Our team
Lawrence Kerns, M.D.
Dr. Kerns is a double Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist as well as Adult Psychiatrist with more than 30 years’ experience caring for people with a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and relational difficulties. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Yale University, Dr. Kerns earned his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He trained in Adult Psychiatry at Northwestern University and then in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Illinois and the Institute for Juvenile Research.
In addition to his training in Psychopharmacology, Dr. Kerns studied several modalities of psychotherapy including Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioral, as pioneered by Aaron Beck, M.D. He pursued additional training in Family Therapy at the Family Institute of Northwestern University where he was supervised by Charles Kramer and Doug Breunlin, as well as training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He is humbled and honored to have learned from these and many other luminaries in the mental health and wellness fields. His approach is understandably integrative and collaborative, and he now enjoys teaching and supervising other physicians, psychologists, nurse practitioners, counselors and dogs.
Ruby Deans, FNP-BC, ACHPN
Ruby Deans is a Board-Certified Full Practice Authority Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in emergency medicine, family practice, hospice-palliative care, and behavioral-mental health. She is a clinician and prescriber at Kerns & Associates and part of the Ascension Medical Group. Ruby holds a B.S. in Nursing from Loyola University and an M.S. as a Nurse Practitioner from St. Xavier University. She takes a holistic, patient-centered approach, focusing on a sound mind, a healthy body, and a content spirit. Outside of work, Ruby enjoys cooking, gardening, music, art, and spending time with her family and dog.
Barbara Milosch, RN, BSN
Barbara Milosch is a Registered Professional Nurse with extensive experience in medical and mental health care. She has worked in Pediatric Intensive Care, Adolescent Units, and as a clinical manager. Barbara is a wellness advocate, having supervised wellness clinics for several Chicagoland corporations. Additionally, she is a Suzuki Classical Guitar teacher in Barrington, frequent participant in chess tournaments and avid pickleball player.
Kim Kusch, FNP, PMHNP-BC
Kim Kusch is a highly experienced Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years in psychiatric and mental health care. She holds a certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Kim has extensive experience in managing acute mental health crises and delivering comprehensive care in various settings. Licensed in 15 states, she provides accessible care through telehealth, tailoring treatment plans to meet each patient’s unique needs. Outside of work, Kim enjoys staying active through running, working out, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Karen Elizabeth Cohen, MS, LPC, NCC
Karen is a Board-Certified Clinical Counselor with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has advanced training from the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago and experience in treating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and trauma. Karen's therapeutic approach is psychodynamic, emphasizing insight and understanding in the healing process. She specializes in individual and couples therapy, supporting clients in discovering and utilizing their unique strengths to create solutions for long-term emotional health.
Patricia Pipp, FNP-BC
Patricia Pipp is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) with a focus on psychiatry for the past 10 years. She received her Nursing degrees from Hunter College and Pace University in New York City. Patricia has worked in various settings, including long-term care facilities and clinics, treating a wide range of diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Patricia has lived locally for over 20 years and remains committed to her work in psychiatry.
Grant Boyer, Psy.D
Dr. Grant Boyer specializes in psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families, offering psychological testing for emotional, cognitive, and personality functioning, including ADHD and intellectual disorders. With over 15 years of experience supervising postdoctoral fellows, he works with conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, personality disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, OCD, and more. Dr. Boyer is committed to providing personalized care to help his clients achieve meaningful and lasting change. He is also on various insurance panels.
Megan Shaw, Office Manager
We encourage you to call and speak with Megan about our office and how we can help you or your child. She is available to answer your questions and help you schedule an appointment with our team today!