Meet our Medical Team
Johanna Wilson, MD, CEO
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Dr. Wilson is a board certified psychiatrist with greater than 10 years experience since completion of medical school from Northeastern Ohio Medical University. There, she was nominated to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society for excellence in academics and service. She completed her residency training at The Ohio State University Medical Center where she served as chief resident. During residency, she had an interest in adolescent psychiatry and spent extra time training on the child and adolescent psychiatric unit. During her last 6 years in outpatient mental health she has developed a passion for women's mental health issues but continues to enjoy working with all ages, males, females and non-binary individuals. She is well versed in treating a variety of mood, anxiety, trauma, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Wilson is currently enrolled in a 1 year Integrative Psychiatry Fellowship Program so that she can bring even more healing modalities to the patients of Hope419.
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Prior to becoming "Dr. Wilson," she grew up in New London, Ohio and was always passionate about returning to the 419 to serve the communities that were close to her heart. She has a unique perspective on the needs of locals and the mental health stigmas they may face. She is eager to educate and empower the community members to learn to live their best life.
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Dr. Wilson is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
Her license can be verified on this website: https://elicense.ohio.gov.
Rachael Zimmerman, PA-C
Rachael is a certified physician assistant. She is able to make diagnoses, prescribe medications, and provide general psychotherapy under the supervision of Dr. Wilson. Before attending The University of Findlay where she earned a Master’s degree as a Physician Assistant, Rachael attended Miami University where she earned her Bachelor’s in Zoology. She successfully completed her phlebotomy certification. She also worked as a nursing assistant in a skilled nursing facility and worked as a medical scribe in the emergency department, where she found her passion for helping people. While taking care of residents and patients, it became evident to her how improving mental health is a vital component of a person’s overall well-being. Rachael is dedicated to ensuring all patients have the best possible treatment for the best quality of life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her cat, Evelyn. She also enjoys baking, exercising, watching Netflix, and playing the piano.
Rachael is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
Her license can be verified on this website: https://elicense.ohio.gov.
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Brianna Raab, PA-C, CAQ-PSY
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Brianna (Bri) is a certified physician assistant. She is able to make diagnoses, prescribe medications and provide general psychotherapy under the supervision of Dr. Wilson.
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Before attending Ohio University in Dublin, Ohio to pursue her Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Practice, Bri attended The University of Toledo where she earned her Bachelor's of Science Degree with honors in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. During her time at the University of Toledo, Bri also worked as a home health aide and a physical therapy aide. Prior to becoming a psychiatry physician assistant, Bri worked as a family medicine physician assistant in southwest Michigan where she gained her first experience as a PA and found her passion for psychiatry. Dr. Wilson and Nicole were both struck by Bri's genuine interest in improving the quality of mental health care in the 419 communities as well as her dedication to learning and excellence. Both agreed that she would make a great addition to the Hope419 Team.
In her free time, Bri enjoys spending time with her family, friends and her two chocolate labrador retrievers, Charleigh and Oakleigh. Bri also enjoys running, shopping and traveling to the beach. Bri is very excited to be a part of Hope 419.
She is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
Her license can be verified on this website: https://elicense.ohio.gov
Caitlin Jones, PA-C, CAQ-PSY
Caitlin has experience in community mental health and private practice psychiatry, working with children, adolescents, and adults treating a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and other mood disorders. She has also worked in physical medicine, urgent care, and PA education. In 2020, she earned a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Psychiatry, a specialty credential that recognizes expertise and experience in psychiatry for PA's. She looks forward to bringing a whole-patient approach towards psychiatric medical care management for the Hope419 team. Since being a Wooster resident in 2015, she has recognized the need for better access to mental health resources in Wayne County, and is proud to be a part of Hope419's expansion into the area.
Caitlin earned her Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Ohio Dominican University and Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of Akron. She is also a 200 hour registered yoga teacher.
Caitlin is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
Her license can be verified on this website: https://elicense.ohio.gov.
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Laura Blanton, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Before attending graduate school where she earned a Master of Science in Nursing with specialization in psychiatric mental health from Walden University, Laura obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio University in 2018. She started her nursing career in 2012 as an LPN and obtained her RN in 2016 from North Central State College. Laura worked as a nurse on the behavioral health unit at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital for nine years and taught mental health clinical as an adjunct instructor for North Central State College registered nurse students for almost four years.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her wife and three children. She also enjoys reading, gardening, camping, and spending time maintaining their small farm.
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Laura is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
Her license can be verified on this website: https://elicense.ohio.gov.
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Dominic Polifrone, PA-C
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Dominic is a certified physician assistant. He is able to make diagnoses, prescribe medications, and provide general psychotherapy under the supervision of Dr. Wilson. Dominic’s passion for psychiatry began far before attending The University of Findlay and earning a master’s degree as a Physician Assistant. After enjoying a psychology class in high school, he decided to continue his education in the field at Baldwin Wallace University where he earned his Bachelor’s in Pre-Physical Therapy. With a minor degree in psychology, Dominic was able to enhance his interest in the studies of the mind, behavior, and immense scope of mental processes. Prior to PA school, he also worked as a nursing assistant at a local nursing home as well as a medical-surgical floor at University Hospitals. There, he gained experience in working with patients with a variety of mental health diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and mood disorders.
For fun, Dominic enjoys the outdoors, spending much of his time hiking, jogging, playing tennis, and exploring new areas. Dominic is very excited to join the team of Hope419 and provide all his patients with a safe and comfortable approach to life.
Dominic is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
His licenses can be verified on this website: http://elicense.ohio.gov.
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Rachel Denbow, PA-C
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Rachel is a certified physician assistant, who also happens to be a Wooster native. She completed her undergraduate education at Ohio University with a Bachelor's of Science Biological Sciences in 2011. She then earned her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio in 2014. She has spent the last 9 years of practice working in a wide variety of areas including otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), family practice/internal medicine (primary care), and urgent care. Most recently, within the past 4 years, she has practiced travel medicine, providing care to underserved communities up and down the coast of California. At this point in her life, Rachel is delighted to provide care in her hometown and serve the community that supported her during her formative years.
Rachel has always had a special affinity for mental health, truly believing in the holistic approach to medicine and that taking care of your mental and emotional health is absolutely imperative to your physical health. Over her years in practice, she has seen a strong correlation of stressors and anxieties unaddressed in patient’s lives manifesting as physical ailments. This eye-opening experience made her realize that she could play a more optimal role in patients’ wellbeing by adequately addressing & treating the patient’s mental health as well.
In her spare time, Rachel enjoys doing yoga, traveling (& enjoys combining these two loves and going on international yoga trips!), hiking, and spending time with friends, family, and her puppy, Anya.
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Rachel is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio. Her license can be verified on this website: https://elicense.ohio.gov.
Gabrielle Sword, MSN-PMHNP
Gabrielle is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She graduated with her associates degree nursing in 2019 at Lorain County Community College where she found her passion for mental health. After graduation, she worked on an inpatient behavioral unit at Mansfield OhioHealth then went on to work at Firelands Health in Sandusky on their behavioral health unit. During that time, she obtained her bachelor’s degree at Indiana Wesleyan University and then her masters degree at Walden University.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. She also enjoys reading on her Kindle and vacationing with her family. She looks forward to providing compassionate, comprehensive, and quality care to her patients at Hope419.
Gabrielle is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio. Her license can be verified on this website: https://elicense.ohio.gov.