Our Team of Addiction Treatment Specialists

Doctor Howard Schwartz is the President and CEO of Crestview Recovery Center. After a successful 30-year career practicing Gastroenterology, Dr Schwartz transitioned his focus and energy to help individuals suffering from addiction and mental health issues. He is the President of My Psychiatrist, a large provider of mental health services in Florida, and Co-founder and CEO of Dreamlife Recovery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Schwartz is a dedicated Physician who believes that the key to success in helping patients have optimal outcomes is to have a well-trained team working together all focusing on the health and wellbeing of our patients.

Lidice Morales was raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated, with honors, from Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Lidice has been the Director of Nursing at several behavioral health facilities. She is constantly bettering herself by furthering her education and staying informed. Lidice’s determination to acquire new knowledge and apply it, allows her to adapt, as needed, to the ever changing and growing field of behavioral health care. She was the Director of Operations for Detox MD, in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

Lidice is now the VP of Operations at DreamLife Recovery, in Donegal, PA, as well as Crest View Recovery Center in Asheville, NC. She is very passionate about providing the best care possible for her patients and their families. Lidice is dedicated to creating a professional work atmosphere that allows her team to work together to achieve higher levels of patient care. Her incredible work ethic and enthusiasm allow her to be successful in the dynamic world of behavioral health care.

Dr. Sandeep Mendiratta completed a combined BS/MD accelerated program at Northeast Ohio Medical University. From there, he went on to be trained at the University of Florida and subsequently became a Board-Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Mendiratta has significant clinical inpatient and office experience with adults, adolescents, and children across different disciplines of psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and addiction medicine. He has served as medical director at multiple addiction-based facilities throughout his career. He is also ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) certified and Suboxone certified for opiate addiction. Dr. Mendiratta served as a clinical investigator at Research Centers of America having contributed clinical research in over 75 clinical trials.

Dr. Mendiratta has served as a clinical assistant professor on the faculty of The University of Miami/Jackson School of Medicine and the Florida International University/Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine. He has received numerous awards in teaching, including the prestigious Excellence in Medicine Teaching Award.

Dr. Mendiratta currently serves as the Chair of Psychiatry at Broward Health Imperial Point, Fort Lauderdale.

Abbey is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) with nearly ten years of experience in the substance use and mental health field. She completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC, and then completed her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. She is passionate about ensuring clients and their families receive the best care possible through CVRC. Abbey has ongoing conversations with clients and staff to ensure the environment and programs produce positive outcomes. No matter how big or small, she enjoys identifying challenges and looking for solutions. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outside, exercising, and reading.

After surviving her own personal experiences with substance use, Brittany found a passion for sharing her journey and words of hope with people struggling under similar circumstances. She joined the Crest View team in 2019 and has since held various roles including Behavioral Health Technician, Case Manager, Client Care Coordinator, and Utilization Review. Currently, Brittany is the Client Care Supervisor, providing support and guidance to the clients at Crest View.

In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, and never misses a Duke basketball game! Go Blue Devils!

Nena began her career as an Experimental Psychologist in the field of cognitive function of children with developmental disabilities in 2010. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Alabama before returning to her stomping grounds in Western Carolina in 2012. As an adult child of addiction and someone with a keen interest in the clinical side of psychology, she began working in the recovery world in 2012.

In the last 12 years, Nena has worked in leadership roles and as an RN in the field of substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and in working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Nena grew up in Polk County, NC and is dedicated to community outreach and enriching quality of life, especially for the underserved populations of Western Carolina. She obtained her PMHNP in January 2024 and currently enjoys working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Crest View Recovery Center.

Born and raised in upstate New York, Rachael discovered a fervency for helping people early in life. In 2012, she obtained her Nursing Degree from Albany Memorial School of Nursing and has followed her passions ever since. Rachael utilizes her own life experiences in recovery to give guidance and words of hope to the struggling addict.

In her free time, Rachael enjoys spending time outdoors. When she’s not fishing or relaxing on the beach, she likes cooking and spending time with her family and loved ones.