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.
Theodore Germanos, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Theodore Germanos, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Born and raised in San Diego, California, Dr. Germanos is a Board Certified Adult Psychiatrist, who specializes in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. Germanos knew he wanted to become a physician from a young age. He completed his undergraduate education at San Diego State University where he received a B.S. in Biology, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He then went on to medical school in Nashville, Tennessee at Meharry Medical College. At Meharry, Dr. Germanos excelled academically, scoring in the 93rd percentile nationwide on the US Medical Licensing Exam. Additionally, he was nominated to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and received multiple scholarships including the Outstanding Student Award in Pharmacology and the Helen Karpov Endowed Scholarship for Academic Excellence. During medical school, Dr. Germanos also participated in research at Harvard Medical School and Vanderbilt University. After completing medical school, Dr. Germanos’ passion for mental health led him to start the organization Living Above Addiction to serve individuals in Southern California struggling with substance use disorders. Dr. Germanos next completed his Adult Psychiatry Residency at Meharry Medical College prior to further specializing in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, completing his Fellowship at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Germanos is also working towards certification in Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Germanos recognizes the importance of treatment from a holistic approach, recognizing every child’s individuality, specific needs, and unique life experiences. Dr. Germanos firmly believes that working together with families as a team is crucial to developing a successful treatment plan. His approaches to treatment vary with each child and may include talk therapy, play therapy, CBT, mindfulness/meditation, and medication when needed. He is able to provide therapy himself, but also enjoys collaborating with other therapists to provide the highest quality of care possible to each child he sees.
Outside of work, Dr. Germanos enjoys traveling, reading, learning about new cultures, anime/manga, playing video games, and watching sports.
David Printz, MD
Psychiatrist
Dr. David J Printz, MD
Dr. David J Printz, MD is a very experienced and highly respected psychiatrist who joined Bold Health in order to provide cutting edge and novel treatment methods for individuals with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety or PTSD who have not benefited sufficiently from standard treatments.
Dr. Printz graduated cum laude with a BA in Biology at UC San Diego and then obtained his medical degree from UC San Francisco. After completing a psychiatric residency and then research fellowship at Columbia University, he joined the faculty there. He founded and directed the Bipolar Disorder Research Clinic at Columbia University, developing expertise in the diagnosis and management of mood disorders.
After nearly twenty years in New York, Dr. Printz brought his family back home to San Diego and joined the faculty at UC San Diego. While working at the San Diego VA Medical Center for thirteen years, he focused on strengthening the treatment options for Veterans with difficult to treat mood disorders and PTSD. He greatly expanded the ECT service at the VA and brought in two cutting-edge treatments: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine administration. In the two years prior to coming to Bold Health, his program at the VA provided more than six thousand ketamine treatments to veterans with highly refractory depression, bipolar depression, or PTSD. He is eager to provide this treatment option for patients at Bold Health and to augment its considerable efficacy with the addition of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. In addition, he looks forward to adding his decades of psychopharmacology experience to broaden even further the range of medication options available to patients at Bold Health.
When not working, Dr. Printz enjoys spending time with his family, sailing, gardening, swimming, and cheering on local and Premier League soccer teams.
Megan Neaton, PA-C
Psychiatric Physician Associate
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.
Neethu Jacob, PA-C
Psychiatric Physician Associate
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.
Bita Kodi, PMHNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Bita Kodi, PMHNP
Bita is double board-certified as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology from California State University Long Beach, and Nursing from the University of Wyoming. She graduated with her Master's from the University of California Irvine and obtained a Post-Master’s degree in Psych Mental Health from the University of California San Francisco.
Throughout her career she has seen the impact of providing compassionate care without judgement through active listening, empathy and effective communication. She believes in providing a safe environment for clients allowing for the experience and expression of vulnerability to foster growth, resilience and peace. She also believes that even though change is a personal journey it is not one that has to be traveled alone.
In her personal time, Bita loves traveling and great cuisine as both serve to bring people together. She is an eternal optimist, and a shameless fan of fantasy fiction.
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. -Nido Qubein
Amelia Pietraccini, PA-C
Psychiatric Physician Associate
Amelia Pietraccini, PA-C
Amelia graduated with her bachelor's degree in Biobehavioral Health from The Pennsylvania State University where she studied an integrative approach to medicine and became committed to patient-centered care. After graduation, she moved west and spent time working in women's health care in a rural health clinic, where she noticed a critical need for psychiatric providers and strengthened her own desire to further serve patients. While obtaining her master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Arcadia University, she was most impacted during her experiences in psychiatric and addiction medicine settings, which greatly developed her commitment to providing individualized and compassionate care.
Amelia is dedicated to providing patients with the education and resources that are necessary to make informed decisions. She believes the best patient-provider relationships are centered around clear communication and mutual respect. She is committed to her patients well being and strives to create a safe space for growth and recovery.
Outside of work, Amelia is most likely hiking, skiing, running or reading by the fireplace with her cat, Crush. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and enjoys eating at her favorite restaurant at least twice a week.
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.
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.
Lamarre Edouard, APCC
Therapist
Lamarre Edouard, APCC
Born on the East Coast, Lamarre moved from a Haitian-American household to San Diego two years ago
after receiving his undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Concentration in Africana Studies from
Clark University. Lamarre is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor and earned his Masters degree
in Counseling with an emphasis in Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education from
San Diego State’s Community Based Block Program. Lamarre has worked in the mental health field for
several years through in-patient residential facilities, school-based mental health counseling, and
outpatient community clinics. Lamarre cultivates a welcoming therapeutic space for clients to explore all
aspects of their well-being during sessions.
Lamarre believes holistic healing occurs through collaboration, honesty, and commitment. He maintains a
multicultural and intersectional lens to treatment by providing individualized care with each client. Lamarre
believes his role as a therapist is to walk alongside clients in their journeys towards self-discovery,
growth, and change.
In his free time, Lamarre enjoys exploring San Diego, traveling, watching movies, spending time with
friends and family. One of his favorite winter activities is snowboarding.
Scott Phillips, LMFT
Assistant Clinical Director
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 a Licensed 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.
Meiken Alexander, AMFT
Therapist
Meiken Alexander, AMFT
Meiken is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and earned her Master of Arts in Marital
and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego as a Dean’s Merit Scholar. She completed
her training at Rady Children’s Hospital-Outpatient Psychiatry, where she gained extensive
experience working in an integrated medical team through a Biopsychosocial model to help
children, adolescences, and their families with a variety of presenting problems, such as
trauma, substance abuse, bipolar, PTSD, OCD, ODD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. While at
Rady Children’s, she received a variety of core module training and personally created and
facilitated a group curriculum to foster communication skills and build self-esteem.
Meiken grew up in Orange County but has been a San Diego resident for over 15 years. She
believes the therapeutic relationship is the strongest indicator of effective therapy. Going to
therapy is a vulnerable experience; therefore, Meiken focuses her efforts on connecting with
her clients with genuine warmth, a friendly demeanor, a non-judgmental stance, and sincere
interest as to what brings them to therapy. She believes her role as a therapist is to help clients
widen their lens and build alternative stories that empower clients to challenge unhealthy
views of themselves so they can reach their goals.
Kayla Leventis
Administrative Practice Manager
Kayla Leventis Administrative Practice Manager
Growing up in San Diego, Kayla found her passion for helping others at a young age. After graduating from a small liberal arts college and trying every aspect of healthcare, she has found her place in the mental health community.
She is considering going back to school to become a therapist herself following her time volunteering as a counselor for a crisis text line. In her free time you will find Kayla with her dog, Optimus Prime, at the beach, hiking, or enjoying anything outdoors. This year she finished her first half marathon and believes you can do anything you set your mind to.
Marlene Cabrera
Medical Practice Manager
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.
Faith Ryan
Billing Specialist
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.
Aja Bordonaro
Front Desk Reception