“During these trying times of COVID19 pandemic, I am only able to offer telecommunications to evaluate and conduct treatments for new and established patients. Look forward to the day, I can meet you in person as I used to do before.”

“I advocate for telepsychiatry because it allows to provide what best fits my patients’ needs and wants.”

“Medicine and technology are dependent on each other for their progress, and telepsychiatry is one of its best examples.”

“Telepsychiatry improves the access to services, reduce the burden of transportation, reduce the need of taking time off to attend appointments, waiting in the waiting room, reduce the risk of transmitting disease, and accommodates to your schedule at work, at school and at home.”

Mara Fiorentino, M.D.

As a psychiatrist who has been in practice for over 20 years, Dr. Fiorentino advocates for telepsychiatry because it allows her to provide care that best fits her clients’ wants and needs. She received her medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires and went on to train at Columbia University in New York City. She later worked at the Office of Mental Health in New York, Mount Sinai Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital and at the New York City Department of Human Resources. Dr. Fiorentino holds active medical licenses in Argentina, New York, New Jersey and Florida. Her specialties include — psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, general psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and sleep medicine, all of which are available in-person or via telepsychiatry.

Medicine and technology are two fields that are constantly enhancing and evolving. With this in mind, one branch of health care growing in popularity is telepsychiatry, which Destin based psychiatrist Dr. Mara Fiorentino utilizes in her practice.

Telepsychiatry is the delivery of psychiatric assessment and care via telecommunications technology, usually videoconferencing. This innovative psychiatry practice is promising and increasingly popular because it is convenient, affordable and readily accessible. Telepsychiatry can benefit patients in a number of ways: It improves access to mental health, brings care to the patient, reduces the need for trips to the ER, cuts delays in care, improves continuity of care, reduces the need of taking time off, reduces the stigma barrier and dissolves the need for transportation.

The overarching purpose of telepsychiatry stems from the need to reach underserved populations and to continuously promote the importance of mental health. Telepsychiatry is especially beneficial to those who do not have access to traditional forms of mental health care. It is comparable to a traditional in-person appointment because the content and format is the same including issues discussed in private, forming a treatment plan and prescribing medications. Studies have shown that the results of telepsychiatry are comparable to in-person appointments in accuracy, quality of care, treatment effectiveness and client satisfaction. Telepsychiatry has been found especially effective in the treatment of PTSD, depression and ADHD.

Experience

Medical Education

Mar1974-Dec79   Bachelor in Sciences  Superior School “Dr. Carlos Pellegrini”. Buenos Aires. Argentina

Mar1980-Dec85   Medical Doctor     University of Buenos Aires Medical School. Argentina

Jan1982- Dec86   Psychoanalyst     Asociacion Psicoanalitica de Buenos Aires

Mar1986-Dec90    Child And Adolescent Psychiatrist         Child, Adolescent& Adult Interdisciplinary Psychiatric Resident, Ministry of Health and Social Services. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jul1994 - Jun98    Psychiatrist         Psychiatric Residency -Bergen Regional Medical Center, Paramus, NJ.

Jul1998- Jun99     Fellow in Public Psychiatry Columbia University School of Physicians and Surgeons. NY, NY.

May2002-2022      Diplomate in Psychiatry  American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

April 2017-2021    Diplomate in Psychiatry   National Board of Physicians and Surgeons.

Clinical Appointments

Jan1988-Dec90    Medical Director- Maternal Infantile Center “El Paso Infantil” Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jan1991-Jun92     Staff Psychiatrist Emergency Room Department- General Hospital “Dr. Ramos Mejia”, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jan1991-Jun92     Staff Psychiatrist Consultation-Liaison Department- General Hospital “Dr. Ramos Mejia”, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jun1990-Jun92     Staff Psychiatrist Emergency Room Department- General Hospital “Dr. Mariano Castex”, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jul1992-Jun94      Psychiatrist Substance Abuse Inpatient Rehabilitation Program- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Miami, Florida

Jul1994 -Jun98     Psychiatric Resident Bergen Regional Medical Center- Paramus, NJ

Jul1998-Sep98     Staff Psychiatrist HIV/AIDS-Substance Abuse-Mental Illness- Highbridge-Woodycrest SNL, NY

Jul1998-Jun99      Outpatient Psychiatrist- Critical Time Intervention Program- Fort Washington Homeless Men’s Shelter-Mailman School of Public Health- Columbia University School of Physicians and Surgeons

Jul1999-May00    Attending Psychiatrist- Acute Inpatient Treatment Unit-Allen Pavilion

May2000-Oct05   Psychiatrist II - Inpatient Care Unit- Admission- Triage- Rockland Psychiatric Center

Oct2005-May06   Chief - Psychiatric Inpatient Unit Elmhurst Hospital Mount Sinai Services, New York

Jun2006- Dec06   Staff Psychiatrist- Medical and Psychiatric Disability Analyst- Lenox Hill Hospital-New York City Human Resources Administration

Jan2000- Jun07    Adult General and Geriatric Psychiatrist- 104-01 Roosevelt Avenue, Corona, NY

Jul2007- Sep07    Adult Inpatient Psychiatrist- Orange Regional Medical Center, Goshen, NY

Sep2007-Nov07   Adult and Children In/outpatient Psychiatrist- David Lawrence Center, Naples, FL

Dec2007-Oct 09   Correctional CSU/ Outpatient Psychiatrist- Florida Department of Corrections-Santa Rosa Correctional Institution, Milton, FL.   Appalachee Correctional Institution, Sneads, FL.   Jefferson Correctional Institution, Monticello, FL. Northwest Florida Reception Center, Chipley, FL

Dec11- July2013  Child& Adolescent Outpatient Clinic and Inpatient Psychiatrist Indian River MC, Vero Beach, FL

Jul09- July 2015   Child& Adolescent, Adult and Geriatric Outpatient Psychiatrist- Florida Therapy Services, Inc.

Jan2010-Jun2014  Independent/Peer Review Medical Consultant- Medical Consultant Network, Seattle, WA

Mar2014-2018 Pediatric Behavioral Team – Children Medical Services – Florida Dept of Health- Panama City, FL

Jan2015-2019 Adult Correctional Psychiatrist – US Bureau of Prisons – Jacksonville, FL

Jan2008- present  Child& Adolescent - Adult and Geriatric Solo Practice- 4507 Furling Lane Suite 110, Destin, FL

Kathy Bowden

Mrs. Kathy Bowden, a Registered Mental Health Counselor graduated with a Bachelor degree in Science from Valdosta State University, Athens, GA in 2005. She pursued a Master Degree  in Psychology and Counseling, which she completed in 2010. She previously served for 17 years, and retired from the United States Air Force with a rank of Staff Sergeant. 

She is happily married since 1991, and has 3 sons Joshua (23), Thomas (12), and Derrick (7).

She enjoys the beach, camping and traveling in the United States, teaching and discovering new things with her boys. 

She says “I have been practicing for 10 years and hope to continue to enjoy a job I adore”.