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Our Team

ACI staff is comprised of a diverse set of clinicians, medical professionals, and administrators whose primary focus is centered on quality patient care. Our staff is committed to assisting our patients in achieving recovery by adhering to the ACI mission of quality care above all else.

 

Hawa Jalloh, LMSW, CASAC-MC

Chief Executive Officer

Hawa U. Jalloh, LMSW, CASAC-MC, is ACI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Hawa Jalloh rejoined ACI in June 2018, initially as the Director of Inpatient Admissions. Soon after, Hawa was promoted to the position of Chief Compliance Officer of ACI. Hawa has over 20 years of experience in the chemical dependency and mental health treatment field, including specialties in mental health, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, intellectual disabilities, and staff development training. She has worked in hospital settings (inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs), jail-based treatment programs, non-profit, supported housing programs, family and children services, and for New York State OASAS Addiction Treatment Center.

Hawa received her MSW from Fordham University and is a NYS Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). Hawa was awarded the “Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award for Social Action and Change” in 2013 by the New York State National Association of Social Work and was recognized as a “Student Achiever” at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Work in 2014. In 2016, Hawa was elected as the Division Chair for Westchester County National Association of Social Work and still serving as the Division Chair for the county. In addition to her current role, Hawa is an educator for a college and CASAC training programs, reviews grants for SAMHSA and the Westchester County Youth Bureau, and serves as the President of board membership at the Rockland Psychiatric Community Mental Health Center, in Yonkers, New York.

 

Brad Thomas, MBA, M.A., LMHC

Chief Compliance Officer

Brad Thomas joined ACI in August 2018, initially as the Director of Inpatient Services overseeing the clinical programming of ACI’s inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation units. In June 2019 Brad was promoted to the position of Chief Compliance Officer of ACI.

Brad received his MBA in finance and accounting from Fordham University, his MA in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and he is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). He has almost 20 years of clinical and administrative experience in the chemical dependency and human services field that includes working with mentally ill, homeless, and incarcerated populations. In addition to overseeing all compliance matters and regulatory affairs at ACI, he is integral to the functioning of all clinical operations.

 

Clive Smith, MD

Chief of Medical Services

Dr. Smith is the medical director for ACI.  Dr. Smith’s experience is vast, having worked in internal medicine for many years.  A Bronze Star recipient, Dr. Smith served as a United States Army Captain in the Medical Corps in Vietnam.  Dr. Smith oversees the medical department at ACI and acts as a direct medical provider for the patients served in the inpatient detoxification and inpatient rehabilitation programs.

 

 

Alejo Parellada, M.D.

Chief of Psychiatric Services

Dr. Parellada joined ACI in November 2013. Dr. Parellada received his Doctor En Medicina from the Universidad Central del Este San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana and is certified in addiction medicine by the American Society in Addiction Medicine (ASAM). He completed his fellowship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Dr. Parellada oversees the psychiatric services at ACI and acts as the primary psychiatrist for patients at ACI’s outpatient program and he is fluent in Spanish.

 

Karl Morris

Director of Inpatient Admissions

Karl joined ACI in September 2018 as Clinical Supervisor of Inpatient Services overseeing the Counseling staff of CASAC's, Social Workers and Mental Health Counselors before being promoted to his current position of Director of Inpatient Admissions & Operations in June 2019. Karl has nearly a decade in the Social Services field in a range of roles including Vocational Counselor, Clinical Counselor, Senior Counselor and Clinical Supervisor working with the criminal justice and forensic mental health populations in correctional facilities as well as at inpatient and outpatient treatment modalities. A Certified Anger Management Specialist, Karl is currently studying for his Masters Degree in Social Work and is a NYS Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), Level 2.

Michael Stevenson

Director of Data Services and IT

Michael Stevenson is a 22 year Veteran of ACI. He uses his Healthcare Administration degree and his technical skills from 28 years in the industry to support the ACI team, giving them the tools they need to deliver a life changing treatment experience to ACI’s patients and their families.

Thomas Perry

Director of Outpatient Services

Thomas began his lifelong work in Human Services with ACI 30 years ago, and after 8 years at ACI, and 22 years later, returned on June 2019, as the Director of Outpatient Services.

During the course of his career Thomas excelled to become a Director in several models of care and treatment that include Detox, Short / Long Term Residential Programs, Shelters, Transitional Employment, Prisoner Re-Entry, and Vocational Programs. He has managed operations that have served as many 25 people daily to over a 1000 a day, with upwards of 200 employees under his supervision. Thomas returns with a record of success for improving outcomes throughout his entire career, and credits ACI for his professional foundation. Thomas has been a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor for over 25 years, and excited to be back where it all began.

 

Kathryn Davenport, CASAC

Director of Inpatient Services

Kathryn Davenport joined ACI as the Director of Admissions in October 2018. Kathryn previously worked for many years as a counselor at ACI until she was recruited to become a managed care coordinator in admissions at another chemical dependency treatment facility. In June 2019 Kathryn was promoted to Director of Inpatient Services where she runs the clinical programming of ACI’s inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation units. Kathryn is a NYS Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).

 

Dolores Lopresti

Human Resources

Dolores came to ACI in 2007 after attending Mercy College and has held progressively responsible positions in long term and acute care Human Resources for over 25 years. Dolores’ experience includes employee relations management and policy development in union and non-union facilities. She also serves as management’s representative in bargaining and grievance resolution.

Dolores is committed to ACI’s staff and works with them in developing solutions and delivering services. She stresses service quality and assuring employees are recognized when they are going the extra mile and delivering service excellence beyond the scope of their work.

 

“I firmly believe that ACI is why my son is still alive, back with our family, and back to school. As a mother my primary concern was that my son would receive compassionate care and the attention he needed to focus on his recovery. We have been through this before and I was losing hope, so was my son. It is a very lonely and dark place to be. All ACI staff, doctors, nurses, and counselors were always available when I had questions. We were able to visit and we had a family therapy session where I learned that I had to take care of myself too, without feelings of guilt. We also learned how to set limits and boundaries. At last, freedom, from the emotional pain of being part of an addicted family. My son learned the skills he needs to sustain his sobriety. He learned about the importance of maintaining sober friends and activities. He learned how to say no and change the things in his life that kept holding him back from happiness, health, and success. Thank you ACI I have my son back!”

-Sally, 43