Benchmark Psychiatric Services, LTD. is a mental health organization dedicated to the provision of child, adult, geriatric, and family wellness. We offer comprehensive, office-based, and on-site psychiatric and counseling services to our clients. Services are currently provided through our office in Orland Park, IL, on-site at skilled nursing facilities and via secure telehealth. We strive to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive difficulties.
Nathan R. Jaisingh, is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who has studied at Morehead State University, in Morehead, KY, Rush University in Chicago, IL, and the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. His graduate and doctoral areas of focus include adolescent, adult, and geriatric psychiatry, psychopharmacology, and clinical practice & research with competitive athletes in improving overall performance through mental strength coaching.
Nathan R. Jaisingh founded Benchmark Psychiatric Services, LTD. in 2002, with the primary endeavor centered on geriatric psychiatry and psychopharmacology - with the goal of delivering stellar services on-site to long term care facilities. This model has grown from a single provider in two facilities, to now 15 providers in nearly 65 facilities in Illinois and Kentucky - and still growing!
After two and a half years of research and development, Nathan R. Jaisingh identified a significant need for a comprehensive program specifically structured for professional, collegiate, and competitive pre-collegiate athletes. From this, Integrative Athletic Enhancement (IAE) was created.
Nathan R. Jaisingh is a Frank G. Dickey Fellow of the University of Kentucky and is an avid University of Kentucky athletics supporter. He is also a fervent Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox fan, having now lived in the Chicagoland area since 2000.
Nathan R. Jaisingh is married to a wonderful wife, Nicole, and together raise 3 delightful & inspiring children.
Amanda Amiti is licensed and dually certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She is a graduate of Walden University in Minneapolis, MN where she received a Master of Science in Nursing degree. During her graduate studies, she was a member of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing. Amanda also completed a post-masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program through the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL.
Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, she worked as a Registered Nurse in a variety of healthcare settings including Labor & Delivery/Nursery/Post-Partum, Women's Health, Outpatient Health clinics, Home Health, and Long-Term Care facilities. Amanda spent much of her time working with the Alzheimer’s/Dementia geriatric population - that sparked her interest in Geriatric Psychiatric Disorders. It was during her experience working in Home Health in Peoria, IL, where she saw the prevalence of Psychiatric needs and became passionate about filling that void of Mental Health providers.
Amanda provides care to residents in several Long-Term Care facilities, and at Benchmark’s outpatient offices, performing psychiatric evaluations and medication management. She also has a special interest in treating Post-Partum Depression.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking at Starved Rock and sampling varieties of teas and coffees from around the world. She also enjoys traveling Macedonia, her husband’s country of origin, with her husband and 3 children visiting her family and friends from afar.
Avani Patel is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). She started her journey as a Registered Nurse after graduating from St. Xavier University in Chicago, IL in 2011. She has worked in psychiatric nursing since 2014. Working in the specialty of mental health, she became more and more passionate about helping patients manage their mental health conditions. She continued pursuing her education from Walden State University in Minneapolis, MN where she received a Masters of Science in Nursing. She understands that one treatment plan cannot fit everyone so she enjoys working with each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan that works best for them.
When she is not working, she enjoys being a full-time mother to two children, traveling with her husband, and cooking.
Melanie Fordham is an Orland Park native and a certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2009. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Middle Tennessee State University in Child Development and Family Studies. She went on and obtained her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Melanie has significant experience working with the geriatric population. She has worked in various agencies for seniors throughout our community. Over the past three years, she has also gained additional experience through counseling adults in their homes and working with individuals struggling with weight loss. Melanie’s main approach in therapy focuses on cognitive behavior therapy as well as motivational interviewing and mindfulness practices. She focuses on meeting the individual where they are and working with the individual to problem solve the challenges they face. Her clinical interests include helping individuals with a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, grief, weight loss, and familial issues.
Melanie and her husband, Matt, have the joy of raising two young girls who, so far, are the best of friends. Together, they enjoy visits to the city, spending time with family and friends, going to the park, and taking long walks.
Michelle Mannino Purkey received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Purdue University and her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue University Calumet. Her clinical experience includes working with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Michelle's areas of interest include medical family therapy and bereavement. Specifically, Michelle completed her master's thesis on the effects of cancer on the family. She compiled information about cancer support centers throughout the United States and the types of services they offer to people affected by cancer.
Michelle works from a solution-focused approach and believes that people are the experts in their lives. She views her role as someone who can offer support and empathy as well as someone who can challenge and encourage people to find new solutions. Michelle believes that discussing and highlighting a person's strengths and prior successes is a critical part of therapy.
Dr. Nicole Mozden is a board-certified pediatrician and clinical homeopathic physician. Dr. Nicole is from Palos Park, IL, and currently resides in Orland Park, IL with her husband and three amazing children. She loves being part of this community and bringing an important focus to nutrition, natural health options, and homeopathy in her general pediatric practice.
Dr. Nicole completed her undergraduate work at Indiana University and then went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine degree from Rush Medical College in 2003. She completed her pediatrics residency from Loyola in 2006 and has been practicing locally for over 10 years. Dr. Nicole has always been passionate about helping patients achieve their optimal health and stop the cycle of chronic illness and the use of unnecessary pharmaceuticals. She expertly implements natural treatments that are safe and effective, like homeopathic medications, supplements, and nutrition to support the body during acute and chronic illness.
Dr. Nicole is available for consultation for those interested in the integration of homeopathic therapies with our child, adolescent, and young adult clients.