Christine M. Khan

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Christine Khan, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who graduated from California State University, Long Beach. Christine’s clinical career took her on a journey through the healthcare system, from inpatient to outpatient settings, managing the care of everyone from toddlers to older adults. She started her career as a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit nurse where she found her passion in not only helping her patient’s physical illnesses but being able to help their mental health too. She soon realized that a patient’s mental health significantly impacted their physical health and overall wellbeing.

Christine’s passion lies in working with children and their families in helping them achieve their goals and reach their maximum potential. She provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management with special attention to each person’s individual needs, including attention to personal history, concerns about, or fears of medications, all of which she approaches with patience, warmth, understanding, as well as helpful explanations that facilitate treatment. She is flexible and integrative in her approach in order to meet the needs and desired outcomes of each individual. Christine is enthusiastic to apply her experience and compassion with clients as they begin to address issues that will help them to improve their quality of life and attain a sense of fulfillment.

In her free time, Christine enjoys cooking, being outdoors, and spending time with her family. She is a strong advocate for empowering nurses and believes that nurses should play a pivotal role in shaping modern health care.

Mekael J. Jones

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Mekael J. Jones, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC is a dual board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. Mekael received her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. She went on the complete her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Idaho State University in 2014. Mekael later achieved her post-graduate certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Frontier Nursing University in 2023.

Mekael has over two decades of experience in healthcare and strives to make each patient feel important and valued. Her professional experience includes the operating room, post recovery care, mental health, and family medicine. Mekael has a special interest in mental health because of her own experiences and of those around her. Her goal is to use evidence-based practices to empower patients in making decisions that best affect their physical and mental health.

In her free time, Mekael loves playing board games, reading, and traveling.

Megan J. Ara

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Megan J. Ara, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner committed to providing comprehensive and individualized care to her clients. Megan earned her Bachelor of Arts in Nursing from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. She began her career in emergency/trauma nursing, spanning across Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, and North Dakota, where she discovered her passion for mental health. Driven by her 20 years of nursing experience and a desire to empower individuals in their mental health journey, Megan completed her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She believes in the uniqueness of each person’s path to wellness and holistically approaches mental health with empathy, warmth, and a genuine desire to meet her client’s exactly where they are.

Having been a military spouse for 15 years, Megan understands the unique challenges military families face, including navigating the military healthcare system and frequent relocations. This experience has instilled in her a profound sense of compassion and dedication to caring for the mental health needs of today’s youth. Megan is particularly passionate about supporting individuals experiencing trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and challenging life transitions.

In her free time, Megan finds joy in various outdoor activities such as traveling, camping, skiing, and immersing herself in nature alongside her family. Her passion extends to gardening, where she enjoys nurturing the world around her.

Omar A. Khan

Chief Executive Officer

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Omar A. Khan, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Springs Behavioral Health. Dr. Khan completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2009 and an Associate of Science in Nursing from El Camino College in 2013. He went on to complete his Bachelors of Science in Nursing from University of Illinois, Chicago in 2015. Dr. Khan proceeded to pursue and complete his Master of Science in Nursing from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), in 2017 and later achieved his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Missouri State University in 2023. He treats individuals across the lifespan, specializing in trauma, adolescents, veterans, adults, and older adults with severe, persistent, and chronic mental illness.

With over a decade of experience in the field of mental health, Dr. Khan is very knowledgeable, compassionate, and understanding. He has worked in many mental health settings, including inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and crisis residential programs. Dr. Khan has an interest in academia and has served as a Clinical Instructor to BSN students at Mount Saint Mary’s University, an Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California (USC), and a Site Visitor Lecturer for University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS). Dr. Khan is a proud member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) and the Neuroscience Education Institute. When Dr. Khan is not busy with school or work, he enjoys spending time with his family and outdoor activities.

Jennifer L. Borton Picture

Jennifer L. Borton

Administrative Professional

Jennifer L. Borton holds an Associate’s degree in Medical Specialties from College America, Colorado Springs. She has several years of experience in the medical office setting and is an optician. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, and helping others.

 

Elaine LaVelle

Office Manager

Elaine LaVelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Bernardino and a Master of Science degree in Education Administration from National University. She is a former elementary school teacher with 11 years of experience. The opportunity of teaching and working with children was a rewarding experience and a highlight of her career. She is a certified professional coder in medical and billing. In her free time, Elaine enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening, and volunteering at a local cat rescue, Wild Blue Cats.

Erin H. Sandy

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Erin H. Sandy, MSN, PMHNP-BC is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who graduated from Walden University. Erin has significant psychiatric experience working in both the inpatient and outpatient settings for many years. She enjoys outpatient the setting the most because she can follow her patient’s progress in a close and personal environment. Her peers have recognized her ability to create unique and individualized care plans for each patient’s specific needs. She is passionate about supporting growth and recovery for her patient’s using the most current evidence-based research in nursing and psychopharmacology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, finding adventures with family and friends, and physical activities like swimming, dancing, and hiking.