Amy Smiley, MSW, MBA, FACHE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Ms. Smiley is the Chief Executive Officer at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. She has 26 years of experience working in hospitals, nineteen of which are psychiatric inpatient settings. She has been a healthcare manager/operator for twenty-five years, focusing primarily on behavioral health, but has also worked in acute physical rehabilitation, skilled nursing and emergency department settings.

Ms. Smiley earned her BS in Psychology at Florida State University and her Master of Social Work at Florida International University. Her Master of Business Administration was achieved at the University of Maryland, Global Campus. In addition to working in the private sector with for-profit organizations, she has worked in non-governmental organizations as well as state government in DHHS, North Carolina. Ms. Smiley is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Ms. Smiley is passionate about advocating for vulnerable populations who don’t have a voice. She’s also energized by collaborating with willing partners who have the same passion for creating a seamless care system.

Azure Baron, Psy.D., CSOTP

DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND FORENSIC SERVICES

Dr. Azure Baron is the Director of Psychology and Forensic Services at The Institute. She is responsible for overseeing the department of psychology as well as the treatment and management of individuals admitted to Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute with criminal justice involvement. Dr. Baron earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology, an accelerated, accredited program jointly sponsored by the College of William and Mary, Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, and Eastern Virginia Medical School. She completed her internship at Howard University and her residency with the Fairfax Falls Church Community Services Board. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and has more than sixteen years of experience working in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. Dr. Baron has extensive training and experience conducting forensic evaluations and providing treatment to individuals with forensic involvement. She has worked for both private and public industries, and was awarded a grant to develop a treatment program guided by evidenced-based approaches to care for high risk, violent offenders in the District of Columbia. Dr. Baron was also appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to serve on the esteemed Forensic Review Panel. Dr. Baron is aware of the unique needs of the populations we serve, and is committed to the provision of person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-focused care.

Donna McGraw

DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

After graduating from Michigan State University, Donna relocated to Virginia, and has spent much of her time serving in the public sector. Donna worked for seven years at the University of Virginia Health System before transitioning to Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute in 1999. Since 2002, she has been a part of NVMHI’s Risk Management Department.

As the Director of Compliance and Quality Management, Donna supports the hospital’s mission to provide safe, quality recovery focused inpatient treatment through the implementation of the hospital’s Risk Management, Standards Compliance, and Investigations Program, and through oversight of the Health Information Management (HIM) department. Through collaboration and consultation she coordinates and evaluates hospital-wide program effectiveness and compliance for meeting and sustaining relevant standards for continued accreditation/certification. To include: The Joint Commission (TJC)/Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)/Office of the Inspector General (OIG)/Office of Human Rights (OHR). She strives to assess opportunities for incorporating evidence based and best practices in the quest for ongoing compliance.

Navid Rashid, M.D., FAPA

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Rashid completed the combined 7 year BA/ MD program at The George Washington University, followed by Psychiatry residency at the University of Illinois-Chicago during which he was named a chief resident, and after graduation went on to complete a fellowship in Psychosomatic Medicine through Georgetown University/Inova Fairfax Hospital. He is board certified in Psychiatry and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Rashid has dedicated his career to public sector inpatient psychiatry, with nearly a decade as a staff psychiatrist at NVMHI before being named Medical Director. He has been recognized as an educator by The George Washington University, twice receiving the Clinical Faculty Award for his work with psychiatric residents, and the recipient of the prestigious Elaine W. Cotlove MD Award for Excellence in Psychiatric Education in 2013. He continues to teach at NVMHI, and is also an active teaching faculty in the Psychosomatic Medicine fellowship through Inova Fairfax Hospital. He is recognized as a recovery-oriented psychiatrist in the Northern Virginia region and has consulted to the Virginia Recovery Initiative. As Medical Director at NVMHI, Dr. Rashid is committed to the mission of NVMHI, and works to provide clinical leadership that promotes an understanding of patients encompassing biological, psychological, social and spiritual perspectives. He believes in a balanced and integrated approach to the diagnosis and treatment of serious mental illness that is humanistic, scientific, and ultimately based in caring and service.

Katherine Beach, LCSW

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AND ADMISSIONS

Katherine Beach is the Director of Social Work and Admissions at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. She oversees the departments of Social Work, Admissions, and Utilization Management with a primary focus on overcoming challenges and obstacles in service deliveries, as well as serving as a liaison to the community.

She earned her BA in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Maryland College Park and her MSW from the University of Maryland Baltimore. She holds an advanced, independent license as a board approved supervisor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with over fifteen years of experience. Mrs. Beach has experience in residential treatment centers, public health settings, private sector hospitals, and with military support centers. She also has extensive leadership experience in various settings to include inpatient psychiatric units, as well as outpatient partial hospitalization programs.

Mrs. Beach believes in providing safe, quality treatment to support recovery from admission through discharge. She is passionate about coordination of efforts among support systems to enhance overall well-being.

Savneet Brar, MHA

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Savneet Brar is the Chief Financial Officer at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. She has seventeen years of experience in financial management working in acute care health systems. She has worked six years focusing specifically in Behavioral Health financial and general operations. Savneet holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the George Washington University in Washington DC. In this role, she ensures the organization runs in the most cost-effective manner while overseeing financial reporting, accounting and disbursements, decision support, internal audits, accounts receivable, financial management and planning.

Ryan Monique Payton, OTR/L, MBA

DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION

Ms. Payton is known for her passion, and dedication to the healthcare population she serves. She joins the NVMHI team as a collaborative healthcare professional with knowledge, and experience touching on all issues concerning the development and management of recovery. She strives to facilitate collaboration between clients, stakeholders, community members, health care professionals, and governmental agencies, on service provision, health, wellness, and safety.

Ms. Ryan Monique Payton is the Director of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, and the newest member of the Leadership Team at NVMHI. Ms. Payton is responsible for the occupational, recreational, and expressive therapy departments; as well as the chaplaincy services, peer support services, and psychosocial rehabilitation specialists.

Ms. Payton earned a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience, and a MBA at Chatham College, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She later earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, from Texas Woman’s University. Registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, she is a licensed Occupational Therapist. Ms. Payton began her career working as a behavior specialist, with persons with ASD, and later working for the Department of Family and Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, in Houston, Texas. Ms. Payton has experience in the hospital, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and home health settings. As a seasoned professional with more than sixteen years of healthcare and social services expertise.

Ronald Cress

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Ronald Cress is the Chief Operating Officer at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. Mr. Cress has worked in various positions within DBHDS since starting in 2002 at the Northern Virginia Training Center (NVTC). He was the Director of Safety & Security department and worked there for twelve years.  He went on to become an Agency Investigator and the Agency Grievance & Hearing Representative for DBHDS, where he traveled and worked in all the DBHDS facilities across the Commonwealth.

Mr. Cress is responsible for providing leadership, direction, management and supervision of facility and administrative support departments. Directly responsible for the operational readiness and facility infrastructure of a 137 bed Mental Health Hospital. Responsible for the coordination and delivery of services among the following departments: Physical Plant Services, Dietary Services, Environmental Services, and Safety and Security Services. Stands in as Acting Director in the absence of the CEO.

Rick Wallace MSN, RN

CHIEF NURSE EXECUTIVE

Rick Wallace is the Chief Nurse Executive; he is responsible for nursing care at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. He has over twenty-six years of mental health experience and has worked the full continuum of services from inpatient to day treatment and outpatient services, including electroconvulsive therapy. He has worked in public and private as well as for-profit and not-for-profit settings.

Rick started nursing by earning his Associates in Nursing and then his Bachelors in Nursing before going on for his Masters of Science in Nursing at Towson University. Rick is ANCC Certified in Mental Health Nursing and is currently working on his Doctorate in Nurse Practice to enhance nursing delivery.