Meet the Team
Learn more about our incredible team here at The Center.
Founder and Medical Director
Maysa Alavi, MD
Dr. Alavi is a board-certified physician and researcher in the field of psychedelic medicine. She has done MDMA research for MAPS/Lykos Therapeutics, Psilocybin research for COMPASS Pathways, and is the Medical Director of Psychedelics at Usona Institute, directing clinical trials in Psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT to bring new therapeutic drugs to the market.
Dr. Alavi is trained in MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ketamine Assisted Therapies. She has been working with ketamine clinically since 2019 and prescribing cannabis since 2016. She retired from Emergency and Hospitalist Medicine in 2020.
Ketamine Infusion Provider
Shireen Knowles, APRN-CNP
Shireen Knowles is one of our Nurse Practitioners and brings over 20 years of patient care. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has been a Nurse Practitioner for 15 years.
She is finishing her J.D. degree in May 2025 at Loyola University New Orleans. She is ANCC certified. She holds multiple honors and is a member of Phi Delta Phi and Alpha Sigma Nu.
She is passionate about individual wellness and is dedicated to her work at Spyre Center.
Ketamine Provider
Kennedi Barker, FNP-BC
Kennedi is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 7 years of experience in patient care. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri and has spent the past three years specializing in ketamine-assisted therapy and integrative mental health. Drawing from a strong foundation in holistic, trauma-informed care, Kennedi is passionate about forging authentic connections with her patients and guiding them towards healing through personalized treatment journeys. Outside of her nursing role, you'll find Kennedi, her partner, and their beloved dogs embarking on long adventures across the country in their Airstream.
Ketamine Infusion Nurse
Addy Meisenheimer, RN
Addy is a retired birth-worker, yoga instructor and registered nurse. She loves working as a ketamine assisted therapy nurse guiding clients through their personal journeys as well as being a safe space for them to return back to. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, nature, and cooking for the people she loves.
Ketamine Infusion Nurse
Amy Farrington, RN
Amy is an RN who is excited and honored to assist and to witness peoples’ journeys through ketamine assisted treatment. Her background is primarily women’s health, with a strong interest in holistic medicine. Outside of work, she loves sewing quilts, reading, and spending time with her husband, friends, and cats.
Therapist, Ketamine Assisted Therapy
Zachary Green, LMSW
Zachary is a forward-thinking mental health therapist and Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut,
He is dedicated to helping individuals navigate trauma, mental health challenges, and
substance use recovery through a holistic and integrative approach.
Zachary’s background includes spearheading recovery-focused initiatives at the University of
Connecticut, where he developed groundbreaking wellness programs and advocated for policies that foster recovery-friendly environments. In addition to his clinical work, he is a certified Recovery Coach and Yoga Instructor, incorporating movement, his training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), and mindfulness practices to enrich the therapeutic process.
Therapist, Ketamine Assisted Therapy
Eric Brown, MS, PLPC
Eric is a humanistic therapist with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University New Orleans who has completed specialized training in Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration with Fluence. He is continually inspired by the opportunity to support his clients' connection with their own inner guidance. On the topic he states: "It is an honor to witness the emergence of this natural source of healing and growth as it becomes amplified by the potent synergy between psychedelic experience and the therapeutic process."
Kambo Practitioner
Tara Alavi
Tara is an IAKP (International Association of Kambo Practitioners) certified Kambo practitioner working with the waxy tree frog medicine since 2020. She travels between Los Angeles, where she lives and New Orleans to provide treatments with this healing peptide secretion. Tara is also a musician, artist and interior designer.
Certified Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master, Yoga Teacher
Tara Loftus
Tara Loftis is a graduate from Yale University, a Certified Hypnotist, Reiki Master, Yoga Teacher, & Plant Medicine Apprentice. She became a Reiki practitioner in 2011, which catapulted her into her life's calling as an intuitive facilitator of several different healing modalities - yoga, plant medicine, and hypnotherapy, working with the subconscious mind to create the changes we want to see in our lives. She believes that change in our world starts with each of us and that through our own healing, we can heal the world. When she is not teaching yoga or seeing clients, Tara is managing her family's real estate business, traveling, attending music or film festivals, working puzzles, and enjoying time with her rescue dog George.
Office Manager, Technological Lead
Star Dunaway
Star is our Office Manager extraordinaire! A native of New Orleans, is an exceptional organizer and keeps the office running. She credits Ketamine Treatment with assisting her greatly on her healing journey and wants to help people experience the same. Star has over 10 years of experience working for Apple. In her spare time, she enjoys luxurious dining and travel with her husband.