About Us
About Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers
Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers was established in 2016 to provide residents of the DMV with life-changing mental healthcare. After nearly two decades of experience in medicine, our Founder, Dr. Aubrey Verdun, saw a gap in new offerings for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, suicidal ideation, and beyond.
Since 2016, Dr. Verdun has been proudly offering Ketamine Infusion Therapy and Stellate Ganglion Block therapy across the DMV, bridging the gap for people seeking these cutting-edge treatment options. In 2021, after five years in business, Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers proudly opened a second location in Reston, Virginia, and brought on Dr. Edward Park as a new physician to join the practice. In the time since, we've added new locations in Columbia, Bethesda, Marshall, and Vienna.
We specialize in treating difficult conditions such as Treatment Resistant Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Chronic Pain and more from our comfortable and conveniently located offices in Bethesda and Reston.
Personalized patient care is what sets us apart in our Columbia, Bethesda, Rockville, Marshall, Reston, or Vienna Ketamine Treatment Centers. When you visit our offices, you can expect expert physician supervision, and compassionate care throughout your experience. We can't wait to help you take your next step toward progress.
Flexible Appointment Scheduling Across the DMV
As a patient-centered practice, we offer flexible appointment scheduling outside of our normal business hours. Patients with busy schedules can rely on us for morning or evening infusions, and even in-home infusions around the DMV.
Our patient-centered care can be found in these cities and beyond:
Maryland:
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Rockville
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Bethesda
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Chevy Chase
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Silver Spring
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Potomac
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Gaithersburg
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Hyattsville
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Kensington
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Glen Echo
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Takoma Park
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Rollins Park
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Columbia
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Laurel
Virginia:
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Reston
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Vienna
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Fairfax
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Great Falls
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McLean
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Arlington
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Ashburn
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Sterling
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Herndon
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Centreville
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Alexandria
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Marshall
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Middleburg
And across Washington, D.C.
Compassion
Check out our reviews to see how our patients rate the quality of care we provide. We take pride in offering kind, compassionate care at every step of our patient process.
Trust
Our expert physicians and caring clinical staff provide you with an exceptional health care experience at every touch point.
Effective
Our treatments provide fast, safe relief and can fundamentally improve mood and quality of life.
Our Medical Team
Aubrey Verdun, MD
Medical Director
Freedom Ketamine Infusion Centers Founder and Medical Director Aubrey Verdun, MD is a double-board certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician. Dr. Verdun completed his undergraduate degree at The George Washington University in Washington D.C. and medical school at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. He completed his Anesthesiology residency at The University of Chicago Hospital and his Pain Management Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.
Currently, Dr. Verdun works under the Wounded Warrior Pain Care Initiative at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) servicing military populations and high ranking government employees with acute and chronic pain management needs. He has extensive experience treating patients with ketamine. He has helped develop and maintain outpatient ketamine infusion protocols for patients suffering from depression and chronic pain.
Dr. Verdun believes ketamine is most effective long term when coupled with psychotherapy. Ketamine provides a great window for psychotherapy and addressing psychiatric issues. Anesthesiologists use ketamine for a multitude of medical conditions, however to Dr. Verdun the most compelling data that exists supports its use for depression.
“The results following ketamine infusion treatments are amazing. I watched people go from severe catatonic depression and not eating to walking around, eating, and joking with people while in the hospital. This is truly an amazing experience to watch, visualize, and be a part of. This is why I founded Freedom Depression Treatment Center. I entered medicine to help change and influence lives. Ketamine has been the largest impact I’ve seen delivered on one’s life in such a quick time span. Truly amazing.”
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Edward Park, MD
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
Edward Park, MD is a board certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician partner with the Freedom Team.
Native to Southern California, Dr. Park attended the University of California Irvine and moved to the DMV area in 2010. He obtained his Medical Degree from the Uniformed Services University and completed his residency in anesthesiology and fellowship in pain medicine.
He currently splits his time between the operating room caring for patients under anesthesia and as a pain management physician, managing chronic pain conditions.
His experience with ketamine infusions is extensive, ranging from use as an anesthetic and pain adjunct in surgical cases, severe chronic pain conditions to depression and mood disorders.
He has a passion to help patients who may otherwise feel that all hope is lost with his knowledge and expertise.
“To some medicine is an interest and profession but taking care of patients is my passion. I would love the opportunity to care for you or your loved one!”
Donna Johnson Harvey, MD
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
Donna Johnson Harvey, MD is a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician serving the Maryland practices of Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers. Dr. Johnson brings nearly thirty years of medical training to our team, having worked in medical systems and hospitals across the country.
Currently, Dr. Johnson Harvey splits her time between care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and our Bethesda and Maryland offices, while consulting with healthcare practices nationwide to share her love of patient engagement and advocacy.
In her career, she also helped with the development and execution of ketamine protocols within the Department of Defense, was instrumental in the collaboration between behavioral health and anesthesiology services to implement this service for our military and wounded warrior population, aiming to use ketamine therapy for refractory pain, depression, and PTSD.
Dr Johnson Harvey is a member of the American Society of Pain, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Medical Association, and the National Medical Association.
“Being a resident of the DMV myself, I look forward to providing our community with the life-changing care ketamine infusion therapy can provide. This treatment method is only gaining traction nationwide for its safe and effective treatment for mood and mental health disorders, and I’m proud to be part of the Freedom team bringing this care to our local community.”
Erin Mary McElhone, DO
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
Dr. McElhone is a board-certified Anesthesiologist working in our Maryland offices.
After earning a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry, she went on to earn her Doctorate of Osteopathy, and later complete a medical residency in anesthesiology.
Dr. McElhone has won numerous awards throughout her academic career.
Her work in ketamine infusion therapy has been published in numerous medical journals and studies, even presenting a multi-specialty grand rounds presentation on ketamine for pain and mood disorders. In addition to her work, Dr. McElhone has volunteered internationally for several years, providing compassionate medical care to communities in need at home and abroad.
Anna Indenbaum MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse on Staff
Anna Indenbaum is a professional nurse with over 6 years of nursing experience in Geriatrics, Stroke, Respirator, Emergency Medicine, and Pain Management. She speaks fluent English and Russian. Her clinical skills include bedside manner, infection control, physiological knowledge, administering medication, communication, and setting health standards. We're proud to have Nurse Anna's expertise on staff in our various locations across Maryland and Virginia.
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Emily Mercado BSN
Nurse on Staff
Emily Mercado is a professional nurse with experience in emergency departments, telemetry, cardiac step-down, intermediate and progressive care units, and pain management. In her time serving in the United States Navy, Emily was a Corpsman and Dental Assistant, learning key care skills and medical experience. She earned her BSN from the University of Maryland, and is currently in a BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) program at UMD.
Anike Akinbulumo RN
Nurse on Staff
Tashaniyi Byrd RN
Nurse on Staff
Anike Akinbulumo is a Registered Nurse with a background in Emergency Departments and Telemetry. With several years of experience as a travel emergency department nurse, Anike is continuing her education, and currently in school studying for her BSN. She’s planning to complete her degree in September 2024. Anike is licensed in four states (including Maryland and Virginia, among others) and brings a compassionate, upbeat attitude to our team.
Tashaniyi Byrd is a Registered Nurse with over ten years of experience in medicine, including in intensive care units and psychiatric facilities. After earning a BSN from Towson University, Tashaniyi is currently continuing her education, studying to become a psychiatric and mental health Nurse Practitioner. With a passion for mental health and diverse experience across departments, we’re proud to have her kind, knowledgeable professionalism as part of our practice.
Six Convenient Locations
Proudly announcing our new practice
We're proud to announce the opening of our new sister practice, Freedom IV Hydration Centers.
If you're looking for the same personalized patient care with hydration, immunity, and beauty infusions/injections, visit our website today.