Behavioral Health Credentials

Behavioral Health at Winter Haven Hospital meets national accreditation standards and provides evidence based care. Below is a list of our credentials and affiliations, followed by a brief summary of our key staff.

• Accredited by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Hospital Standards
• Member National Council for Behavioral Health
• Member Florida Council for Community Mental Health
• Member Florida Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
• Sponsored by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program Office and Heartland for Children
• Approved mental health services site for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Bureau of Professional Regulations (BHPR), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Approved Baker Act Receiving facility by the Florida Department of Child and Family Services
• Quality data and patient satisfaction data are reported to contractual and accreditation organizations as required
• The Center for Behavioral Health consistently has a favorable customer satisfaction rate above the 90th percentile by individuals receiving services
• High staff retention rate for behavioral health ensures continuity and commitment to our hospital mission and vision

Behavioral Health Staff

Kathy Hayes, LCSW, Executive Director
As the Executive Director of Behavioral Health at Winter Haven Hospital, Ms. Hayes has responsibility for outpatient services at the Center for Behavioral Health and inpatient services at the Center for Psychiatry. Ms. Hayes has a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University and is licensed by the state of Florida as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has been employed at Winter Haven Hospital for over thirty years where she has served in various clinical and administrative positions in the field of mental health. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Board of Directors for the Florida Council for Community Mental Health and is involved in numerous local and state organizations that focus on increasing awareness of the needs of those with mental illness.

Jeff Ware, LMHC, Clinical Director, Center for Behavioral Health
Jeff Ware is the Clinical Director for the Winter Haven Hospital, Inc., Center for Behavioral Health. Mr. Ware has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and is licensed by the state of Florida as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. He has been employed at Winter Haven Hospital for over twenty-four years where he has served in various clinical and administrative positions representing children and adult outpatient services and community-based programs.

Dr. George Winny, MD, Medical Director, Center for Behavioral Health
Dr. George Winny, MD serves as the Medical Director of the Center for Behavioral Health where he provides and oversees outpatient psychiatric services. He is Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Board-Certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He graduated from Medical College Kottayam, Kerala University. He completed his fellow of Child / Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York University Medical Center. He completed a residency in Psychiatry at New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation in affiliation with The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University.

Dr. Iftikhar Rasul, MD, Adult Psychiatrist
Iftikhar Rasul, MD specializes in adult and geriatric psychiatry. He graduated from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Pakistan. He completed Adult Psychiatry residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital, affiliated with University of Miami. Dr. Rasul provides outpatient psychiatric services at the Center for Behavioral Health.

Dr. Takkallapelli Rao, MD, Adult Psychiatrist
Takkallapelli Rao, MD is Board Certified in Addiction Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry. He graduated from Kakatiya Medical College and completed his Psychiatric Residency at Danvers State Hospital affiliated with the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Dr. Rao provides outpatient psychiatric services at the Center for Behavioral Health and inpatient psychiatric services at the Center for Psychiatry.

Dr. Majd Alsamman, MD, Medical Director, Center for Psychiatry
Majd Alsamman, MD is Board Certified in Psychiatry. Dr. Alsamman graduated from Aleppo Medical University and completed his residency at Austin State Hospital in Texas. With over 10 years experience at Winter Haven Hospital in various roles he serves as the Medical Director for inpatient psychiatric services at the Center for Psychiatry and is the Chairman of the Winter Haven Hospital Medical Staff Psychiatry Subsection.

Lynne Harty, RN, Unit Manager, Center for Psychiatry
Lynne Harty, RN is a licensed registered nurse from the state of Florida. She obtained her RN degree from Polk Community College and is currently working on her bachelor degree in nursing. Ms. Harty has been employed at WHH for eight years, seven of which have been with the Center for Psychiatry. Her experience over the years has been with adult patients with severe and persistent mental illness. As Unit Manager she is responsible for the coordination and care of up to 30 inpatients and management of an interdisciplinary team of staff that includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, mental health associates, mental health technicians, and health unit coordinators.

Susan A. Williamson, LMHC, CAP, Program Director, Center for Psychiatry
Ms. Williamson graduated with a BS in psychology from the University of Miami and a Masters Degree in Psychology from Florida International University in Miami Florida. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Addictions Professional in the state of Florida. Her experience and training over the past 17 years span the entire human lifespan from infant mental health to geriatrics. She has specialized training in EMDR, child sexual abuse, play therapy and mediation. As the Program Director for the Center for Psychiatry she is responsible for Access Services, social work services, adjunctive therapy activities and utilization review.