Our team
Jacob Rickoll, DNP, AGNP-C, AAHIVS
I am a licensed APRN, a board certified Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with Doctorate in Nursing Practice, and an HIV Specialist certified by AAHIVM. My experience is in managing the primary care needs of adults, including chronic HIV, HIV PrEP and PEP, HCV, substance abuse, hormone supplementation, sexual health, behavioral health, and anal cancer screening / treatment. Born and raised in New Orleans, I am a graduate of Jesuit High School, University of New Orleans, and Louisiana State University Health Science Center. I am also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer and I'm honored to help you meet your wellness and fitness goals.
Jason Landry, MD, AAHIVS
Member of: AAHIV (American Academy of HIV Medicine) | IDSA (Infectious Diseases Society of America) | IAS-USA (International Antiviral Association-USA)
Family Medicine - Chronic Disease Management
Attended Louisiana State University studying microbiology with particular interest in virology. Accepted into medical school at LSUHSC in New Orleans, Louisiana. Completed 3 year family medicine residency in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Focused on chronic disease management and risk reduction by implementing dietary and lifestyle modification in conjunction with medical management. Particular interests include diabetes and its associated complications (chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease), thyroid dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, liver disease (hepatitis C, hepatitis B, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), and HIV.
Arwen Podesta, MD, ABPN, FASAM, ABIHM
Arwen Podesta, MD is a New Orleans based board-certified adult psychiatrist with sub-specializations in addiction medicine, forensic psychiatry, and integrative medicine. A graduate of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Dr. Podesta completed her psychiatry residency at Louisiana State University before pursuing fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at Tulane University.
Dr. Podesta serves as medical director and consultant to addiction treatment programs throughout Louisiana. She consults for the courts and is an expert witness. Her private practice, Podesta Wellness, is a e multi-disciplinary collaborative model that embodies Dr. Podesta’s wellness model for whole health. Across all contexts and venues, Dr. Podesta’s primary focus has been and continues to be access to integrative mental health and addiction treatment, and rational prescribing practices. She is a national speaker and teacher, and on the steering committee for Psych Congress. www.PodestaWellness.com
Yesenia Sanchez, MSN, PMHNP-BC
With over a decade of dedicated service in Psychiatry and Addiction Recovery, Yesenia stands as an innovative and compassionate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Her journey began in 2009, evolving from a compassionate case manager to a Registered Nurse, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University in 2015. Yesenia's unwavering commitment, rich experience, and adept leadership skills propelled her to the role of Program Manager at Louisiana's pioneering Sobering Center. In this capacity, she collaborated closely with key stakeholders including the Mayor's Office, the Department of Health, New Orleans Police Department, and New Orleans Emergency Services to establish the program, showcasing her ability to effect positive change on a community-wide scale. Driven by her passion to serve the community and address the needs of the underserved, Yesenia pursued advanced education, earning her Masters of Science in Nursing as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of South Alabama in 2023. As a native New Orleanian and proud member of the Hispanic community, Yesenia embodies cultural sensitivity and empathy, enabling her to forge meaningful connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Her steadfast dedication to delivering equitable, high-quality healthcare underscores her commitment to making a lasting impact in the lives of her patients and the broader community.