top of page

Our Medical Team

IMG_9676.jpg
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.”

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. Let your users get to know you.

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. Let your users get to know you.

IMG_3893 (1)_edited.jpg
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!”

1661794454206blob.jpg
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. â€‹

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.”

McElhone Headshot.png
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.

Dr Park Full Bio
IMG_4843.PNG
Ali Turabi, MD
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist

Ali Turabi is an anesthesiologist and chronic pain physician with over 15 years experience.  He spent 14 years active duty and is currently in the US Army Reserve.  Colonel Turabi’s military career began when he was accepted into medical school at the Uniformed Services University located on Naval Support Activity, Bethesda, MD. He attended between 2003 and 2007 and graduated with honors and received his Doctor of Medicine degree. He then completed an anesthesiology residency at Walter Reed Army Medical center.

Upon completion of his residency, he served as a Trauma Anesthesiologist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Europe Regional Medical Command. He was then went back to Walter Reed for an interventional pain fellowship.  He returned to Landstuhl where he served as Chief of Pain Management. Colonel Turabi was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was assigned as Chief Anesthesiologist for the 710th Medical Company (Area Support) as part of the Role 2E Joint NATO Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He served on the Kabul golden hour offset surgical team (GHOST) team.

 

Following his deployment, he was assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. Colonel Turabi left active duty, after 14 years of active Army service, and joined the United States Army Reserve in 2019. He was assigned to the 348th Field Hospital in 2020. Colonel Turabi volunteered and completed humanitarian aid missions in Guam and served as Medical Support Officer-In-Charge for Jungle Survival Training in Belize. Most recently, he was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shied as the Deputy Commander of Clinical Services for the United States Military Hospital – Kuwait. During his deployment, Colonel Turabi was the officer in charge for medical and humanitarian care off the coast of Gaza City on the humanitarian aid pier. He returned from his deployment in June 2024. 

 

 

He was a principal investigator in the pivotal DOD Stellate ganglion block study.  He developed and implemented ketamine infusion protocols for Walter Reed military medical center and Landstuhl Regional medical center (Germany).  He is currently the lead physician for peripheral nerve stimulation at Walter Reed military medical center. 

Anna Indenbaum
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. 

image0 (4)-min.jpeg
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 Akinbulum.jpg
Anike Akinbulumo 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.

IMG_0155.jpg
Tashaniyi Byrd RN
Nurse on Staff

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.

Stephen_updated.jpg
Stephen A. Christenbury RN
Nurse on Staff

With over 30 years of nursing experience, Stephen A. Christenbury, RN, BSN brings exceptional expertise and compassionate care to Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers. A Towson University graduate, and ACLS-certified, he has worked across multiple hospital departments, specializing in ICU, critical care, and pain management. A Maryland Army National Guard veteran, Stephen was on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been recognized with the Daisy Award and Franklin Square Hospital’s 2024 Nurse of the Year. His four years of ketamine infusion experience make him an invaluable part of the team, helping patients find relief from mental health and chronic pain conditions.

New nurse.jpg
Grace Aureus, MSN, RN, CPAN, CCRN
Nurse on Staff

Grace, brings 28 years of nursing expertise spanning ED, MS, ICU, PACU, Oncology, and Pain Management. She is a passionate educator and patient advocate, dedicated to creating safe, compassionate environments that foster healing and recovery.

Eight Convenient Locations

Proudly announcing our new practice

IV Hydration logo_FINAL-01.webp

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.

bottom of page