Meet Our team

Sonya Lazarevic, MD, MS
Founder | Double Board-Certified Psychiatrist
General Psychiatry | Addiction Psychiatry
**Elite Credentials in Addiction & Integrative Psychiatry**
Dr. Lazarevic is one of fewer than 5% of psychiatrists nationwide who hold dual board certification in General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry—a distinction that reflects years of specialized fellowship training beyond standard psychiatric residency. With 30 years of clinical experience treating thousands of patients across New York City's most demanding psychiatric settings, she combines conventional psychiatric excellence with advanced training in functional and regenerative medicine.

**Why Specialized Training Matters**
Dr. Lazarevic completed a rigorous year-long Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at NYU School of Medicine—one of the nation's premier addiction medicine programs—mastering:

- The neurobiology of addiction and how substances hijack brain reward systems
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) protocols
- Management of complex co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders
- Safe medical detoxification and withdrawal management
- Harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and stages-of-change models
- Evidence-based relapse prevention strategies

This specialized training is why Dr. Lazarevic can treat what other psychiatrists cannot.

**The Journey to Functional and Regenerative Medicine**
Dr. Lazarevic's commitment to root-cause medicine began with her own health crisis. After being diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune disorder, she discovered that conventional medicine—despite her being a board-certified physician—could not explain the underlying causes of her chronic illness.
Refusing to accept "there's nothing more to do," she embarked on an intensive study of functional and regenerative medicine—initially as a driven patient, then as a physician determined to bring these insights to her psychiatric practice.

**What she discovered transformed her entire approach:** Many patients diagnosed as "treatment-resistant" weren't resistant to treatment at all. Their depression, anxiety, and addiction had biological root causes—chronic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, hormonal imbalances—that conventional psychiatry never investigates. She now dedicates her career to offering the comprehensive, integrative care she wished had been available to her—and to thousands of patients who've been told "you've tried everything."

Professional Training & Credentials
**Medical Education & Residency:**
St. Georges University School of Medicine - Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital - Psychiatry Residency, Chief Resident
Columbia University School of Social Work - Master of Science (MS)

**Fellowship Training:**
New York University School of Medicine - Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship
University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine - Andrew Weil Fellowship in Integrative Medicine
American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine (A4M) - Fellowship in Regenerative Medicine

**Board Certifications:**
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) - General Psychiatry
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) - Addiction Psychiatry
Board Eligible - Integrative Medicine

**Advanced Clinical Training:**
Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness - Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher Training
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) - Certified Instructor
Motivational Interviewing - Advanced Training
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) - Clinical Training
Integral Yoga Institute - 500-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification
Gestalt Institute of New York - Gestalt Psychotherapy Training
Level II Clinical Aromatherapist - Certification

**Shuki Cohen PhD, MSc** Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Shuki 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 uniquely informed by his background in Biochemistry and Neuroscience, and enriched by mindfulness practices. He specializes in helping clients navigate complex trauma, addiction, and interpersonal difficulties.
With over 30 scientific publications and over 70 conference presentations, Dr. Cohen’s research tackles emotional dysregulation and cognitive rigidity, particularly as they relate to helplessness, loneliness, and political identity, trauma, and violence. Dr. Cohen’s clinical presentations also cover autism, addiction, and medical adherence and stigma.
In his practice, Dr. Cohen draws from a comprehensive toolkit of therapeutic techniques he actively teaches and supervises. He provides both individual and group therapy, incorporating methods from Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral (CBT), Rational-Emotive Behavioral (REBT), EMDR, Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing to create a tailored and effective treatment plan for each client.
Dr. Cohen was trained at, associated with, or worked at the following institutions:
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
Are you searching for answers—beyond medication—for persistent mental health symptoms? If you want to address nutritional approaches to anxiety, fatigue, low mood, brain fog, or hormonal imbalances, Ms. Polanco will complement your current care with advanced nutritional science to help you thrive—body and mind.
Ms. Polanco is a regionally recognized nutritionist and health coach with over a decade of experience in functional nutrition. She is known for guiding patients in real-world lifestyle changes that support *mental clarity, resilience, and emotional well-being*. Her expertise ranges from clinical nutrition therapy to personalized biomarker-driven coaching, delivering impact that supports diverse patients at leading institutions like Parsley Health
**What makes Ms. Polanco unique:** She specializes in the *gut-brain axis*, helping patients understand how diet can *profoundly affect mood,* *focus, and stress.* She offers a personalized, *science focused* approach—using clear conversations, targeted biomarker analysis, and tangible daily tools to overcome stubborn symptoms, and rediscover vibrant energy and peace of mind.
Her strategies empower you with tips for balanced meals and gradual changes for lasting improvement—not overwhelming protocols. Her training in functional nutrition means you’re getting the latest, evidence-based support for mental and physical wellness.
Ready for lasting change? Book your appointment today (green button below) and take the first step toward lasting relief
Ms. Polano trained at or worked at the following institutions:
St. Elizabeth University- bachelors, masters in nutrition
Restorative Wellness Solutions- Functional Nutrition
Healthy Children Project- lactation certification
Parsley Health
Naturna Institute

Rachel Lazaridis
Office Manager & Patient Care Coordinator
Rachel is the welcoming voice you'll hear when you call Evolution Medicine. With a business degree from Dowling College and years of experience in financial services and patient support, she ensures every aspect of your experience runs smoothly.

Rachel handles:
- Appointment scheduling and coordination
- New patient inquiries and questions
- Office operations and patient communications
- Connecting you with the right provider for your needs

Beyond her professional expertise, Rachel is a native New Yorker, small business owner, and mother of two. Her warm, personal approach and attention to detail make every patient feel valued and supported.
Interests: Cooking, fishing, ice hockey

Keri London
Billing Specialist & Operations Manager
Keri has been an integral part of Evolution Medicine for over 10 years, bringing exceptional organizational skills and technical expertise to practice operations.

Keri manages:
- Insurance questions and out-of-network reimbursement guidance
- Superbill preparation for insurance claims
- Payment plans and billing inquiries
- Practice operations, systems as the office grows
- Technology integration and efficiency

With a degree from Vatterott College and prior experience as a computer analyst and paralegal, Keri combines technical proficiency with careful attention to financial details.

Beyond Evolution Medicine, Keri is a mother of three and founder of MHLynk, a virtual assistant company. She's also passionate about holistic health and runs the popular Heart Sounds for the Soul groups, which integrate HeartMath technology with coaching.

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 Meet the Team?
Schedule your comprehensive consultation today. Call (212) 924-2871

Expertise you can trust • Compassion you deserve • Results that last