Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer

Nico Grundmann, MD MBA

Dr. Nicolas Grundmann is a board certified emergency medicine physician, devoted to improving how healthcare systems operate for those who need it the most.

Working in emergency rooms from suburban California, to inner-city New York, to rural West Virginia, Nico grew frustrated by how frequently he was treating acute symptoms of mental health without helping his patients with more sustained, long term solutions. Many years of working with ketamine as a safe medicine for sedation prompted continuous research of the drug's efficacy for other conditions, including depression. Nico founded Ember Health as a way to help individuals take control of their lives, and contribute to the shaping of a field in line with his values.

Dr. Grundmann pursued his residency training at Kings County Hospital / SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY, and received his Medical Degrees and Masters in Business Administration from Stanford University. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and family.

Co-Founder, Chief Experience Officer

Tiffany Franke

An organizational strategist by training, Tiffany has devoted her career to using business as a force for environmental and social change. She is passionate about understanding and improving systems, and has worked extensively in the healthcare arena with leading innovators from Boston Children's Hospital, Pfizer, and the Texas Medical Center. At Ember, Tiffany is focused on all of the details of the patient experience - from the design of the space, to the reading material provided - as well as the health and longevity of Ember as an organization.

Tiffany received her BA from Yale University, and her Master's Degree in Sustainability Leadership from Cambridge University. While formal education set a firm foundation, her greatest learning has been through travel and work in over 50 countries. Tiffany lives in Brooklyn Heights with her husband and two beautiful children, and does all she can to live her values, driven by an insatiable curiosity and desire to do right by her family, her friends, and the world.

Senior Director of People and Talent

Madeline Scheffler

Madeline is a tenured people leader, driven to create environments where everyone can thrive at work. With a background in the arts, education, and healthcare, Madeline has a deep commitment to mission-driven organizations and developing teams, cultures, and policies to further those missions. 

Madeline earned her Bachelors in theater, arts education, and communications at Northwestern University, and her Master’s in Education from Hunter College. She started her career teaching in Brooklyn and the Bronx, and then helped found and lead a public arts school in Brooklyn. Motivated by the forming and shaping of teams to do important work, Madeline joined an executive consulting firm where she led leadership-level searches for mission driven companies across the country. Through this work, Madeline honed her skills running equitable and inclusive hiring processes, coaching leaders, and managing complex projects. Ready to broaden her HR scope and serve an organization internally, Madeline transitioned to the healthcare startup space. At Ember, she is responsible for the full life cycle of a team member’s experience - from hiring and onboarding to continued development, and everything in between. Madeline’s goal is for all of her Ember colleagues to have the training, support, resources and environment so they can best support patients. 

During her time away from the office, Madeline is a mom of two young kids who keep her laughing and busy. She is an avid theater goer, and converted her husband into one as well. She and her family live in Westchester.

Senior Director of Operations

Adam Fry

A human-centered systems thinker, Adam is passionate about building mission-driven organizations to drive positive impact at scale. 

Adam brings extensive experience in healthcare operations and finance from over a decade at the Veterans Affairs Hospital System, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Iora Health. Most recently, he co-founded Budgeat, a startup aimed at improving nutritional security and reducing food waste. At Ember, Adam leads operational improvement and excellence across the enterprise, and supports the overall trajectory of the organization.

Adam holds a BA in Industrial Engineering and MBA from Northeastern University. He is a prolific consumer of world news, avid traveler, and consummate culinary explorer. Originally from the Netherlands, Adam currently resides in Manhattan with his fiancé. He believes in the power of people at their best, and feels deeply committed to contributing his small part to making the world a better place.

Assistant to the Founders

Stephanie Wang

Stephanie is a compassionate professional, committed to providing patients with a safe and supportive environment for their care. With a background in PR and communications, she brings administrative expertise and a love for language to Ember Health. Stephanie entered the mental health and wellness industry because of her passion for making a positive impact in people’s lives, even in the smallest of ways.

Stephanie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Penn State University. She values family above all else, and finds joy in travel, new experiences, and quality time with friends. Born and raised in California, she currently resides in Lower Manhattan where her love for the City grows stronger every day.

Intake Coordinator

Grace Bentley

Grace is an administrative professional, driven by a passion to improve access to quality mental health care. In her role at Ember Health, this translates into how she engages prospective patients with compassion, empathy, and an open mind.

Grace is committed to providing unparalleled support in the healthcare industry, having worked at athenahealth and Vida Health prior to joining Ember. In her previous roles she focused on creating a seamless, low-stress environment for clients and patients. She is currently pursuing her master’s in Health Administration from Columbia University to deepen her expertise in the field. Coupled with her BS in Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Virginia, Grace brings a rigorous, evidence-based perspective to the intake coordinator position. She is motivated to be a caring, knowledgeable first point of contact for our patients. 

Outside of the office, Grace enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the movies, hiking, and traveling to new locations to scuba dive. She can often be found walking around Brooklyn Heights, exploring local businesses.

Executive Office Administrator

Mia Dixler

Mia is an administrative professional who is passionate about storytelling and helping individuals reach their full potential. In her role at Ember Health, she is eager to help increase access to mental health care and dispel stigma around mental health treatment. She is excited to apply her administrative expertise at Ember Health to create positive change in peoples’ lives.

Prior to joining Ember Health, Mia held administrative roles in healthcare, education, and entertainment. She received a BFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and grew up in Chicago.

When she’s not at work, Mia enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and two cats, visiting museums with friends, and exploring her neighborhood in Queens. She can often be found writing essays, listening to podcasts, and testing new recipes in the kitchen.

Administrative Partner

Alexandra Blackstone

With a deep passion for health and wellness, Alexandra dedicates herself to supporting and advocating for others. At Ember Health, she has applied this passion to providing administrative coverage across clinics, and supporting the outreach efforts of the partnerships team.

Alexandra received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Studies from the University of Washington. Through her studies, she gained insight into social determinants of health, reinforcing her commitment to advocating for equal access to health resources and serving as a steadfast support system for friends and family. During her time at University, Alexandra also took pride in working as a Certified Personal Trainer. She loved guiding clients toward their fitness goals and imparting knowledge on exercise and nutrition.

Born and raised in Seattle, Alexandra's childhood was filled with exploration, museum visits, and ballet. Rooted in an artistic foundation, she enjoys drawing, photography, music, and various escapes that unleash art's therapeutic benefits. Last summer, Alexandra found solace in teaching herself piano and still enjoys the relaxing escape of practicing.

Having recently moved to New York City, Alexandra was drawn to the city's architecture, history, and liberating energy, and is excited for the journey ahead.

Physician and Clinical Director, Brooklyn Heights

Daniel Adams, MD

Dr. Adams is a board certified emergency physician passionate about providing evidence-based care to patients with treatment-resistant depression. He brings robust experience safely administering ketamine in emergency settings to his patients at Ember Health.

Dr. Adams earned his medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he spent an additional year conducting research on interventional therapies for mental health disorders in the lab of Dr. Charles Kellner. He completed his residency training in emergency medicine at Denver Health Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident and received awards for clinical care, leadership, and medical education.

Following residency, Dr. Adams served as Associate Program Director of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at the NYU School of Medicine, and was an attending physician at NYU Langone Health and NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue. He then practiced emergency medicine at Piedmont Atlanta, the quaternary care center for the largest healthcare system in Georgia.

Prior to his medical training, Dr. Adams performed worldwide as a professional concert violist, and fostered an interest in the effects of music on the mind. He received his undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Columbia University, while concurrently studying viola performance at the Juilliard School. In medical school, he co-founded a Music and Medicine elective course for fellow students, and organized a concert series for patients admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit at Mount Sinai Hospital. He brings this passion for music and mental health to the crafting of supportive ketamine infusion experiences at Ember Health.

Dr. Adams proudly resides in Brooklyn with his wife, Nicole. In his spare time, he loves to ski and play chamber music.

Nurse Navigator, Brooklyn Heights

Janine Nicol, RN

Janine is a registered nurse who is passionate about personalized healthcare, and believes in the importance of evidence-based practice. She is proud to be part of a team providing an innovative treatment option for people suffering from depression. 

Janine worked as a nurse for nine years at Hackensack University Medical Center, primarily in the trauma and neurosurgical intensive care unit. She concurrently worked as a part-time ketamine infusion nurse for two years before joining the Ember Health team. Janine graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Fairfield University and earned her board certifications in critical care and holistic medicine through the American Nurses Association. 

As an ICU nurse, Janine developed a fascination for altered cognitive states and the intricate workings of the human mind. She led a study in her nursing unit which demonstrated that mindfulness techniques positively impacted healthcare staff’s morale, self-care, and stress management after the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Outside of her professional endeavors, Janine enjoys dream journaling, meditating, and watching space documentaries. She can often be found exploring restaurants in the City, hanging out with friends and family, or taking funny videos of her cat and dog playing.

Infusion Nurse, Brooklyn Heights

Shonette Yarde, RN

Shonette is a registered nurse with a strong passion for aiding individuals on their path to well-being. She embraces holistic care as an integral part of her nursing profession. Nurturing the well-being of mind, body, and spirit brings Shonette immense joy, and she embraces the opportunity to do so at Ember Health on a daily basis.  

Raised in the Hudson Valley, Shonette obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and specialized in Cardiothoracic ICU care. She then embarked on a journey in travel nursing throughout New York State, acquiring expertise across various ICU settings and later becoming board certified as a holistic nurse coach. 

During her leisure hours, Shonette enjoys engaging in strength training, savoring sunsets at the park, spending time with her family and furry friend, preparing delicious meals, exploring new destinations, and indulging in various self care activities.

Office Administrator, Brooklyn Heights

Charlotte Wiltshire

Charlotte finds compassion and thoughtfulness to be a few of the most important tenets in life, and brings this energy to her administrative role at Ember. Creating and maintaining a welcoming and warm space is something she takes great care in and endeavors always to bring that warmth into the world wherever she goes. 

After building a solid foundation in literary academia, Charlotte realized that aligning her life with her values would place her more aptly in the realm of the healing arts. Now, a current student of acupuncture, Charlotte enjoys sitting with the ancient, the alternative, the knowledge that a future of perpetual learning and wondering is possible. She is deeply interested in the mind-body-spirit connection and committed to building a more beautiful and caring world through wellness. 

When not in her role as office administrator, Charlotte can be found reading, seeking out the neighborhood birds with her binoculars, and practicing the art of quilting.

Physician and Clinical Director, Upper East Side

Michael Diaz, MD

Dr. Michael Diaz is a board certified Emergency Medicine physician, passionate about forming meaningful connections with his patients and helping them heal during the most turbulent moments of their lives.

After entering the medical field at the age of seventeen as an EMT at Fordham University, he realized a natural drive to help others live their healthiest lives. He went on to complete his medical degree at SUNY Buffalo, and then returned to NYC to complete his residency at NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. Over the course of those four years, he had the pleasure of treating NYC’s most underserved populations, and recognized a tremendous gap in access to mental health treatment in the U.S. During this time, Mike also proudly served his community as an ER physician at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike went on to practice emergency medicine in Stamford Connecticut, where he witnessed an increasing need for mental health services. After learning of the therapeutic benefits of ketamine for depression, a medication he frequently used in the ER, Mike became invigorated by the opportunity to join Ember Health as a Clinical Director in the Upper East Side.

In his free time, Mike can be found exploring new eateries in the city, exercising, or lounging with his beloved cat and dog.

Nurse Navigator, Upper East Side

Kevin Dingfelder, RN

Kevin is an enthusiastic registered nurse originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He brings to Ember Health a diverse set of skills acquired over nearly a decade of nursing in high-acuity emergency departments, the inpatient psychiatric unit of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and an infusion practice here in New York City. He takes pride in providing compassionate, highly skilled, patient-centered care with the Ember Health team.

Prior to nursing, Kevin studied film and cultivated a love for visual narrative. He continues to enjoy engaging with the visual arts, particularly surrealism and the interface of technology and art. He also enjoys spending time with his husband; they can often be found with their Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in Central Park.

Infusion Nurse, Upper East Side

Christey Curran, RN

Christey is a Registered Nurse who feels passionately about mental health and supporting those on their journey to wellness. She believes everyone deserves to reach their potential and lead a fulfilling life.

Christey was born and raised in the Hudson Valley where she started her career as a Residence Counselor for the Mental Health Association of Rockland County. Her desire to support and care for others motivated her to pursue a career in nursing. After three rewarding years helping mothers through labor, delivery, and high-risk postpartum courses in Maternal Child Health at Lenox Hill Hospital, Christey was thrilled to return to the mental health field where her true passion lies.

At Ember Health, Christey is honored to support her patients as they bravely battle depression, and has been inspired by the positive results she’s seen. Christey is a firm believer in a holistic approach to wellness and the importance of self-care. A Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Yoga Teacher, she incorporates her knowledge of these modalities into her nursing practice.

In her free time, Christey enjoys glamping with her friends, planning her next adventure, and spending time with her family.

Office Administrator, Upper East Side

Andrea Martin

A classically trained ballet dancer prior to earning a BA in Psychology from Hunter College, Andrea is thrilled to be part of a team that understands the connection between mental health and creativity, and values the role of art and music in the therapeutic process.  

In her previous role at the law firm of Cohen Hochman & Allen, Andrea served as a liaison between attorneys, property owners, and management teams as they navigated the often overwhelming process of remediating violations with NYC agencies. This experience enhanced her commitment to providing superb service and results to all her clients with compassion, clarity, and sensitivity, a philosophy she has brought to Ember Health.

When not in the office, Andrea can be found browsing bookstores, cooking increasingly ambitious dinners for her friends and family, and attending as many dance performances as possible.

Physician and Clinical Director, Williamsburg

Anya Karpov, MD MBA

Dr. Anya Karpov is a board certified emergency medicine physician, motivated by connecting with others, reducing suffering, and supporting people’s paths to fulfillment.

Born in eastern Ukraine and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Anya’s fascination with life at its smallest scales and desire to make a meaningful impact led her from a Bachelor’s in Cellular and Molecular Biology to a career in medicine.

Anya was drawn to the ER as a means to understand life through a diverse range of patient stories. Her training brought her to Brooklyn, where she completed a fellowship in international emergency medicine at King’s County, and worked with physicians in Vietnam, Trinidad and Tobago, and Ukraine. Motivated to understand institutional structures of global medicine and how to design distinctive organizations, she also completed an MBA from the University of London.

Seeing a large systemic gap in mental health care through her daily clinical work, Anya took progressively more interest in the growing research base in ketamine - a medication she frequently used in the emergency department - for depression. Anya was thrilled to find Ember, a place where she can connect with her patients as people, and where she is helping to build an organization leading a paradigm shift in mental health.

In her free time, Anya can be found relaxing with family and friends, taking long walks in her beloved Brooklyn, or dancing, whether with her ribbon from her days of rhythmic gymnastics, on roller skates, or in her favorite style, Brazilian Zouk.

Nurse Navigator, Williamsburg

Liz McGowan, RN

Liz is a Registered Nurse from the Boston area, committed to weaving her holistic views of care into her nursing practice. Having received her training from the University of Massachusetts, she established a focus in cardiac nursing at hospitals in Boston and at New York Presbyterian before joining Ember Health. 

Through her experience in bedside nursing, Liz saw an essential need within the healthcare system to view patients as more than a diagnosis or list of medications. She is passionate about caring for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. She believes treatment that combines alternative modalities with traditional therapies promises the greatest potential relief for patients managing depression. 
Having moved to Williamsburg from Boston a short time ago, Liz finds herself occupied in all of the creative and intellectual pursuits that New York City has to offer. In her free time, you can find her at the pottery studio, listening to live jazz, or at Domino Park with a book or journal in hand. Beyond New York, she often finds herself browsing Google Flights in pursuit of her next great adventure.

Office Administrator, Williamsburg

Kendall Powers

Kendall is inspired by the ripple effect that individual acts of compassion can have within our society, and applies this philosophy to her role at Ember Health. With a passion for human connection, communication, and mental health advocacy, she is driven to help destigmatize mental health issues and increase accessibility to helpful resources. Kendall is grateful to work with a team of people dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care to each and every patient.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Kendall’s love of nature and the outdoors inspired her academic career, leading her to earn her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. During her studies, Kendall explored the ways in which the health of the planet and the health of humankind are deeply interconnected. She applies a lens of sustainability and environmental advocacy to every decision she makes.

In her free time, Kendall can be found at the local climbing gym, perusing bookstores, hosting movie marathons, or cooking delicious vegan meals with loved ones.

Physician and Clinical Director, Chelsea

Andrew Aherne, MD

Dr. Andrew Aherne is a board certified emergency medicine physician, driven to establish personal connections that foster trust and understanding, and allow for the most effective pathways to wellness.

A Brooklyn native, Andrew earned a degree in visual arts at New York University. A parallel passion for healing influenced the pursuit of a career in medicine, and ultimately in the emergency department. For over a decade, Andrew cared for a broad spectrum of patients at Kings County and Downstate Hospitals, as a resident, attending, and emergency ultrasound specialist. There, he saw the most powerful patient results when compassionate care met evidence-based medicine. His own artistic orientation fostered a dedication to preserving and supporting the humanity of the patients he served in the same communities where he was born and raised.

As a Clinical Director at Ember Health, Andrew has fused the most fulfilling aspects of his medical practice with his passion for mental health and desire for interpersonal connection. He is dedicated to establishing trusting relationships through careful and considered communications with his patients, his mental health partners, and his team.

When not working, Andrew spends his time reading or drawing, surfing or skiing, and in the company of his friends and family.

Nurse Navigator, Chelsea

Maggie Olson, RN

Maggie Olson is a registered nurse with a passion for holistic patient care. She is motivated to make trusting connections with patients, and support them through their experiences. Maggie is committed to Ember’s mission to provide patient-centered care, guided by an evidence-based practice.

Born and raised in New York, Maggie earned her B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Nursing from Binghamton University. She began her career as a nurse on a Solid Organ Transplant Surgery unit at the NYU Langone Medical Center. This experience solidified her passion for patient care and her conviction that people deserve more individualized care than what she was able to provide in the hospital setting.

When not caring for patients, Maggie can be found browsing bookstores, cooking for loved ones, and strolling in Central Park.

Infusion Nurse, Chelsea

Abby Wohl, RN

A lifelong learner and New York City devotee, Abby Wohl brings a robust nursing background and lived experience to the Ember Health team. Patient-centered and evidence-based care are at the core of her nursing philosophy and practice.

Abby attended Queensborough Community College for her associate nursing degree, and SUNY Empire State College for her bachelors of science in nursing degree, graduating summa cum laude. 

Abby began her nursing career in the adult emergency department at Lincoln Medical Center in the South Bronx, the busiest single-site emergency department in New York City. Abby brought this knowledge and experience to nursing careers with the Student Health Centers at Columbia University and the School of Visual Arts, as well as the Special Donor Services department at the New York Blood Center, where she conducted research related to blood donor eligibility. Prior to nursing, Abby was an executive assistant in the music, finance, and executive search industries.

When not enthusiastically supporting Ember Health’s team and clientele, Abby is likely eating her way through the five boroughs; spending time with her rescue mutt, Betsy; and is a music-loving DJ and concert attendee. Astoria, Queens is proudly where Abby calls home, as chronicled by the New York Times.

Office Administrator, Chelsea

Aruna Singh

Aruna is an administrative professional, dedicated to helping people in their mental health journey in any way that she can. She feels especially passionate about helping people access care who have traditionally been unsupported in their path to wellness. With a background in office management and community engagement, Aruna takes pride in creating a safe, warm, and welcoming environment at Ember Health.

Aruna received her Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College in German Language and Literature with a Focused Study in Psychology. She has a penchant for reading books across all genres, as well as keeping up with world news. She currently resides in Queens, where she can be found tending to her houseplants and watching reruns of Friends.

Physician and Clinical Director, Tribeca

Wes Spiro, MD

Dr. Wes Spiro is an Emergency Medicine physician who is motivated by a passion to help others on their paths towards healing and growth.

Born in the Boston suburbs, Wes began his clinical experiences working at a psychiatric hospital outside of Boston, where he developed a compassion towards those struggling with their mental health.

Wes studied History at the University of Pennsylvania, and after graduating from Tufts University School of Medicine, completed emergency residency at Mt. Sinai in NYC during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wes has a passion for medical education, and looks forward to bringing those skills as an educator to the patients at Ember Health, and to collaborating closely with their mental health teams.

In his spare time, Wes enjoys walking around Fort Greene Park with his husband and his dog, exercising, reading, and traveling the world.

Office Administrator, Tribeca

Will Roth

Will is an administrative professional and writer whose work relies on the relationships between planning, empathy, and creativity. At Ember Health, he prizes the opportunity to help patients reconnect to what they love about life.

Pre-pandemic, Will was a senior interpretive guide at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, where he specialized in trauma, criminology, and forensic identification. He has also worked as a tour guide and historian in Chicago, where he taught about organized crime, corruption, and deep dish pizza. Most recently, he led employee engagement and DEI initiatives at Hudson Yards Experiences. 

Will received an MFA in Playwriting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. His work, which often examines unconventional bonds and post-traumatic recovery, has been performed in New York, Chicago, and Washington DC. Originally from Boston, he now lives in Astoria, where he's working on two novels: one horror and one romantic comedy. He loves irresponsibly-strong cold brew, cats, and running much slower than everyone else.