This is us

Meet our team

James Ekbatani

Founder & Chairman of the board

James Ekbatani is the founder of Lotus Behavioral Health and the chairman of its board of directors. James founded this non for profit organization in 2021 after a tragic experience with substance use with his immediate family. James provided the seed funding for this project and a twenty thousand square foot facility to house the project. His desire to invest in this organization comes from a deep desire to help youth throughout the world. James’ Ekbatani, a veteran healthcare entrepreneur has been involved in creating successful healthcare companies for the past 35 years. His last venture was creating the largest mobile healthcare organization in the country focused on bringing preventive medicine to nearly two million seniors in 26 states within the US.

Gary Hazy

Executive Director

Gary Hazy serves as the Executive Director of Lotus Behavioral Health. With a career spanning 20+ years in the behavioral health field, Gary has dedicated his efforts to transforming the lives of kids and families facing challenging situations. He is fueled by a passion for making a positive impact and has tirelessly advocated for accessible, compassionate, and evidence-based care. His experiences across several states, in diverse roles, allows him to not only have a deep understanding of the mental health care field but also the kids he serves. Known for his exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to inspire others, Gary fosters a collaborative environment where team members are challenged, accountable and thrive. He values the expertise of Lotus Behavioral Health's dedicated staff and believes in empowering them to make a difference in the lives of the kids in their care. Gary remains steadfast in his mission to transform lives and improve the overall well-being of the community. Through his visionary leadership, compassionate approach, and commitment to excellence, he continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of youth in need.

Christopher Bevan

Operations Director

Christopher Bevan is the Director of Operations at Lotus Behavioral Health where he advances the care for clients challenged with substance use and mental health disorders

Maya Namnum

Business Development Director

Maya brings a dynamic blend of expertise in adolescent behavioral health, substance use treatment, and strategic partnership development to her role as Director of Business Development. She specializes in relationship-driven outreach, connecting families, clinicians, and referral partners to the right levels of care through a trauma-informed and developmentally focused lens.Known for her ability to translate complex clinical services into clear, compassionate messaging, Maya strengthens referral networks, enhances engagement, and helps organizations align their services with the evolving needs of today’s youth and families. Her work reflects both her deep industry knowledge and her commitment to ensuring every young person has access to meaningful, effective support.

Nadine Massilon

Psychiatric Provider

Nadine Massilon MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC is a dual board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Nadine has a robust background of 15 + years of experience in healthcare with eight of those as a healthcare provider. Nadine has developed a profound commitment to providing compassionate and evidence-based care to individuals facing substance use and mental health Challenges. Nadine focuses on psychiatric wellness including evaluations with medication management services. Her empathetic approach, combined with clinical expertise, provides a supportive environment where clients teel heard, understood, and empowered to achieve wellness.

Dr. Robert Watkins III

Medical Director

Dr. Watkins has been practicing Psychiatric Medicine for over 14 years. He completed his Adult Psychiatry training at Columbia University as well as a Child and Adolescent fellowship at the University of Texas. Dr. Watkins works closely with his team to provide the safest and best care possible to kids served. He pushes his team towards excellence and is committed to improving wellness and quality of life.

Megan Giddens

Director of Clinical Services

Megan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 18 years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment, clinical supervision, and community prevention initiatives.

Allie Bergere

Director of Admissions

Allie Bergere serves as Director of Admissions with over 10 years of experience supporting individuals and families through the challenges of substance use, mental health, and recovery.