Lara is the clinical manager at UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida and the University of North Florida.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “My co-workers”
Word that best describes her: Optimistic
Favorite quote: The only place success comes before work is the dictionary. – Vince Lombardi
Paula is the clinical supervisor of inpatient treatment at UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University and St. Thomas University, both in Florida.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Working with our patients and the supportive, caring staff”
Word that best describes her: Creative
Hobby: Reading and travelling
Favorite quote: Live simply, expect little, give much. – Unknown
Johnny is the professionals program coordinator at UF Health Florida Recovery Center. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and UCLA.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Seeing patients transform from scared and desperate to confident and hopeful”
Word that best describes him: Impassioned
Hobby: All sports and 12-step
Dina Orlando, L.M.H.C., C.A.P., is the clinical operations manager at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from State University of New York at Albany. Then, she obtained her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “I love working with and learning from my team.”
Word that best describes her: Animated
Hobby: Zumba
Favorite quote: Do not ask God to guide your footsteps if you’re not willing to move your feet. – Unknown
Dr. Phalin is a licensed psychologist at UF Health Florida Recovery Center. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida. He continued his studies at UF where he also earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology. In that time, he also completed an internship in clinical psychology at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa. In 2011, Dr. Phalin completed a residency in private practice with Clinical Psychology Associates of North Central Florida.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “The opportunity to assist in understanding our patients in a way that augments our ability to develop and implement plans to help them on their road to recovery.”
Word that best describes him: Lexocomane
Hobby: Spending time with his wife and new daughter
Favorite quote: A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men. –Roald Dahl
Dr. Logan is an addiction medicine physician at UF Health Florida Recovery Center. He attended medical school at Bayor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He completed an internship at the University of Kansas and a residency at Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnasota. Dr. Logan also completed a fellowship in addiction medicine at the University of Florida.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Working with a team of professionals who feel a passion for recovery”
Word that best describes him: Irreverent
Hobby: Spending time with his wife and their dogs
Favorite quote: Easy does it.
Dr. Smolen is an addiction psychiatrist at UF Health Florida Recovery Center. He received his undergraduate degree at Saint Anslem College in Manchester, New Hampshire. He got his medical degree from Georgetown University. He completed a surgical internship at the University of Vermont and a residency in orthopaedics at the University of Massachusetts. He later completed a residency in psychiatry at Boston University. Most recently, he completed a fellowship in addiction medicine at the University of South Florida.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Helping anyone who wants to learn how to be sober, healthy, happy and successful again.”
Word that best describes him: Dedicated
Hobby: Being a writer and author
Favorite quote: Complain about what you’ve got and you will get more to complain about. Be grateful for what you have and you will receive more to be grateful for. Choose carefully. Choose wisely.
Dr. Greene is an addiction medicine psychiatrist at UF Health Florida Recovery Center. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He completed medical school at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and completed his residency in general psychiatry at the University of Florida. He went on to complete a fellowship in addiction medicine at the University of Florida as well.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Seeing or hearing from former patients whose lives have been utterly transformed – I love getting letters of gratitude which often bring tears to my eyes.”
Word that best describes him: Principled
Hobby: Golf
Favorite quote: Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. –Henry Ford
Roxane Harcourt, L.C.S.W., L.M.F.T., is the executive director of the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Indiana State University and a master’s degree in social work from Indiana University. She is a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Dr. Teitelbaum is the medical director at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology at Lehigh University, attended medical school at Rochester University and Connecticut. He led a major pediatric private practice for ten years before completing a postdoctoral fellowship in addiction medicine and another in child psychiatry at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
Amber is a family therapist. She is a graduate of the University of Florida and Valdosta State University.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “It is most rewarding to see how much our patients progress and change from intake to discharge.”
Word that best describes her: Outgoing
Favorite quote: Progress, not perfection. – Unknown
Scott Alan Teitelbaum, MD has been awarded the Pottash Professorship in the Department of Psychiatry. Established in 1991 by Carter A. Pottash, MD, a distinguished psychiatrist and addiction expert, the Pottash award supports a professor in the Department of Psychiatry who is a nationally recognized leader in addiction medicine with a strong clinical focus who shares and pursues research related to addiction treatment and intervention.
Dr. Teitelbaum currently serves as the director of the UF Health Florida Recovery Center and the training director for the UF Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Teitelbaum’s success with the use of evidence-based addiction treatment has set a standard of quality care at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program that has been recognized by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). His commitment to the education of future addiction medicine professionals is evident in his numerous teaching awards and national lectures on these topics. He has treated patients from over 40 states and is a highly sought after expert in the field of addictions.
Additionally, he actively participates as a member for the Annenberg Foundation Committee, is instrumental in the education of medical students rotating in addiction medicine, and serves as a member of the ABAM Foundation, Addiction Medicine Fellowship Development Committee working towards the development of a national training curriculum and criteria to establish and accredit residency training programs in Addiction Medicine.
Drs. Pottash and Teitelbaum will be formally acknowledged at the UF Health Celebrating Distinction event in the fall.
Kimberly Ulrich, B.S., C.T.R.S., is a recreational therapist at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She received her bachelor’s degree in recreation with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation from Indiana University. She has bee a certified therapeutic recreation specialist for more than 20 years.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “I encourage people who have never known how to have a healthy recreational lifestyle. I get to inspire them to have one. I get to help them realize there are so many recreational opportunities to relieve stress. I am able to show them how to explore their options.”
Word that best describes you: Flexible
Hobbies: Hiking, going to Disney, swimming, going to the beach, snorkeling
Favorite quote: Most of my life, I have done what I wanted to do. I have had fun on the job.” Walt Disney
Jorelle Degen, L.M.H.C., is a substance abuse therapist at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and her master’s of science in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Working with a team of brilliant, passionate people.”
Word that best describes you: Resourceful
Hobby: Do-it-yourself projects, yoga, tabletop games
Favorite quote: When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. – Viktor Frankl
Michelle is a recovery therapist at UF Health Florida Recovery Center in Gainesville. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from Temple University in Philadelphia.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Working with so many diverse patients.”
Word that best describes you: Charismatic
Hobbies: Baking, outdoor activities, time with family and friends
Favorite quote: Until the pain of staying the same, is greater than the pain of change, you won‘t. – Anonymous
Carol Johnson, R.N., is a nurse at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She graduated with her nursing degree from Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing. She has been working in the field of addiction medicine for nearly 30 years.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “The patients!”
Word that best describes you: The one with the guitar
Hobbies: Grandchildren, music, cross stitching, Jazzercise, reading
Favorite quote: Isaiah 40:31
Rachel is the clinical manager at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center in Gainesville. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in mental health counseling and a master’s degree in education.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Keeping in touch with patients after they leave and hearing about their growth in recovery and about the impact treatment has had on their lives.”
Word that best describes you: Creative
Hobbies: Spending time with family, taking sons for walks or bike rides, pottery and photography
Favorite quote: Education is a progressive discovery of or own ignorance. – Will Durant
Eric is a recovery therapist at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center in Gainesville. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and his master’s degree from Argosy University in Sarasota.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “The challenge I face as a professional to become better at what I do.”
Hobbies: Health and wellness, billiards, bowling
Favorite quote: If life lets me live and death passes me by, I’ll see you tomorrow. – Fannie Williams
Lori is a substance abuse therapist at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center in Gainesville. She obtained her masters and specialists degrees in mental health counseling from the University of Florida. Lori is a licensed mental health counselor and a national certified counselor.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “Being part of a great team!”
Word you would use to describe yourself: Hopeful
Hobbies: Reading, spending time with my daughter, long weekends at the beach
Favorite quote: From there to here and here to there, funny things are everywhere! – Dr. Seuss
Juanita Bruno-Jacob, PhD, is a therapist at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She attended the University of Maryland and Capella University as well as the U.S. Navy Substance Abuse School in San Diego, Calif. She received her doctorate degree in research psychology.
Favorite thing about working at FRC: “The spirit here on campus”
Word that best describes you: Resilient
Hobby: Traveling, spending quality time with family
Favorite quote: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Maya Angelou