emphasizes the intersection of trauma and chronic pain, and the strong correlation between childhood trauma, addiction, and ADHD, allowing patients to find relief from chronic pain, medically unexplained symptoms, and psychological suffering.
In her spare time, Rebecca volunteers to lead support groups and creative workshops for teens with chronic pain at Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (chyp). She enjoys running, yoga, nature, dance, painting, live music, reading, baking, watching movies, and connecting with friends and family.
Spenser Gabin, AMFT
Therapist
Spenser Gabin, AMFT
Spenser grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia before moving to Evanston, Illinois to complete his undergraduate degree at Northwestern University. He was raised on movies and developed a fascination for the work of psychologically focused directors like Stanley Kubrick, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Errol Morris. Thus, he majored in Radio/Television/Film with a minor in Psychology. After four Chicago winters, Spenser had experienced enough snow for several lifetimes and moved to southern California.
While in the film world, he worked in documentary production, advertising, marketing, and educational video content. By far the most enjoyable part of all this work was getting to do one-on-one interviews and really understand the “why” behind a story. His interest in the mental health professions heightened when he produced dozens of videos for the International OCD Foundation, as he was inspired by the dedication and passion of the clinicians he interviewed at the organization’s annual conferences. After some deep conversations and a particularly impactful 10-day silent meditation retreat, he decided to change direction and pursue a career as a therapist.
Spenser believes the therapeutic relationship can be an invaluable opportunity to foster growth, take intelligent risks, and rewrite unhelpful narratives. He also believes the most important and difficult changes in life are internal and that any change begins with the acceptance of (an often painful) reality. While Spenser has his own expertise (OCD and anxiety), he insists that clients are the experts regarding their own lives and can discover what is in their best interest with the right tools.
Spenser earned his Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. He completed his practicum training at Sharp McDonald Center, a residential substance use treatment facility where he worked alongside psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, chaplains, and marriage and family therapists to provide top quality care from a biological, psychological, social, and spiritual perspective.
In his spare time, Spenser is a competitive (but definitely not elite) triathlete, Toastmasters dabbler, casual sports fan, and connoisseur of psychological thrillers, biographical documentaries, and 80’s science fiction action films.
Feji Etibo, AMFT
Therapist
Feji Etibo, AMFT
Born in Nigeria and raised in the Bay Area, Feji strives to create a safe space in the field of mental health, to help nurture and encompass various ways to heal the mind through the art of psychotherapy.
Feji is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, having earned her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of San Diego. She completed her practicum at Rady Children Hospital-Outpatient Psychiatry. Through an integrated care model, she has worked closely with children, adolescents and families presenting with a wide range of mood disorders and anxiety. She believes that her role as a therapist is to support and provide her patients with awareness, skills and resources that bring liveliness to their mental health and wellbeing. Feji works through a Biopsychosocial model in addition to a variety of models to ensure her patients’ needs are met.
During her free time, Feji enjoys outdoor activities, live music as well as spending quality time with friends and family.
Geraldine Coz
Practice Manager
Geraldine Coz
Geraldine ensures that the clinic runs smoothly and provides our clients with great customer service. Born in Lima, Peru, Geraldine moved to New Jersey at a very young age. After finishing high school, she joined the United States Navy and traveled the world for eight years. She then pursued her education in international economics and is currently finishing her degree at San Marcos University. Geraldine’s military background has been a key, as she is able to relate to many issues that are caused by mental health. Being exposed to sensitive events can cause many uncertainties and play a vital role in your everyday life. Geraldine’s primary goal is to help people get the necessary treatment they need and make the process easier on them along the way. She’s knowledgeable in areas such as management, accounting, billing, marketing, credentialing, and consulting experience.
Marlene Cabrera
Administrative Assistant
Marlene Cabrera
Marlene brought to BOLD her over 15 years of experience in customer service. Her passion for helping others is the main reason she decided to pursue a career in healthcare. She is currently working toward her nursing degree and license so she can continue to grow in the field. A San Diego native, Marlene enjoys road trip adventures with her family. She believes getting outdoors and enjoying nature is an important part of getting away from all the noise in our daily lives and remembering to pause, take a deep breath, and live in the moment.
Carl Qi
Billing Specialist
Carl Qi
Born in China, Carl moved to the US when he was 10 years old. He graduated from UCSD with a Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology. He is currently aiming to get into a nursing program, hoping to eventually become a psychiatric nurse. Carl brings previous customer service and medical billing experience. His primary goal is to lessen the burden on patients by neatly taking care of the financial side of treatment.
Faith Ryan
Front Desk Reception
Faith Ryan
Born and raised in Southern California, Faith moved to San Diego to continue her education at San Diego State University as soon as she finished high school. After working in both the education and the healthcare fields following her time at SDSU, she decided to go to school again and pursue a degree in Health Services Coordination. In her spare time, Faith enjoys exploring San Diego, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her fiance and dog, Adrienne.