Psychiatric Associates of HRC

HRC has Board-Certified psychiatrists who see patients for the evaluation and appropriate medication management of a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders, including depression and bi-polar illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, management of chronic pain, and adult and adolescent ADHD. Depending upon the situation, the psychiatrist may provide all of the treatment or may work collaboratively with a psychotherapist to provide the best possible care for the patient. Psychiatric services are available in both Chapel Hill and Raleigh.

Psychiatrists often work with the patient’s therapist in a collaborative manner, to best manage treatment and maximize outcome.

• Collette Ah-Tye, MD
• Samina Aziz, MBBS
• Mukesh Kamdar, MD
• Roger Perilstein, MD
• Steven Prakken, MD
• Katherine Wu, MD

Collette Ah-Tye, MD

Biography: Dr, Collette Ah-Tye is a Board Certified Psychiatrist. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, she completed a residency in adult psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. She loves working with children, adolescents, and their families. She uses developmental and bio/psycho/social frameworks to evaluate and treat a wide range of problems, including adjustment, mood, anxiety, attention, and learning difficulties. Dr. Ah-Tye employs both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology when appropriate and works closely with a multi-disciplinary team at HRC to provides related services, including group, family, and couples therapy, as well as educational and psychological testing when necessary. She has a special interest in blended families and cross cultural issues.

Samina Aziz, MBBS

Biography: Dr. Aziz is board-certified in both general psychiatry, as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. She completed her training at Duke University in general psychiatry in 1999 and in child and adolescent psychiatry in 2001. Prior to joining HRC, she worked with adults and children in both inpatient and outpatient settings in Ohio and in NC. Her primary focus is in working with children and adolescents and their families. Her areas of interest include the treatment of depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Dr. Aziz is also interested in cross-cultural psychiatry and the impact of immigration on mental health. Dr. Aziz uses both pharmacology and psychotherapy in treating her patients and believes in collaborating with her patients' primary physicians and therapists.

Mukesh Kamdar, MD

Biography: Dr. Kamdar has been practicing psychiatry since 1983, first on Long Island, NY and since 1989 in Raleigh. He has significant experience in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders and has a special interest in treating anxiety and mood disorders and adult Attention Deficit Disorder. He is board certified in psychiatry, as well as in geriatric psychiatry, by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Kamdar’s treatment philosophy is to provide empathetic, respectful care in the least restrictive environment and to involve the patient (and family if applicable) as an active partner in the ongoing treatment process. He also believes in working in a collaborative manner with the client’s other providers, in particular psychologists, social workers, and primary care physicians. His areas of treatment specialty include pharmacotherapy (evaluation for medication needs and ongoing medication management); crisis stabilization; anxiety and mood disorders including bipolar illness; geriatric psychiatry, interface between psychiatry and primary care medicine; and cross cultural psychiatry.

Roger Perilstein, MD

Biography: Dr. Perilstein completed his residency at Duke University, is Board Certified in psychiatry, is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has been in private practice since 1986. He specializes in adult treatment with particular interest in mood disorders and adult attention deficit disorder. He is a Clinical Associate in the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University and has been a supervisor at the Duke Family Therapy Clinic. Currently Dr. Perilstein gives presentations to family physicians and psychiatrist on the treatment of depression and anxiety. He is also the Medical Director of HRC's Adult Attention Deficit Disorder program.

Steven Prakken, MD

Biography: Dr. Prakken is Board Certified in both psychiatry and pain management. He attended medical school at the University of Oregon and completed a psychiatry residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Prakken has a general psychiatry practice treating adolescents and adults for anxiety, mood, adjustment and personality disorders as well as ADD and relationship issues. He uses psychopharmacology as well as psychotherapy. Dr. Prakken’s areas of treatment specialty include general psychiatry, psychodynamic psychotherapy, medical pain management and the psychological aspects of pain, unique uses of transdermal and oral pain medications, neuropathic pain, medical/legal evaluations, alternative medicine, couples therapy, and substance abuse/addiction. Read More »

Katherine Wu, MD

Biography: Dr. Wu has been in the practice of general adult psychiatry since 1988. After completing her medical school and residency training at Duke University, Katie served in the Indian Health Service for two years in South Dakota and then practiced with Kaiser Permanente for almost ten years until joining HRC January, 2000. Dr. Wu is Board Certified in psychiatry. Her areas of special interest include the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in adults including OCD and bipolar disorder; adult attention deficit disorder; psychiatric disorders pertaining to women including PMS, menopause, and postpartum disorders; working with young adults and college-aged students around their developmental concerns; and general psychiatric medication evaluation and management.