Our Staff
Staff members at San Marcos Treatment Center are highly trained and experienced. We provide a 40-hour orientation, and staff with direct care contact and responsibility are required to complete at least 50 hours of training each year. This includes clinical therapists, nurses, mental health associates and other professionals.
We provide access to online training modules designed to keep skills sharp. There is extensive longevity across all areas at the facility with many staff having been part of the team for 10, 20 and even 30 years. We are committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families we serve.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our staff, browse through our open positions.
Leadership Team
Andrew Herod
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Herod
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Herod comes to San Marcos Treatment Center with over 16+ years in behavioral health leadership having directed community mental health and residential treatment centers in Tennessee, California and most recently Willow Springs Center in Reno, Nevada, who last year was one of three facilities to be honored by Universal Health Services with the Quality Award. Andrew has a degree in Communications from Biola University and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Fuller Theological School of Psychology. He has three boys with his wife Jessica and is an avid NBA and soccer fan.
Gregory Wysocki, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Gregory Wysocki, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Gregory Wysocki, CPA is the Chief Financial Officer of San Marcos Treatment Center (SMTC). Mr Wysocki joined SMTC in 2019 and has 7+ years of CFO experience with Universal Health Services, the parent company of SMTC. He is responsible for all aspects of the facility’s financial and accounting operations.
Mr. Wysocki has 25 years of finance experience in the health care industry including 23 years in the behavioral health industry. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from The University of Texas – Austin.
Shephali Sharma, MD
Executive Medical Director
Shephali Sharma, MD
Executive Medical Director
Shephali Sharma, MD, initially joined San Marcos Treatment Center in 2017 as Unit Medical Director before stepping into her current role as Executive Medical Director in May 2023, overseeing all physician services while continuing the direct care of patients for two units. Dr. Sharma received her MD in 1997 from Nilratan Sirear Medical College University of Calcutta in India. She subsequently completed her residency at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in New York and fellowship at University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Dr. Sharma has worked in several disciplines of psychiatry, including adolescent, child, adult and veteran care as well as worked across multiple levels of care, addressing the psychiatric needs of patients within the acute, RTC and PHP settings while she served as the Child and Adolescent Medical Director at Cedar Crest Hospital. Dr. Sharma is board-certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Winston Chieza, MHSN, BSN, RN
Director of Nursing
Winston Chieza, MHSN, BSN, RN
Director of Nursing
Winston Chieza is the Director of Nursing at San Marcos Treatment Center. Mr. Chieza joined SMTC in July of 2010 as one of our Unit Nurses. He also served as the Nursing Supervisor from 2015-2022 before being promoted to Director of Nursing. Currently, Mr. Chieza is responsible for the supervision of the entire nursing staff and plays a key role in maintaining the high standards of care at SMTC as well as ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
Mr. Chieza has worked in psychiatric/behavioral health nursing for over 40 years and has spent much of that time in residential settings working with primarily children and adolescents. He has earned multiple different degrees over his 40 years, including his Masters in Healthcare Systems Management and his Bachelors of Science in Nursing.
Ragan Aaron, LPC-S, RPT-S, CCTP, TBRI Practitioner
Director of Clinical Services
Ragan Aaron, LPC-S, RPT-S, CCTP, TBRI Practitioner
Director of Clinical Services
As Director of Clinical Services, Ragan Aaron is responsible for the facility’s clinical therapists and the therapeutic treatment delivered to patients. This includes individual, family and group therapy as well as ROPES and other activities.
Ragan began as a Mental Health Associate at the treatment center while studying psychology at Texas State during her undergraduate career. Upon completion of her Master’s Degree, Ragan returned to the treatment center and began working as a Clinical Therapist. She continued expanding her education as she became a Registered Play Therapist, a TBRI Practitioner, and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Ragan has presented at a number of state and regional conferences on topics including trauma-informed care, family play therapy, and integrating experiential and expressive interventions into family therapy.
Sean Garner, LPC, RPT
Director of Clinical Programming
Sean Garner, LPC, RPT
Director of Clinical Programming
Sean Garner is the Director of Clinical Programming at the San Marcos Treatment Center. Sean’s focus at the treatment center is staff development and training, ensuring that our entire team is trained in trauma-informed and evidence based practices. This role involves training staff, nurses, therapists and other team members about the therapeutic foundation for the care of our patients. Sean’s role with clinical programming also involves overseeing the activity schedule, promoting staff on our Tier system who demonstrate service excellence, and providing tools and additional training to staff who are working with challenging patients.
Sean received his Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Texas State University in 2014. The San Marcos Treatment Center hired Sean as a therapist intern and he has grown and developed his specializations at the center over the years. Sean is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, a Certified High Ropes Facilitator, a Certified Clinical Trauma Practitioner, and he has completed his Phase 1 Certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics.
David Tjandrasa, M. Ed.
Academic Program Director | Unit Director
David Tjandrasa, M. Ed.
Academic Program | Director Unit Director
David Tjandrasa began working at San Marcos Treatment Center in 2008 as a direct care staff, before transitioning to teaching at the facility’s contracted school. He returned to the facility as a Unit Manager in 2013 and was named the Unit Director and Academic Program Director in 2015.
As the Unit Director, Mr. Tjandrasa has direct oversight of direct care staff and patient care. His role as the Academic Program Director allows him to work directly with the facility’s school to assist with the needs of their staff and patients.
He grew up in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2008 and completed his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership there in 2015.
Robin Cunningham
Director of Human Resources
Robin Cunningham
Director of Human Resources
Robin Cunningham supervises San Marcos Treatment Center’s human resources department. Ms. Cunningham is responsible for hiring, staff benefits and other related concerns. She is also the facility’s Service Excellence champion, trains new and current staff and maintains and promotes a culture of creating positive moments for patients and families.
Sherri Gonzalez, MBA
Director of Business Development
Sherri Gonzalez, MBA
Director of Business Development
Sherri Gonzalez has over 30 years of experience at San Marcos Treatment Center. In her current role as Director of Business Development, Sherri oversees marketing and strategic partnerships as well as leading the facility’s sales team. She leads her staff on effective targeting and messaging, anticipating market changes, building strong referral relationships, tracking sales cycles, and effectively managing sales territories. She also manages the hospital’s relationship with insurance companies, handling contracting, credentialing, and negotiating rate increases with all payers.
A native of Texas, she received her Bachelor of Business Administration in 1986 and her M.B.A. in 1996 from Texas State University.
Michael New
Director of Performance Improvement
Michael New
Director of Performance Improvement
Mike New is the Director of Performance Improvement for San Marcos Treatment Center. He joined the team in 2009. In his current role, Mike oversees data collection, analysis and organizational improvement efforts. He is also part of the facility’s administrative support team, handling practitioner contracts and credentialing.
An Austin native, Mike received his bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to San Marcos, he worked for over 10 years in environmental engineering, digital 3D contaminant modeling and archival research, as well as for the State of Texas in Law Enforcement Licensing.
Robert Rodriguez, M.S. Ed., BCBA, LCCA
Child Care Administrator | Behavioral Analyst
Robert Rodriguez, M.S. Ed., BCBA, LCCA
Child Care Administrator | Behavioral Analyst
As Child Care Administrator, Robert Rodriguez is responsible for the facility’s compliance to all state regulations concerning child care operations. He is also the facility’s certified behavioral analyst and specializes in designing strategies and interactions to positively impact our patients on the milieu as well as skills and strategies patients can take back to their home communities.
Physicians
Yajaira Paparone, MD
Unit Medical Director
Yajaira Paparone, MD
Unit Medical Director
Yajaira Paparone, MD, joined the San Marcos Treatment Center team as Unit Medical Director in 2022. Dr. Paparone graduated magna cum laude from The University of Texas with a Doctor of Medicine in 2009. She came to SMTC with extensive experience in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry serving as a psychiatrist for children in the residential treatment setting in Syracuse, New York for seven years after completing her residency in adult psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Dr. Paparone is board-certified in Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She has deep clinical interest in family dynamics, complex developmental trauma, and attachment disorders, which lends itself well to her current role and position with SMTC.
Frank Floca, MD
Frank Floca, MD
Frank Floca, MD, is a board-certified Psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience in treating children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Floca attended medical school at University of Texas and afterwards completed his residency and internship with University of California Irvine at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California, where he served as chief resident.
Dr. Floca has a passion to help young minds flourish and to provide specialized psychiatric care for both children and adolescents. He has practiced in various outpatient and residential settings prior to joining San Marcos Treatment Center in November 2019, and values interdisciplinary teams and incorporating family into the treatment of the patient. Dr. Floca is a member of the American Psychiatry Association and American Association of Geriatric Psychiatrists, as well as a member of several national advisory councils for various psychotropic medications.
Eric Gonzalez, MD
Unit Medical Director
Eric Gonzalez, MD
Unit Medical Director
Eric Gonzales, MD, is San Marcos’ newest unit medical director, joining the team in early 2025. Dr. Gonzales is board-certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and board eligible in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He graduated from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in 2017 and completed his residency with Louisiana State University at Our Lady of the Lake in 2020, during which time he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Gonzales then completed his fellowship at University of Texas Dell Medical School in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, where he continues to teach as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as well as serve as an Associate Program Director for Dell Medical School’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. This training instilled the importance of comprehensive and holistic treatment of children, particularly in the context of development and importance of psychological and social factors affecting patient presentation.
Call Today
Call us at 800-251-0059 for more details on our programs and insurance options. To make a referral, please call 800-848-9090.
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Finding the right treatment for your child or adolescent can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone.