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Our Staff

Our Staff

Meet Our Team

Meet the dedicated professionals behind the programs we offer at Laurel Heights Hospital. Our staff are passionate about offering comprehensive, compassionate care for young people who are in need of guidance and support.

Adewale Okeleji headshot

Adewale Okeleji, M.D.

Medical Director – Chief Psychiatrist

Education: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Richmond University Medical Center-Staten Island, NY, American University of the Caribbean

Professional Affiliations: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Chief & Fellow; Faculty Role Appointment at Richmond University Medical Center

Experience: Lighthouse – Medical College of GA at Augusta University, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Richmond University Medical Center

Smitha Battula, M.D.

Smitha Battula, M.D.

Board Certified Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry

Education: Case Western Reserve University, Metro Health Medical Center, VA Medical Center in D.C.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships: American Psychiatric Association, Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association-Advocacy Representative, Andhra Pradesh Medical Council, India

Experience: Current Psychiatrist of Rainbow Kids Clinic in Marietta, Georgia, Albany Area Community Service Board

Ranjan Avasthi, M.D.

Ranjan Avasthi, M.D.

Board Certified in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and General Psychiatry

Education & Training: Medical College of Georgia, Morehouse School of Medicine, Memorial Health University Medical Center, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

Professional Affiliations & Memberships: American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatric and Adult Psychiatry at Medical College of Georgia of Georgia Regents University, Adjunct Professor of General & Pediatric Psychiatry at Morehouse School of Medicine Psychiatric Residency Program

Experience: Attending Psychiatrist at Southern Crescent Behavioral Health System, Pediatric and Adult Psychiatrist for Transitional Family Services, Attending Physician at Georgia Regional Hospital

Victoria Barnes, M.D.

Victoria Barnes, M.D.

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Education & Training: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, New England Medical Center, Emory University School of Medicine

Professional Affiliations & Memberships: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association, American Psychiatric Association

Experience: Director of Adolescent Program Services – Ridgeview Institute; Devereaux Advanced Behavioral Health Psychiatrist, National Health Service Corp. Adolescent Group Home/DJJ Psychiatrist

Our Leadership Team

Chief Executive Officer: Corey Jackson

Corey is a graduate of Winston-Salem State University with a degree in Rehabilitation Studies with years of experience working with trauma, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, sexually reactive, and aggressive youth. Corey joined the senior management team at Laurel Heights in October of 2019. He is a certified instructor of Crisis Protection Intervention, Handle with Care, Verbal De-escalation, psycho drama facilitation, and is a Residential Child and Youth Care Professional facilitator through the University of Oklahoma.

Chief Financial Officer: Johnta Johnson, CPA

Chief Financial Officer: Johnta Johnson, CPA      

Before joining the leadership team at Laurel Heights Hospital, Johnta spent time working within other behavioral health hospitals in Georgia and Tennessee. He obtained his accounting degree from Trevecca Nazarene University and enjoys traveling, reading, visiting family and watching professional sporting events in his free time.

Sandra Newsum

Human Resources Director: Saundra Newsum  

Saundra brings 25 years of HR experience from banking, manufacturing and technology industries to her role, and has dedicated her professional life to Laurel Heights Hospital for the past 19 years. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, and teaching her granddaughter to be an exceptional person with multifaceted skills. With a B.A. in music, Saundra also is an accomplished singer.

Mary Moore

Director of Risk Management & Quality Improvement: Mary Moore

Mary Moore has worked over a decade at Laurel Heights Hospital in making sure patients and staff are surrounded by the safest, therapeutic environment possible. Her positive spirit is infectious and her background as a recreational therapist is an assurance that goals can be made for benefit of everyone at the hospital. If we were still in high school, Mary would be named “best dressed” for her style and she enjoys traveling all over the world.

Admissions Director: Christi Mcleod, LMSW

Christi is a true crisis interventionist in her role as Admissions Director – she calms the stormy waters of psychiatric crisis care with her demeanor and know how to connect parents, patients and staff to needed mental health services. She also worked in residential care in years past as a therapist and brings that level of care understanding to work every day to share with her team and others. Her southern roots in Alabama provide a model to follow: grace and kindness no matter how stressful the circumstances.

Marya Marcum-Jones

Director of Education/Principal: Marya Marcum-Jones, EdS

As a leader of teachers, Marya has loved working with them and watching each succeed with students and she fully supports in helping them both reach their potential in the classroom. Marya likes to tackle problems head on and enjoys working as part of a team. With 20 years in the educational field, she finds her own joy in developing spreadsheets for everything. Really.

Petruska Bryant-Levert

Therapeutic Foster Care Director: Petruska Bryant-Levert       

Petruska has been a creative force leading the therapeutic foster care department for the past two years. Her sensitivity and devotion to children’s welfare is obvious to all who know her. Her prior experience managing a group home, being a supervisor for CASA and starting a foster care program have benefited Laurel Heights Hospital in her leadership. She can be found visiting residents at nursing homes or buying gifts for children of inmates in her free time.

Sonya Rice

Business Development Director: Sonya Rice, MBA

Sonya has seven years of experience in working with community mental health providers and with families, and once held a similar leadership position at Lake Bridge Hospital. She and her team are passionate about offering suicide prevention training and verbal de-escalation training, and creating autism-friendly environments. Her interests include design, animal rights and creative writing.

Leslie Williams

Director of Utilization Review: Leslie Williams, LPC

Hailing from Somerset Kentucky, Leslie has served in the capacity as a licensed professional counselor in crisis centers, in-patient & outpatient hospitals, private practices, & homes across metro Atlanta. She served as a utilization review coordinator & now as the Director of Utilization Review Ms. Her committees, affiliations, & awards include: Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Psi Chi International Honor Society, & Spelman College Alumnae Association. An avid thrift shopper, in her free time, Leslie runs, Just Thrifted, an online clothing boutique where she provides personal shopping services & where one can purchase all of her amazing thrifted finds!

Bekah Fisher

Director of Clinical Services: Bekah Fisher, LPC, CPCS

Creativity and compassion are woven through Bekah Fisher’s expressions to patients, families, and her team of therapists. Wielding degrees from the University of Houston in Counseling and Psychology, she has applied her knowledge by soft sword in leading therapist teams at acute behavioral and residential programs, In her spare time, Bekah enjoys spending time with her daughter and painting.

Director of Nursing: Lisa Edghill      

For over 25 years, Lisa has dedicated herself to the nursing profession with early years in chemical research and last 20 years in behavioral health nursing. She had held nursing positions in many states, including NJ, OH, SC and GA and has experience in treating all populations of people. In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, reading popular fiction and watching comedy movies.

We’re Here to Help

Laurel Heights Hospital’s professional staff are ready to help find the best treatment options for your child. Call 404-888-5475 for a no-cost, confidential assessment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need immediate medical assistance, contact 911 or seek the nearest emergency room.