Meet Our team
Evolution Medicine PC — Clinical Team
Evolution Medicine is a self-pay integrative psychiatry practice in Midtown Manhattan. The clinical team combines board-certified psychiatry, clinical psychology, and functional nutrition — working together on complex, treatment-resistant cases that standard psychiatric care has not fully addressed.
Dr. Sonya Lazarevic, MD, MS
Founder | Double Board-Certified Psychiatrist
Dr. Lazarevic is one of fewer than 5% of psychiatrists in the country who hold board certification in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry — a credential that reflects specialized fellowship training well beyond standard psychiatric residency. Over 30 years of clinical practice across New York City, she has combined conventional psychiatric excellence with advanced training in functional and regenerative medicine, building a practice designed for patients whose conditions require more than standard care provides.
Her path to integrative medicine was shaped by a personal experience: after being diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune disorder, she discovered that conventional medicine — despite her being a board-certified physician — could not explain its underlying causes. That experience redefined her clinical philosophy. Many patients labeled treatment-resistant are not resistant at all. Their conditions carry biological root causes — chronic inflammation, nutritional depletion, gut dysbiosis, hormonal disruption — that standard psychiatric evaluation does not reach. Her practice is built around finding them.
Medical Education & Residency
Doctor of Medicine (MD), St. George's University School of Medicine · Psychiatry Residency (Chief Resident), Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital · Master of Science (MS), Columbia University School of Social Work
Fellowship Training
Addiction Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine · Andrew Weil Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine · Fellowship in Regenerative Medicine, American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine (A4M)
Board Certifications
General Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) · Addiction Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) · Board Eligible: Integrative Medicine
Advanced Clinical Training
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher Training, Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness · Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) Certified Instructor · Motivational Interviewing Advanced Training · Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) Clinical Training · Gestalt Psychotherapy Training, Gestalt Institute of New York · 500-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification, Integral Yoga Institute · Level II Clinical Aromatherapist
Dr. Shuki Cohen, PhD, MSc
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Cohen is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at CUNY Graduate Center (APA-accredited) and John Jay College of Criminal Justice (NYS-accredited), where he has spent nearly two decades training graduate students in advanced psychotherapy. His clinical approach is grounded in biochemistry and neuroscience and integrates psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, and motivational interviewing — tailored to each patient's presentation.
His research spans more than 30 published studies and 70 conference presentations, with a focus on emotional dysregulation, trauma, addiction, and cognitive rigidity. He provides both individual and group therapy, with clinical expertise in complex trauma, addiction, autism, and medical adherence.
Training & Affiliations
Weizmann Institute of Science · University of California, Berkeley · New York University · Albert Ellis Institute · New York Psychoanalytic Institute · Yale University School of Medicine · Yale Child Study Center · EMDRIA
Helaine Polanco, MS
Functional Nutritionist
Helaine Polanco brings more than 11 years of clinical experience in nutrition, chronic disease management, and mental health to the Evolution Medicine team. Her work centers on the gut-brain axis — the relationship between nutritional status, inflammation, hormonal function, and mood — and she works alongside Dr. Lazarevic and the psychology team to address the biological contributors that psychiatric treatment alone does not reach.
Her clinical focus includes anxiety, depression, and mood disorders; hormonal imbalances and metabolic dysfunction; autoimmune conditions and chronic inflammation; digestive health and gut dysbiosis; and women's health across all life stages. Her approach is evidence-guided and patient-centered: targeted biomarker analysis, motivational interviewing, and practical, sustainable dietary change rather than rigid protocols.
Nutrition consultations are available a la carte or as part of Nutrition and Momentum Care™ Packages — coordinated programs that combine nutritional support with psychiatry and psychotherapy for patients with complex or treatment-resistant conditions.
Education & Training
MS in Clinical Nutrition, College of Saint Elizabeth · BS in Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Saint Elizabeth · Advanced Training in Functional Nutrition, Restorative Wellness Solutions · Clinical experience at Parsley Health and Naturna Institute · Lactation Certification, Healthy Children Project
Rachel Lazaridis
Office Manager & Patient Care Coordinator
Rachel is the first voice patients hear when they call Evolution Medicine, and she sets the tone for every interaction that follows. With a business degree from Dowling College and a background spanning financial services and patient support, she brings both operational precision and genuine warmth to the role.
She manages appointment scheduling and coordination, new patient inquiries, office communications, and connecting patients with the right provider for their needs — ensuring that every aspect of the patient experience runs smoothly from first contact through ongoing care.
A native New Yorker, small business owner, and mother of two, Rachel brings personal investment to the work. Her attention to detail and direct, caring approach make patients feel supported before they ever sit down with a clinician.
Interests: Cooking · Fishing · Ice hockey
Keri London
Billing Specialist & Operations Manager
Keri has been part of the Evolution Medicine team for over 10 years, and her institutional knowledge of the practice is unmatched. With a degree from Vatterott College and prior experience as a computer analyst and paralegal, she combines technical precision with careful attention to financial and operational detail.
She manages insurance questions and out-of-network reimbursement guidance, superbill preparation, billing inquiries, and practice operations — including technology integration as the practice continues to grow. Patients navigating the self-pay and reimbursement process will work closely with Keri.
Outside the practice, Keri is a mother of three and founder of MHLynk, a virtual assistant company.
Our Midtown Manhattan Location
280 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
📍 2 blocks from Grand Central Station
Easy via Metro-North, subway lines 4/5/6/7/S
Our office offers a calm, private sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan—a space designed for healing, confidentiality, and professional excellence.
Ready to work with our team? A consultation is the right first step.
Book Your ConsultationInitial consultations — Psychiatry $750 · Psychotherapy $350 · Nutrition $295
Nutrition & Momentum Care™ Packages available · Self-pay practice · All consultations are confidential.