Our Team

Our Caring, Competent Staff

Carrier Clinic's skilled Clinical Treatment Team varies according to the specific needs of the clinical service that one receives at our facility. Our Treatment team upholds the highest regard for Carrier's key core values—Compassion, Respect, Integrity and Innovation—which serve as the basis for all our actions, and are the measurement of our success.

A MESSAGE FROM C. RICHARD SARLE President and CEO In preparation for our 100th anniversary, we have had the extraordinary opportunity to rediscover some of Carrier Clinic's rich history, and look back on what has been an exciting 100 years.

Our mission statement from 1910 was to provide humane, personal treatment of nervous and mental diseases in a restorative farm setting-and although we no longer operate a traditional working farm, our mission to provide the best care and treatment in a safe, compassionate and respectful environment remains the same. We've grown from a self-contained community for mental health to now being the primary resource for New Jersey's mental health and addiction needs. Today, we serve over 5000 people a year within our hospital, addiction center and adolescent residential facilities. We are exceptionally proud of our adolescent continuum, comprised of inpatient treatment, residential services and a special education school on-site, created in response to the growing needs of adolescent services in the community. We continue to update our therapeutic modalities and adopt "best practices" to provide all of our patients with life-changing treatments, such as ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy). The most important facet of our success, though, is our connection to the community at large. Carrier's continued presence has led to the employment of over 675 people every year for the last 40 years. We offer continuing education programs and professional conferences that have had a sizable impact on the quality of psychiatric treatment in the area. Free community programs on mental health, wellness and addiction topics are also presented throughout the year at surrounding libraries, schools and professional organizations through our Speaker's Bureau. Being a good community partner is essential for our continued success. Thinking of our future sustainability, we installed a 14 acre solar farm on our campus last December. Not only will we be using a clean energy source, but we'll be able to reduce our electrical expenses, which enables us to use those savings towards direct patient care. As we look forward to the next 100 years, we will increase our focus on promoting wellness and recovery, as well as work tirelessly to decrease the stigma of mental health and addictive illness.

Meet Our Medical Staff

Dr. Marie E. Hasson Vice President and Medical Director

Dr. Hasson received a BA in Biology and English from the University of Pennsylvania and her MD from Jefferson Medical College. She completed her residencies at the University of North Carolina Hospital at Chapel Hill and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to her appointment at Carrier, Dr. Hasson served as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Atlanticare Regional Medical Center. During that time, she was responsible for psychiatric services two hospitals within the Atlanticare system that provided Inpatient, Partial Hospital and Outpatient services, as well as Emergency Room Psychiatry Services and Screening Center facilitation.

Dr. Hasson also previously worked at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital as Medical Director from 2006-2008, where she had oversight of Medical Staff, Rehab, Social Services, Psychology, Chaplaincy and Pharmacy services.

Dr. Hasson is a member of the New Jersey Psychiatric Association and a Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association, and has been involved with numerous committees within the New Jersey Hospital Association and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Dr. Buch Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Buch completed his BA at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, his M.D. at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN, and his Residency at East Carolina University School of Medicine in Greenville, NC.

Immediately prior to his appointment at Carrier Clinic, Dr. Buch was a full time Staff Psychiatrist at University Correctional Healthcare, UMDNJ. In addition to his Staff appointment at Carrier Clinic, he also acts as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Jefferson School of Medicine.

Dr. Buch is Board Certified in Psychiatry, is an American Board of Quality Assurance/Utilization Review Diplomate, and has earned added qualifications in both Addiction and Geriatric Psychiatry. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society, Philadelphia Psychiatric Society, American Association of Addiction Psychiatrists, American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, American Geriatrics Society and the Association for Convulsive Therapy. Additionally, Dr. Bush has authored four publications and numerous presentations.

A "Top Doc" recipient in Philadelphia Magazine, Dr. Buch is licensed to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

Abdul H. Kazi, M.D.

Dr. Kazi attended medical school in Karachi, Pakistan and completed his residency at the Nassau County Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, in East Meadow NY.

Prior to his appointment at Carrier Clinic, Dr. Kazi was a full-time clinical psychiatrist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. After moving to New Jersey, Dr. Kazi took the position of Clinical Psychiatrist II at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, working in the Intensive Treatment Unit, Transitional living Unit and at Raycroft Building. He also acted as an on-call physician for Carrier Clinic.

Board Certified in Psychiatry, Dr, Kazi is licensed to practice in New Jersey. He also currently maintains a private practice in Mercerville, NJ, specializing in pharmacological management of outpatients suffering from mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders.

Anthony Marino, Jr., M.D. Clinical Psychiatrist in the Admissions Department

Dr. Marino was educated at Johns Hopkins University and went on to medical school at Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Upon graduation, he served an internship and his residency in psychiatry at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

Prior to his appointment at Carrier Clinic in 1995, Dr. Marino worked for Rainbow Healthcare Associates serving as Medical Director for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit at South Jersey Hospital System in Bridgeton. Dr. Marino is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric Physicians of Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society. He is licensed to practice in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Claire C. Marsh, M.D. Clinical Director of Adolescents Services at Carrier Clinic and East Mountain Youth Lodge

Dr. Marsh was educated at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York and received her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She completed her postgraduate training from the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Institute. Prior to her appointment at Carrier Clinic, Dr. Marsh served as Director of the Adolescent Treatment Program at the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital. Before that, she worked as an Associate Director in the Young Adult Program.

Dr. Marsh is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Society. She is licensed to practice in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Umesh Mehta M.D. Clinical Psychiatrist of Older Adult Services and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Dr. Mehta was educated at Gujarat University in India and attended medical school at the Royal College of Surgeons in England. In 1984, he completed his residency training in otolaryngology in the United Kingdom at West Middlesex University Hospital, Queen Mary's Hospital and North Riding Infirmary. After serving in the United Kingdom, Dr. Mehta moved to the United States, and in 1988 became a psychiatrist and worked at the Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Prior to joining Carrier Clinic in 1993, he worked as a psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Medical School Program at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York, and served a clinical fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Monefiore Medical Center in New York.

Dr. Mehta is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is licensed to practice in the states of Florida, New Jersey and New York.

Asma Nisar, M.D. Clinical Psychiatrist on the Adolescent Unit

Dr. Nisar received her Doctor of Medicine at the Punjab Medical College at The University of the Punjab, Pakistan, and came to the United States to serve her residency in Psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Bronx Lebanon Hospital in Bronx, NY. Following her residency, she completed her Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, also at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Nisar is Board Certified by The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is licensed to practice in both New Jersey and New York.

Lynnette K. Peoples, MS, APRN, CS, BC Advanced Practice Nurse at Carrier Clinic

Ms. Peoples received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Point Loma University in San Diego, CA, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Pace University in New York. She then completed her Fellowship in Child/Adolescent Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from New York University.

Most recently, before joining Carrier Clinic, Ms. People s worked at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Division of Nursing & Patient Services, Department of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, and formerly was on staff in the Department of Psychiatry at The Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT. She is ANCC Board Certified in Adult Mental Health Nursing, and is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the American Psychoanalytic Association. Ms. Peoples is licensed to practice in New Jersey.

Barbara Sirch, MSN, APRN-BC Advanced Practice Nurse at Carrier Clinic

Ms. Sirch received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Rutgers University College of Nursing in Newark, NJ, and her Master of Science at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Nursing, also in Newark NJ. Prior to her appointment at Carrier Clinic in 2009, she was an Advanced Practice Nurse for the Center for Family Guidance in Marlton, NJ where she provided outpatient psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and psychotherapy services. She also maintains a private practice in Somerset NJ.

Ms. Sirch received her Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification from the ANCC, and is a member of the National Psychiatric Nurses Association and the New Jersey Psychiatric Nurses Association. She is licensed to practice in New Jersey.

Wojciech Szulaczkowski, M.D. Clinical Psychiatrist on the Adolescent Unit

Dr. Szulaczkowski received his Doctor of Medicine at the M.D. Pomeranian Academy of Medicine in Szczecin, Poland, and came to the United States to serve his residency in Psychiatry at SUNY, Health and Science Center at Brooklyn, NY. Following his residency, where he also served as Chief Resident, Dr. Szulaczkowski completed his Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, also at SUNY.

Prior to Carrier Clinic, Dr. Szulaczkowski was Staff Psychiatrist at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown NJ. He has also previously worked at the Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. In addition, Dr. Szulaczkowski maintains a private practice in Morristown, NJ. Board Certified in Psychiatry, Dr. Szulaczkowski is licensed to practice in both New Jersey and New York.

The Treatment Team

Psychiatrist. When admitted to the inpatient hospital, each patient is assigned an attending psychiatrist or attending APRN. He or she will evaluate medical and psychiatric problems, and recommend and participate in treatment including the prescription of medications, if needed. The psychiatrist is ultimately responsible to assure the quality of care at Carrier Clinic.

APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. A member of the medical staff, an APRN works collaboratively with the psychiatrists and perform the same duties as described above.

Nursing Staff. Registered nurses are on staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week to monitor the patient's mood, behavior, physical status and to intervene accordingly. The nurse administers medication and provides nursing education groups. The registered nurses are also assisted in providing care by Mental Health Technicians (MHTs) and Mental Health Counselors.

Clinical Case Manager. The clinical case manager (licensed social worker) will meet with patients individually, in groups, and in family meetings Monday through Friday. He or she assists the patient in exploring the reasons for hospitalization/stressors, and helps develop a plan to assist in the recovery process. The clinical case manager will work with the psychiatrist, nurse, family members and patient to determine the most appropriate aftercare plan.

Allied counselors provide therapeutic groups daily (problem solving, coping skills, recreation, etc) to help patients achieve their treatment goals.

Mental Health Technician (MHT). MHTs provide a high level of support services for the professional nursing staff and the routine functions of patient care under the direction of the professional nurse.

Crisis Intervention Specialists. Crisis Intervention Specialists assist in the de-escalation of crisis situations in a calm, safe, and supportive manner.

Residential Counselors provide around-the-clock care on a close, personal basis, and assist in establishing an appropriate home environment that provides supervision and support for a range of daily living activities for residents and day-to-day household functions of the East Mountain Youth Lodge.

Addictions Counselor. The Addiction Counselor counsels and educates patients, families and significant others about alcohol and drug addictions and related disorders. They are also responsible for establishing a climate for recovery from addictions and improved psychosocial functioning.

Occupational Therapist. The occupational therapist provides memory testing and life skills assessments. The OT runs groups that teach coping skills, life skills and community re-entry activities.

Physical Therapist. The physical therapist provides rehabilitative services, such as muscle strengthening and balance.