James Somers

Dr. Mariela Podolski is a board‑certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist whose career spans excellence in traditional, and functional psychiatric care. She earned her medical degree from the Universidad de Costa Rica in San José, Costa Rica, and completed her Psychiatry Residency at the Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut. She then pursued advanced subspecialty training through a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

After fellowship, Dr. Podolski joined Eastern Connecticut Health Network, providing psychiatric care to children and adolescents in an underserved community from 2012 to 2015. Her growing interest in eating disorders led her to Walden Behavioral Care, where she worked across all levels of care and developed deep expertise in treating complex eating disorder presentations.

Dr. Podolski is an active educator and frequently lectures on eating disorders for psychiatry residents at the Institute of Living, the University of Connecticut, and Eastern Connecticut Health Network. She is regularly invited to speak at hospitals and professional programs throughout the state.

In 2021, she completed the Psychiatry Redefined Fellowship, expanding her practice into functional psychiatry. She now serves as faculty for Psychiatry Redefined, contributing through national lectures and mentorship.

Dr. Podolski is the founder and owner of Podolski Psychiatry PLLC, a private practice in West Hartford, Connecticut, where she provides evidence‑based, compassionate, and innovative psychiatric care. She holds medical licenses in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

James (Jay) C. Somers, DHSc, PA-C, DFAAPA has dedicated over 25 years to psychiatry, working with both adult and adolescent populations. A Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA, he earned his master’s degree from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and a Doctor of Health Science from A.T. Still University. Dr. Somers is a sought-after speaker and lecturer, frequently presenting on mental health topics at national and regional conferences. This year, he was honored to present three different topics at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting. He has previously served as president of the National Association of PAs in Psychiatry and the Nevada Academy of Physician Assistants, and he recently completed a four-year term as the AAPA liaison to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Based in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Somers owns and operates an outpatient psychiatric clinic that has provided comprehensive, integrative, and lifestyle-focused mental health care for over 21 years. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the DMSc program at the University of Lynchburg, where he serves as course supervisor for Adult Behavioral Medicine I and II. His clinical and research interests include nutritional psychiatry, professional fulfillment, and the role of AI in mental health.