A Little About Us
Inherent in our philosophy as a nonprofit organization is service to individuals as well as our greater community at large. From this idea stems every decision that we make in your treatment which essentially means that our only goal is your recovery.
For us, “recovery” has a much greater and holistic meaning than your stopping the use of a substance or substances for a short period of time. What we aim to achieve is the long-term cessation of the substance of abuse, cognitive changes that translate into behavioral changes, and facilitation by our team into integrating you, the client, back into the functional and enriched life that you deserve.
This is what is absolutely different from us than any other center you may choose to attend or participate in!
Faried Banimahd, M.D. (Dr. B)
CEO / Founder and Medical Director of Zephyr Medical Group
Bio
Dr. B is the CEO, Founder and Medical Director of Zephyr Medical Group, an outpatient medical clinic devoted to the full spectrum of care for substance abuse, with a particular and significant effort at correctly managing outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioid abuse. This includes opiate blockers such as Vivitrol, in addition to traditional Suboxone type products. He is also affiliated with “Suboxone friendly” sober living which addresses the significant need in Orange County for sober living homes that accept patients on medication-assisted treatment without any judgment.
Previous to private practice and business, he was a clinical professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of California at Irvine, and at UCLA/Kern Medical Center. In this role, he has trained dozens of medical students, researchers, and young physicians. He also participated in multiple research projects and is a published academic author of multiple papers in his field. His initial interest in addiction stemmed from managing withdrawals and overdoses in the hospital setting. His overall goal is to provide and deliver evidence-based care for our current opiate crises. This includes medication-assisted treatment, a chronic disease model paradigm, and meaningful long term recovery.
Alexis Wieseler
PA-C
Bio
Alexis Wieseler, PA-C joined Zephyr Medical Group after training under Dr. Banimahd as a student in 2020. She was enamored by the importance of patient-centered care and how treatment is assessed as a multi-faceted psychosocial approach. Her interest in addiction originated when she spent summers volunteering for an at-risk youth program where many adolescents were struggling with substance use disorders and limited resources. Alexis attributes her passion to recognizing their significant needs which have not been met by previous medical providers. Working at this clinic allows for judgement-free, empathetic and evidence based chronic treatment for individuals as a whole in order to enhance their quality of life. Alexis has been trained in medication-assisted treatment (MAT), injections, naltrexone implants, auricular implants, medication tapers and wound care, while working in conjunction with AAIMM for psychological aid, therapy and housing.
Alexis graduated from the University of La Verne with a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies in 2020 and previously received her Bachelor’s in Science in Human Biology with a minor in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego in 2017.
Austin Armstrong
Chief Marketing Officer
Bio
Austin Armstrong has extensive experience and knowledge working in the healthcare and substance abuse treatment space. He has helped individuals in private practice and treatment centers grow their online presence and transform their entire business through digital marketing strategies.
In his experience, Austin has held many roles including; Marketing Project Manager, Social Media Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist, and CEO.
Austin loves creating drug rehab marketing strategies and helping ethical treatment centers reach more people in need.