DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), MBA
Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer
Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician | 2nd Generation Osteopathic Physician | 10+ years clinical experience | Health Equity Advocate
After a decade in family medicine, I witnessed the same heartbreaking pattern every single week: patients desperately needing mental healthcare but unable to access it because of cost, location, or months-long waitlists.
A young mother with postpartum depression who couldn't afford $350/session. A rural patient driving 3 hours for a 50-minute appointment. A college student waiting 8 weeks for a therapist, only to be told they weren't accepting new patients.
These aren't isolated cases—they're the reality for 90M+ Americans who need mental healthcare but can't access it. That's why I partnered with AI security expert Rick Jefferson to build Serene Space AI.
I loved being a family physician. The relationships, the ability to help people heal—it was everything I'd dreamed of in medical school. But I was frustrated daily by the mental healthcare system's failures.
The conversation I dreaded most:
Patient: "Doc, I really need to see a therapist. My anxiety is affecting everything."
Me: "Let me refer you to someone."
Patient: "How much does it cost?"
Me: "$200-400 per session, depending on if they take insurance."
Patient: "How long until I can get in?"
Me: "Usually 4-8 weeks for new patients."
Patient: [long pause] "I can't afford that. And I need help now, not in 2 months."
Me: 😞
This happened multiple times per week. I could diagnose the problem, prescribe medication as a band-aid, but I couldn't actually connect people to the therapy they needed.
When I learned about advances in AI and natural language processing, I saw an opportunity: What if we could deliver the same evidence-based therapeutic techniques I use in practice, but through AI to make them accessible 24/7 at a fraction of the cost?
That's when Serene Space AI was born.
As Chief Medical Officer, my role is ensuring that Serene Space AI delivers the same quality of care I'd provide in a clinical setting. This isn't a chatbot—it's AI-powered therapy using proven techniques:
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), and ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)—the gold standards for treating anxiety, depression, and trauma.
I supervise AI responses, review protocols, and ensure patient safety. The AI handles routine support; human clinicians handle complex cases.
Just like in practice, treatment is tailored to each individual. The AI learns what works for you and adapts approaches accordingly.
Crisis detection protocols, immediate escalation to human clinicians, and 24/7 access to emergency resources ensure patient safety.
We measure progress using validated clinical scales (PHQ-9, GAD-7) to ensure effectiveness and adjust treatment plans.
Same privacy protections as traditional therapy. End-to-end encryption, secure data storage, and strict confidentiality protocols.
Critics ask: "Can AI really replace a human therapist?" My answer: It's not supposed to.
Serene Space AI fills the massive gap between needing help and being able to access a human therapist. Here's what makes it effective:
1. Perfect Memory: Unlike human therapists who see dozens of patients, the AI remembers every detail about your triggers, coping strategies, and what works for you.
2. Always Available: Anxiety doesn't wait for office hours. When you need support at 3 AM, it's there.
3. No Judgment: Many patients struggle with stigma around mental health. AI provides a safe, private space to open up without fear of judgment.
4. Consistent Quality: Every interaction follows evidence-based protocols. No "off days" or therapist burnout affecting care quality.
5. Culturally Competent: Understands 8+ cultural backgrounds and communication styles— something patients often struggle to find in human therapists.
6. Affordable Access: At $29.99/month for unlimited sessions (try for $4.99), it removes the #1 barrier to mental healthcare: cost.
My vision is simple but ambitious: Every person who needs mental healthcare should be able to access it—regardless of income, location, or insurance status.
In 5 years, I want Serene Space AI to be the bridge that gets people help immediately while they're waiting for a human therapist, or the ongoing support that keeps them mentally healthy between sessions.
This isn't about triaging the 90M+ people who can't access them, providing immediate support for those in crisis, and making ongoing mental healthcare sustainable and affordable.
Healthcare equity has always been my passion. AI is finally making it possible to deliver professional mental health support to rural communities, underserved populations, and anyone who's ever been told "we have a 6-week waitlist" when they needed help today.
See for yourself how AI-powered therapy using CBT, DBT, and ACT techniques can provide the support you need—affordably, accessibly, and effectively.
Try Serene Space AI
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Clinically supervised • Medical-grade security • 24/7 access
I'm passionate about healthcare equity, mental health access, and the intersection of medicine and technology. Let's connect: