Welcome New Staff & Board Member

We are pleased to welcome two new part-time staff members and one new board member, all three of whom have extensive medical and behavioral health backgrounds that will be extremely valuable as Joseph’s Home continues building medical respite capacity. Filling the two staff positions is a major step in fully transitioning into a medical respite program and providing the next level of integrated care.

Harikrishna C. Ponnam, M.D.—Medical Director
Dr. Ponnam, from St. Vincent Medical Group, is board-certified in internal medicine and is at Joseph’s Home weekly on Thursdays. As medical director, Dr. Ponnam provides clinical oversight and expertise as it pertains to the admission, care and discharge of residents, as well as helping create significant program efficiencies. He came to St. Vincent Medical Group in 2016 after an internal medicine residency in Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital in Mount Vernon, New York. He received his medical degree from Kurnool Med College Sri Venkateswara in India.

Michael J. Biscaro, PsyD, ABPP—Behavioral Health Director
Dr. Biscaro is a clinical psychologist with more than 15 years of experience providing direct clinical service and consultation in a variety of settings, including private hospitals serving the community and veterans, community mental health centers, private practice, the criminal justice system, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He earned his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree from Xavier University and completed a post-doctoral residency in clinical psychology at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. As behavioral health director, he helps identify and address mental health and substance abuse issues and connect residents with ongoing intensive care, as well as helping train and oversee staff around trauma-informed care.

Lloyd Cook, M.D., Board Member
Dr. Cook joins the Joseph’s Home Board of Directors with more than 25 years of experience in internal medicine. Dr. Cook is the assistant medical director for Medical Mutual of Ohio. He was previously affiliated with St. Vincent Medical Group. He received his medical degree from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University and trained in the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Pictured below are Dr. Biscaro and Dr. Ponnam