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Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates: Academic Psychiatry in Philadelphia & on The Main Line
** HIPAA Compliant Zoom and Virtual Visits for PA and NJ Residents (See Telehealth Page) **
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Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates is a private practice of Psychiatry comprised of academically oriented Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and Therapists. Most of our prescribers trained at The Johns Hopkins Hospital or The University of Pennsylvania, and have taught, or currently teach, at these same institutions.
We specialize in evaluating, diagnosing and treating moderate severities of mental illness, including Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Affective Disorder, ADHD and addiction. We are able to provide visits both via HIPAA compliant Zoom sessions, and face-to-face at our offices in Center City Philadelphia and in Paoli, PA. We do not have admitting privileges at local hospitals, and therefore, if a patient is high risk for self-harm, has a history of inpatient psychiatric admissions, suicide attempts, or has a history of psychosis, we may recommend providers with additional emergency resources, for safety purposes.
We offer weekend & evening availability and can often see patients within 2 – 3 weeks.
This site is designed to help prospective patients determine whether we may be the right fit for their individual psychiatric needs and to provide resources for them, when we are not.
Offices in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia and on the Main Line in Paoli, one block from the train station.
LGBTQIA Welcoming
Chris Pagnani, MD – Medical Director & Founder
Chris Pagnani, M.D. is an Instructor at The Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Medicine for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, a supervisor for Psychiatry Interns and Residents at Jefferson Hospital, an elected member of The Young Professionals Board for Uplift, The Center for Grieving Children, and a Private Practice Psychiatrist in Center City, Philadelphia, where he serves as the Medical Director of all Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates’ locations.
Gracie Yeo, MD – Director of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Dr. Yeo is a Board Certified Psychiatrist who treats Children, Adolescents and Adults in her outpatient private practice. Dr. Yeo trained in Adult Psychiatry at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, went on to complete a Fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at this same institution, and served as The Academic Chief of her program. She has a special interest in perinatal psychiatry.
JESSICA M. PLOCHER, CRNP
ELIZABETH A. MILBURN, CRNP
RACHEL REIS, CRNP
KAREN (YANG) CHEN, CRNP
RICHARD D’AMATO, CRNP
LORETTA SERNEKOS, PHD, CRNP
KIMBERLY JOFFE, CRNP
ELIZABETH WRAY, CRNP
Our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners have several decades of combined experience in the mental health field. Experiences have included serving as the mental health resource specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, supervising at The Johns Hopkins Hospital for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, focused training in the evaluation and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Instructing at the University of Pennsylvania and extensive outpatient treatment of students at the University of Pennsylvania’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center (CAPS). All of our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners have taught or continue to teach at The University of Pennsylvania.



Our Therapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and all have experience in teaching and/or supervisory roles. Experiences include providing state-board approval trainings for social workers, marital and family therapists, licensed counselors, and doctoral residents, training and speaking on the Recovery Oriented System of Care in collaboration with Philadelphia’s DBHIDS, and Instructing at the Penn Beck Community Initiative through the University of Pennsylvania.
Of note, if you are already working with a therapist or would like a specific type of psychotherapy, we are happy to not only work with your current therapist, but also to provide resources for therapists outside of our practice. We pride ourselves in collaborating closely with our patients’ providers.
John Dougherty III, DO
John Dougherty, III DO trained in Psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and is Board Certified in Both Adult Psychiatry and Family Medicine. He serves as a collaborator for the Nurse Practitioners of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates and maintains his own private practice in West Chester, PA www.JohnDoughertyDO.com
James Yi, MD PhD
James Yi, MD PhD trained in Adult Psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at The University of Pennsylvania, lectured both Nationally and Internationally and has over a dozen publications. He serves as a collaborator for the Nurse Practitioners of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates and maintains his own private practice in Blue Bell, PA: www.BlueBellPsychiatry.com