Metropolitan Center For Mental Health

Administrative Director, Andrew Pardo, LCSW
E-Mail: apardo@metropolitancenter.com
Andrew Pardo, LCSW is responsible for the overall day-to- day functioning of the clinic, including fiscal management, supervision of office personnel and all other non-clinical areas, involvement in hiring and administrative supervision of all personnel, coordination of budgetary matters, participation in administrative meetings, reporting of statistical information to the Office of Mental Health, maintenance of house statistical data, maintenance of personnel records, coordination of patient flow, space allocation and physical plant, liaison representative as needed, coordination and administration of new programs. He is at MCMH full-time.

Director of Clinical Services, Patricia Saunders, Ph.D.
E-Mail: psaunders@metropolitancenter.com
Patricia Saunders, PhD.is directly responsible for the hiring and clinical supervision all psychotherapists, intake staff, and clinical supervisors. In addition, she supervises the training program for psychology and social work students. She is responsible for the quality of the care delivered to the patients at the clinic and compliance with all mandates and regulations. She also handles clinical crises, is one of those who authorizes planned hospitalizations, and does liaison with other community agencies. She is at MCMH full-time.

Medical Director, Daniel E. Cohen, MD
E-Mail: dcohen@metropolitancenter.com
Daniel E. Cohen, MD is legally responsible for the overall clinical care provided by the clinic, as well as its quality. He is the immediate supervisor for all psychiatrists and psychiatric services, and also is a supervisor for psychotherapists. He handles clinical crises, must be informed of all emergencies and is one of those who authorizes planned hospitalizations. He is at MCMH on a part-time schedule.

» Back to top

- administrative staff

Operations Manager, Dennis Kyle
E-Mail: dkyle@metropolitancenter.com
Dennis Kyle is responsible for hiring and supervision of all support & maintenance personnel at three locations; additionally, all purchasing of office equipment, supplies, computers, and telecommunications systems; interfacing with suppliers, co-op management & personnel and any other facility personnel; daily coordination and scheduling of office meeting and special events. He is at the Center Monday thru Friday full-time.

Intake Coordinator: Deborah Botnick, Ph.D.
E-Mail: dbotnick@metropolitancenter.com
Dr. Botnick supervises and coordinates the intake process, admits patients according to criteria, and assigns patients to therapists under the direction of the Director of Clinical Services. She is at MCMH full-time.

Assistant Administrator, Robert Basile, PhD
E-Mail: rbasile@metropolitancenter.com
Robert Basille reports directly to the Administrative Director. Some of the areas of the administrative operations covered include; collecting and generating statistical reports relevant to patient demographics and the finances of the clinic; interfaces and liaisons with Managed care companies, other community providers, professional trade organizations and officials of the NYS ONH, NYS OASAS, NYC DMH, and NYC OASAS. He is at MCMH part-time.

» Back to top

- program directors

HFS Director, Francine Ruskin, EdD
E-Mail: fruskin@metropolitancenter.com
Dr. Ruskin is responsible in conjunction with the Director of Clinical Services for the hiring and supervising of the psychotherapists of the Hispanic Program; provides individual and group supervision for HFS; keeps informed of all new HFS patients; attends administrative meetings, orients all new HFS psychotherapists; training; training in cultural issues as they refer to the Hispanic population we serve. She is at the Center on a part-time basis.

Satellite Clinic Director, Alba Ardila, LCSW
E-Mail: aardila@metropolitancenter.com
Alba Ardila is responsible for assignments and transfers of patients; assisting HFS therapists with difficult clinical and administrative issues; assists HFS clients with problematic clinical service issues; keeps the HFS Director informed of the overall functions in the Hispanic Department; participates in administrative meetings as well as weekly meetings with the Intake Coordinator; provides individual and group therapy, brief clinic sessions for patients who have missed monthly psychopharmacological visits; provides translations when necessary. She is at the Center Monday thru Friday full-time.

Program Director of FAIR, Jamie Berman, LCSW
E-Mail: jberman@metropolitancenter.com
Jamie Berman directs the OASAS licensed chemical dependency program(FAIR) Families and Individuals in Recovery and reports to the Director of Clinical Services. She coordinates outreach, intakes, and treatment planning. She is also responsible for hiring the staff of the FAIR Program and supervises the administration of ongoing treatment within the program. She is at MCMH full time.

» Back to top

- additional staff

Assistant Operations Manager, Kenneth Rodriguez
E-Mail: krodriguez@metropolitancenter.com

Administrative Assistant, Carol Ross
E-Mail: cross@metropolitancenter.com

Senior Bookkeeper, Raul Rodriguez
E-Mail: rrodriguez@metropolitancenter.com

Bookkeeping/Data Entry, Irma McCall
E-Mail: imccall@metropolitancenter.com

Transcriptionist, Marla Fields
E-Mail: mfields@metropolitancenter.com

Out Reach, Maria Balice, MSW and Anahi Rubin, MA
E-Mail: mbalicearubin@metropolitancenter.com

Internship Coordinator, Rhonda Ward, LCSW
E-Mail: rward@metropolitancenter.com

» Back to top

- board of directors

Louise Horowitz, PhD,JD - President

Patricia McMillan, MBA, CPA - Treasurer

Alfred Shapiro, MS Secretary

David Belgray, PhD

Ruby Benjamin, EdD

Josephine Diaz, PhD

Alicia Fleming, LCSW

Teresa Goudie, LCSW

Lawrence Gross, LIB

Yvette Janssen, MD

Daniel Smuckler, MD

Gene Yellin, LCSW

» Back to top