People

Our team has been carefully cultivated to deliver the highest quality care to our patients. It’s very important to us that patients see themselves represented amongst our providers. We believe that for you to get the most out of your telehealth experience, you need to work with providers you’re comfortable with.

Therapists, Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Health Connectors, and Clinicians all join our team because they’re passionate about your mental health and wellness. Our dedicated team is here to support you, and we look forward to partnering with you on your wellness journey.

MEET OUR

Clinical Leads

Jason Lulejian, D.O.

Jason Lulejian

Dr. Lulejian received his medical training at COMP-NW in Lebanon Oregon, and went on to complete his general psychiatry residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He came to Valera from Carelon, a division of Elevance, where he managed a medicaid HARP plan as well as large commercial plans. There he focused his efforts on population health management and innovative ways to cooperate with providers to form symbiotic partnerships. He is board certified in general psychiatry and Addiction medicine, with his clinical focus on the study of trauma disorders and addiction. His focus at Valera is on development of new programs that synergistically improve quality, provider satisfaction and drive the organization toward excellence.

Nawras

Nawras Shukair

Dr. Shukair received his MD from Damascus University, Syria. He completed General Psychiatry Training Program with psychoanalytic training at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. Dr. Shukair completed a Child and Adolescents Psychiatry training in Children’s Hospital of Boston, Harvard University. Dr. Shukair‘s current work focuses on attachment, ADHD and the interaction between executive functions and mental wellness.

Melissa Goodemote, PMHNP-BC

Melissa Goodemote

Melissa is a Board Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with a post-Master’s Degree in Psychiatry from Sage Graduate School. She has 18 years experience serving various populations including the serious mentally ill population in intensive outpatient, outpatient clinics, homeless shelters, non profit outpatient agencies, nursing homes and private practice providing psychiatric assessments, consultations, medication management with brief psychotherapy. Her leadership approach to both staff and patient care includes forming a partner relationship . identifying each individual’s personal goals and making decisions together on the best approach for staff and treatment options for patients to meet those goals.

Victoria Abruzzo, LCSW

Victoria Abruzzo

Victoria provides individual and family therapy to children and adults, specializing in mood and anxiety disorders, difficult interpersonal relationships, chronic illness, and trauma. Victoria has experience in play therapy, mindfulness, psychodynamic therapy, and evidence-based therapies. Victoria provides a safe space for all and uses a strengths based and trauma informed approach. Victoria is committed to provide a non judgmental space where together we can explore your feelings, supports, goals, and stressors.

Rachel Rosenzweig, LCSW, Associate Director of Clinical Operations

Rachel Rosenzweig

Rachel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with academic, clinical, and tech experience in the field of behavioral health. Rachel earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from USC. In 2010, Rachel was accredited as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Rachel has extensive experience in the field of mental health and as a clinician, healthcare Leader, and innovator with expertise in value-based care and Implementation. Rachel enjoys building exceptional provider teams and quality-based service delivery models of care.

John Bennett, MSW, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director

John L. Bennett

John L. Bennett, MSW, LCSW is a clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in counseling and mental health services administration. He was formerly the clinical director of the nation’s largest LGBTQ outpatient mental health program. His treatment interests include PTSD, chronic trauma, LGBTQ-affirmative psychotherapy, and suicide risk prevention. He has published and presented nationally on LGBT mental health, preventing deaths of despair/suicide among middle-age and older men, and post-hospital mental health follow-up. He is a certified trainer in Dialogic Family Therapy and Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk.

Clinical providers are employed by Valera Medical, P.A. and Valera Medical, P.C., clinical practice partners to Valera Health, Inc.