It has been an honor to lead this exciting department since August 2006. I joined a department and a medical center with a distinguished history of providing competent and compassionate care to patients, their families, and their communities. Devotion of the staff to the patients endures, as does the core value of ensuring that the patient is an equal member of their own treatment team. It is my expectation that N.U.M.C. will become the first choice provider for patients seeking mental health services on Long Island. Going forward, key emphases will include: Expansion, Innovation, Quality Improvement, Cultural Competence, Consumer Satisfaction, Research, and Cost-Effectiveness. On behalf of our dedicated interdisciplinary faculty, let me thank you in advance for your trust in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences. Please see below for important phone numbers if you are interested in accessing our services. Always, please feel free to contact my office directly at (516) 572-5057, or by e-mail at nrao@numc.edu with any questions, comments, or suggestions. I am here to respond to your needs and concerns.