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Meet the Staff

ASAP Employees


Dr. Vernon Partello, MD - Milwaukee Medical Director

Dr. Vernon Partello, MD has practiced medicine for over 2 decades. He is board certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine with Obstetrics treating both inpatient and outpatient addiction throughout his career and consulting work. He has served as the inpatient medical attending and director for the Rock County Detox Center and Rock County Jail respectively. This broad exposure to addiction has afforded him a deep understanding of the medication assisted treatment options that can be offered to patients including Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol.  He has been caring for patients with primary opiate addiction and co-addictions for the past four years. His goal is to treat patients with addiction issues with dignity, respect and concern for their health as they begin and recover from this difficult illness.

Dr. Christopher Harkin, MD - Madison Medical Director

Dr. Christopher Harkin, MD has practiced medicine for 30 years and has been involved in caring for patients with addiction problems his entire career. He is board certified in Addiction Medicine, Family Medicine and Anesthesiology. For over a decade, he has cared for patients with primary opiate addiction and other co-addictions drawing from his extensive experience. His goal is to treat patients with addiction issues with care and compassion and help guide them into recovery. With his years of experience, he is well versed in the use of Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol as medication assisted treatment tools and can expertly advise his patients on their use as part of their personalized treatment plan.  

Michael York, BSW, SAC - Director of Clinic Operations

Michael York, SAC has been a licensed Substance Abuse Counselor in the state of Wisconsin since 2009. His experience in treating patients with opiate addiction started in 2012 at Quality Addiction Management in Beloit. York was promoted to the clinic manager position at Quality Addiction Management- Beloit in 2013 and transitioned to the clinic director position when Quality Addiction Management was acquired by Acadia Healthcare in 2015. In January of 2018 York left Acadia Healthcare to pursue other goals but has decided to return to counseling as he continues to have a strong desire to work with individuals suffering from the effects of addiction. York’s goal is to facilitate a treatment environment that promotes dignity, respect, and self-determination which will allow all patients who seek treatment at ASAP to take active role in the success of their recovery.

Alyssa RN, BSN - Director of Medical Services

Alyssa RN graduated from Edgewood College with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN). Nurse Alyssa began her nursing career working with Dr. Partello as his nurse (and right arm) in the Primary Care Practice he and Dr. Harkin were partners in. She gained significant exposure and training in this environment to transition into her role as the Director of Medical Services for ASAP.  Nurse Alyssa is a strong patient advocate and believes in preserving human dignity, patient equality and freedom from suffering. Her goal is to break the stigma associated with opioid treatment to provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment for patients to begin their journey towards recovery and sobriety. With her impressive education and training she is comfortable with all aspects of the medication assisted treatment offered at ASAP including the use of Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol.

Kristin MS, CSAC, ICS, LPC - Director of Clinical Services

Kristin began her studies having received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She continued her education and graduated with her Master's degree in Community Counseling with a specialty focus earning her Addiction Counseling Certificate from Winona State University. She has years of experience working with adults with a variety of therapeutic issues including: addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, and adjustment difficulties. She has worked in residential and outpatient treatment settings, working with individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders. In addition to her broad range of work experiences during and after graduation, she has hands on working experience in Medication-Assisted Treatment utilizing a harm reduction approach. Kristin's approach to therapy utilizes evidenced-based practices, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Person-Centered. She works to develop strong relationships with clients, believing the relationship is the core to successful therapeutic changes. She utilizes humor, acceptance, and compassion, to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

Drew AA, SAC - Clinic Manager

Andrews ("Drew") has been a dedicated and caring Substance Abuse Counselor in the state of Wisconsin since 2013 when he started his new career path from the trades.  He has nearly a decade devoted to helping people suffering from both primary opioid, and polypharmacological addiction having worked in Racine county at a certified Opioid Medication Treatment program.  He has a strong desire to work with individuals suffering from the effects of addiction and helping them succeed in their goals.  His philosophy for client care is to facilitate treatment in an environment that promotes dignity, respect, and self-determination.  This will allow all patients seeking treatment at ASAP under his care to take an active role in the success of their recovery.

Wallace CSAC, ICS - Counseling Supervisor

Wallace graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration. He is a licensed Independent Clinical Supervisor and a licensed Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor. Wallace has worked in a variety of addictions treatment modalities including outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), residential with emphasis on dual diagnosis, and residential treatment within the Department of Corrections. Wallace believes that everybody can recover from addiction if given the chance. He has facilitated Addictions Counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Aggression Control Training, Men’s groups, Parenting classes and employment coaching using a variety of counseling theories and approaches.  Wallace strives to create an environment that is safe, therapeutic, and spiritually open. Wallace loves to assist in and see both staff and patients succeed in life goals. 

Christian CSAC

Christian is a bilingual counselor (Spanish/English) who became interested in the Human Services field while completing his Associate's Degree at Gateway Technical College. He earned his degree with Honors in 2014. Then, accomplished a B.A. in Philosophy at the University-of-Wisconsin Parkside. Christian completed his Substance Abuse Counseling internship at the Racine County Jail. Christian has worked in various AODA clinics within Milwaukee helping patients of different backgrounds and belief systems. For more than 3 years, Christian also has been in the field of medicated assisted treatments working closely with medical staff. Before immigrating to the United States in 1999, Christian lived in Japan for three years. His lived experiences and school training had equipped him with the necessary skills to work with a diverse population.

Shelly BS, CSAC

Shelly is a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor licensed as an addiction counselor since 2017 having worked with a variety of diverse populations since 2015. Through this work she as acquired extensive experience working with patients that are living with mental illness and addiction. Shelly earned her Associate’s degree at Gateway Technical College with honors and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services with focus on Social Work at Upper Iowa University. Shelly is currently working on her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is empathetic and her philosophy for client care is to meet an individual where they are at; treating them with respect, compassion, and kindness; and to provide the knowledge and tools for one to succeed in their recovery.  

Charise SAC-IT

Charise has worked with Crisis Stabilization patients and Detoxification patients since 2015 working at Kare Center as a Teaching Counselor. She is purpose driven to assist those who suffer with addiction in their transformation and recovery.  She earned an associate degree in Human Services and took a break following this to spend more time working with at risk patients addicted primarily to opiates. She also dedicated 2 years to work with patients whose loved ones had given up on them. She assisted them in seeing the brighter picture and not focus on past mistakes but live their best life for today. She is currently working with a team focused on the patient and harm reduction as they achieve their goal of abstinence. Her colleagues and patients describe her warm, caring, and easy to talk to.  She believes that anyone can change when they are given the opportunity.  She excels at 1 on 1 Counseling, education, guidance, and motivation to help her patients improve and reach their goals through her lifelong motto of, " Just do it.

 


 

Addiction Specialists

If you or a loved one are suffering, please contact us.
608-807-1428