Leading Recovery and Rehabilitation Experts

Elizabeth Rubin, MD is a board-certified physician with advanced fellowship training in Medical Simulation, specializing in education, patient safety, and systems innovation. She currently practices at a Level I Trauma Center in Los Angeles, California, where she cares for critically ill and injured patients. She also serves on the clinical oversight team at The Embers Treatment, a drug & alcohol treatment center in Arizona. Dr. Rubin earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach and went on to pursue a fellowship in Medical Simulation at the University of Chicago / NorthShore University HealthSystem. Her professional interests include simulation-based education, quality improvement, patient safety, and developing innovative approaches to emergency medical training. Through her work, she strives to improve both clinician performance and patient outcomes in high-stakes, time-sensitive environments.

Mick is the founder of Primal Recovery Melbourne, a centre that redefines what recovery should look like in an era when mainstream wellness has lost its edge. Instead of candles, fluff, or surface-level “relaxation,” Mick built Primal Recovery as a space where recovery is treated like training: intense, effective, and absolutely essential. The centre combines ice baths, saunas (steam and infrared), red light therapy, vibration training, compression boots, and contrast therapy into structured systems designed to do one thing — deliver results. What sets Mick apart is his philosophy. He isn’t another coach pushing buzzwords or a clinic hiding behind white coats. He’s a straight-talking operator who believes recovery must tackle the root causes of fatigue, and pain — not just paper over the symptoms. Mick’s perspective comes from experience across multiple domains. With a background in bodybuilding, construction, psychology, natural health modalities, and music, he knows firsthand how the body and mind respond to stress, overload, and adversity. He has seen the toll that inflammation, poor circulation, shallow breathing, and nervous system fatigue can take on performance — not only for fighters, but also for everyday people trying to survive high-pressure lives. At Primal Recovery, he channels this knowledge into recovery protocols that mimic what the human body evolved for: cycles of heat and cold, stress and rest, exertion and recalibration. An athlete stepping into the Ctrl + Alt + Del protocol — vibration plate → sauna → ice bath → sauna → ice bath → red light therapy → compression boots — experiences a complete reset of circulation, inflammation, and mental state. It’s not theory, it’s not placebo — it’s physiology applied with precision. Beyond the tools, Mick has become a voice on the importance of nervous system regulation in trauma recovery, stress resilience, and performance. He is outspoken about how mainstream health systems often chase quick symptom relief while ignoring the underlying dysfunctions. For him, modalities like ice baths, breathwork, red light therapy, and contrast cycles are not gimmicks — they’re gateways to genuine adaptation and healing. Mick continues to push a movement that’s bigger than a single centre. It’s about proving that recovery, done properly, is not soft, indulgent, or optional — it’s the hard, primal reset that keeps people sharp, unbreakable, and ready for whatever fight life throws at them.

Dr. Mariam Zakhary is an accomplished physician specializing in Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences, graduating summa cum laude from the New York Institute of Technology, and went on to complete her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. Following a traditional rotating internship at CarePoint Health, she pursued her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she also completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship. She is double board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as Sports Medicine, reflecting her deep commitment to both patient care and academic excellence. Throughout her career at Mount Sinai, Dr. Zakhary has taken on leadership roles that merge clinical innovation with compassionate, patient-centered care. She currently serves as Medical Director of Rehabilitation and Human Performance and leads the Women’s Sports Program, where she has built a truly collaborative model for caring for female athletes. She also directs the Sports Medicine Fellowship program, mentoring future physicians while advancing research on athlete health and chronic illness recovery. Beyond her hospital work, she lends her expertise to organizations such as USA Fencing, International Sumo, and RedBull Human Performance, where she helps athletes optimize performance and recovery. She also serves as a Clinical Advisor for Ikon Recovery Center, a drug and alcohol treatment facility in New Jersey, where she finds it deeply rewarding to use her gifts to support individuals on their journey of healing and recovery. Whether treating Olympic athletes or underserved patients at local clinics, Dr. Zakhary brings the same dedication, empathy, and vision—using medicine not just to heal, but to empower.

Ikon Recovery is a passion-driven recovery center I’ve been developing over the course of several years. It was inspired by my own recovery journey and what I found lacking in the typical program. My personal experiences and encounters with the challenges of addiction have shaped my commitment to building a recovery program that goes beyond conventional approaches. One that goes beyond the typical “must fit in this box” methods at the average treatment center. One that helps as many people as possible. I have a unique vision for Ikon Recovery that creates a memorable experience you can appreciate and cherish. With my background in Social Science and my experience leading a 130+ person team in my family business, community-building is in my DNA. I know that what my team and I have designed will help many alcohol and substance use disorder sufferers long after formal treatment has ended. We’re not here to pressure you into doing it “our way” but we are here to guide you. For your own health and safety, your struggle with addiction has to be addressed – but you don’t have to dread the process. At Ikon, we will enjoy the recovery process together. We will embark on a journey that allows you to shed the weight of past burdens, nurturing a profound transformation within. Welcome to Ikon Recovery. Let’s pursue greatness together.

Addictions Treatment with a Twist on Leadership and Communications; Person in Long-term Recovery and Recovery Advocate.

Dr. James Lyons, M.D., is an internationally trained physician that was born in Germany. He is the son of a teacher and army veteran and was raised in Texas, but traveled extensively during his medical training. From medical rotations in French Hospital Systems, to his training in Miami at Ryder Trauma medical center and psychiatric training at TGK Prison, his depth of knowledge for those in acute crises is vast. In addition to his doctorate in medicine, Dr. Lyons also holds a Masters of Medical Sciences and coordinated research trials for schizophrenia pharmaceutical treatments in Dallas, TX. He completed his residency in Rural Michigan as a Family Medicine Physician, where he made home visits, and was rigorously trained in all aspects of medical care from delivering and caring for newborns, to end of life care. In his final year of training, he was named chief resident of this program. After 3 additional years practicing in rural east texas as a hospitalist in the acute setting, he, his wife, and their 4 children now reside back in Texas where he was raised, where his parents are retired, and where his sister works as a registered nurse in hospital leadership. Dr. Lyons continues to practice medicine in the acute setting as a hospitalist and emergency room physician in the greater Austin area. Aside from direct patient care, Dr. Lyons provides medical expertise and consulting while also being actively involved in performance improvement, infection control, and medical executive committees in the hospitals where he practices.

Alexandros Kourmoulakis is the Founder and Lead Architect of drugrehabilitationnearme.com, a national digital infrastructure project dedicated to democratizing access to addiction treatment data. Blending high-performance web architecture (Next.js) with critical public health analytics, Alexandros engineers tools that visualize complex SAMHSA datasets to identify and eliminate healthcare access deserts. His work focuses on bridging the "digital divide" in recovery by providing real-time, verified intelligence on treatment availability, insurance transparency, and clinical specialization across 26,000+ U.S. facilities.

Dr. Ayesha Bryant, M.S.P.H, M.D. is a physician, clinical scientist, and associate professor dedicated to translating complex medical research into practical health solutions. With more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple textbook chapters, Dr. Bryant is recognized for her contributions to perioperative outcomes research, preventive medicine, and quality-of-life improvement. She currently serves as a clinical advisor at Alpas Wellness, a drug, alcohol & mental health treatment center in Maryland. She completed her medical training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and Emory University, with additional training in epidemiology and public health. Her research has been featured at major national and international conferences, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Bryant’s expertise spans functional medicine, AI-driven healthcare algorithms, and national clinical data registry research. She is passionate about combining evidence-based medicine with real-world wellness strategies to improve patient outcomes and preventive care. In addition to her academic work, she has written for Rupa Health, where she shares insights on how readers can live healthier, more vibrant lives.

Dr. Rick Marasa is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, and also holds an MBA degree. Over his 40 year career in Medicine he has extensive experience as a Physician Executive in Emergency, Urgent Care Medicine and has established MAT and initial treatment for Substance use disorder in the Community Emergency Department setting. More recently, he has expanded his role to being the Medical Director of several Inpatient Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs, including New Wave Recovery in Salisbury, MA. He also serves as a Board of Directors member of several Substance Use Disorder Facilities and Organizations, including the Vermont Physicians Health Program. Dr. Marasa is proud to say he has been in long-term recovery for over 23 years.

Experienced Educational Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Educational Assessment, group and individual support. Certificate in Special Education focused in communication disorders and masters in educational counseling from Oranim College of Education.

Aliya B. Pasik, MS, PA-C is an addiction medicine clinician at the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine and author of The Sobriety Manual. She teaches a practical, ADHD-friendly journaling method that helps people separate the sober self from the urge voice and make the next right choice in under 10 minutes. Her focus is shame-free, realistic recovery for patients and families. Available for expert commentary, interviews, and bylines.

Jacqui is a Certified Well-Being Ambassador (CWBA), Certified Life Coach (CLC), Recovery Coach Professional (RCP) and the Co-Founder and CEO of Premier Wellness of South Florida. with over 13 years of dedicated experience in the mental health field. Driven by a passion for transforming lives, she focuses on advancing mental health care for those facing persistent mental health challenges. Through her establishment of Premier Wellness of South Florida, a network of Supportive Living Homes and a range of supportive services, Jacqui creates nurturing environments that empower individuals to build self-esteem and discover their purpose. Her commitment to reducing recidivism from jails and institutions while cultivating meaningful connections ensures that those she serves feel genuinely heard and supported, even when navigating life's ups and downs.

J’accompagne avec bienveillance celles et ceux qui font face à une dépendance, en les aidant à se reconnecter à eux-mêmes et à retrouver un équilibre de vie. Je détiens un baccalauréat en sociologie (UQAM) ainsi qu’un certificat en intervention en dépendances (UdeM). J’accompagne non seulement les personnes aux prises avec des comportements addictifs, mais aussi celles qui vivent de la codépendance ainsi que les proches de personnes ayant une dépendance.

Innovative and successful Physician, Research Coordinator, and Medical Writer; with 10+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, medical research, psychology, and education field. Nicolette holds a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), recently graduating from Nova Southeastern University, a B.A. in English Literature, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Miami. Throughout her medical school and undergraduate studies Nicolette was involved in the medical research and writing field. Her prior experiences include patient care, grant writing, medical writing, and research management.

Dr. Ryan Peterson, a compassionate and highly experienced physician with a profound understanding of addiction and recovery. After graduating from The George Washington University School of Medicine, he boasts an impressive track record in pain management, anesthesiology, and addiction medicine. As a board-certified physician in anesthesiology and pain medicine, Dr. Peterson has supported numerous patients in managing their chronic pain with a combination of medical expertise and genuine empathy. His approach to care revolves around treating each patient as a unique individual, crafting tailored treatment plans to help them effectively manage their pain.

Co-founded online retailers Recovery For Athletes, Renewable Outdoors, and Electric Boarding Company. Oversees all marketing and growth initiatives. Achieved over $75 million in net sales between the three companies by the age of 28. Has a Bachelor's degree focused in Advertising from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Former professional tennis player.

I am the founder and director of Grief Recovery Center, a Trusted Houston mental health practice since 2015, offering inclusive care in-person, online, and in Spanish. I focus on helping people work through grief and life transitions in a safe, compassionate environment. I started the practice in 2015 as a small solo practice while still working full-time at a psychiatric hospital, and over time it has grown into a group practice with a full administrative team and more than 20 therapists, all committed to providing quality care. My commitment to this work is deeply personal. After experiencing a painful, life-altering loss, I went through The Grief Recovery Institute®’s Grief Recovery Program® myself. That experience helped me heal and led me to specialize in grief recovery so I could support others who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or alone in their grief. At Grief Recovery Center, I am dedicated to creating a space where people can show up exactly as they are, without judgment, no matter the type of loss they are facing. This includes losses such as the death of a loved one, relationship or friendship changes, pet loss, pregnancy-related loss, loss of trust or faith, and many other forms of grief. In addition to grief and loss, our team also supports clients with a wide range of other clinical concerns. My goal is for every client to feel seen, heard, and supported, and to know they have a safe place to come for help.

After serving as Clinical Director for over two and a half years, Stephanie shifted her focus to outpatient care and currently serves as the Executive Director for Epiphany Wellness Centers. She is enthusiastic about this new chapter and looks forward to leveraging her expertise and decade-long experience in the field. Additionally, she holds an LCSW in Pennsylvania and currently maintains an LSW in New Jersey. Stephanie has progressed from an RSS to an Executive Director in the substance abuse field, achieving significant growth and accumulating extensive knowledge along the way. Through her roles, she has successfully managed large teams and imparted valuable leadership skills to others.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Owner of Quiet Water Counseling. I am EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) Certified, and have extensive experience as a PTSD Counselor. I also work with a lot of men in my counseling practice. I am also a Nationally Board Certified Counselor and a Master's Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP).