Meet the Team

Autumn DeShieldsChief Executive Officer

Autumn DeShields is the Executive Director of Malvern Behavioral Health. She was instrumental in the design of the unit, recruitment of our experienced team and overall logistics. In her role, Autumn is responsible for managing the daily operations of the facility while ensuring patient safety and providing patients with the highest quality clinical care.

Autumn joined Malvern Institute in May 2019. She is an experienced behavioral health administrator with a record of progressive leadership experience in the Philadelphia Market.

Autumn is a registered nurse who has worked in behavioral health for over 10 years. She has worked with multiple patient populations including acute, geriatric, adolescent, dual diagnosis, and eating disorder.

Autumn’s clinical knowledge has led her to hold multiple leadership roles including Nurse Manager, Assistant Director of Nursing, and Chief Nursing Officer at local Philadelphia Hospitals.

Dr. Frances AledoMedical Director, Lotus and Wisteria Programs

Dr. Frances Aledo joined the Malvern Health team in March 2022.

Dr. Aledo graduated from the School of Medicine of the University of Puerto Rico. She did her psychiatric training at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, where she also served as Chief Resident. She completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the Institute for Juvenile Research of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Aledo is Board Certified in General Psychiatry and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

She brings experience working in inpatient, outpatient, emergency psychiatry, partial hospital programs, and community psychiatry. Dr. Aledo will be responsible for the psychiatric oversight of our inpatient psychiatric young adult and LGBTQ programs.

Jeffrey Simon, MDMedical Director, Sage Program

Dr. Simon is a triple trained physician who completed his general and adult psychiatry residency at the LSU/Ochsner Medical Center during Post Katrina New Orleans, where he was one of few psychiatrists who remained in New Orleans at a time when psychiatric care was among the most needed specialties of medicine during the crisis that spanned several years.

Dr. Simon then completed his Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, NY, and Rutgers University/UMDNJ. Rounding out his training and education, Dr. Simon went on to complete his Fellowship in Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry at the Dartmouth-Geisel School of Medicine.

This unique and comprehensive training has prepared him to meet the current complex needs of treating children, adolescents, and adults who are experiencing acute and chronic issues such as depression and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress issues, complex mood disorders, and substance use disorders.

Anne Marie EspositoChief Operating Officer

Annemarie Esposito joined our team in September 2019. She has been instrumental in the development of Malvern’s Clinical Program. Specialties include evidence-based practices, failure to launch, vaping, and addictions related to substance, gaming, and screen time.

Annemarie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has extensive clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families as a family and individual therapist, supervisor, and team leader. She has held various clinical roles in family-based case management and outpatient programs, as well as providing intensive treatment in multiple residential settings to adolescents with sexual behavior problems. Annemarie has expertise in working with survivors of sexual trauma, violence prevention, and juvenile probation, and has extensive experience providing services to individuals struggling with PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and substance abuse/dependence. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from West Chester University and received her certification in elementary education in 1998. Annemarie completed her graduate studies at West Chester University and received a Master of Education degree with specialization in higher education and elementary education counseling in 2003. She obtained her license in Professional Counseling in 2009.

Gladys PaaswweNurse Manager

Gladys Paasewe is Malvern Behavioral Health's Nurse Manager. She is a bachelor’s prepared Registered Nurse with 12 years of psychiatric experience. Prior to Malvern Behavioral Health, Gladys worked as a Charge Nurse at Temple Episcopal Hospital and as a Nurse Manager and Nursing Supervisor at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia. In her previous roles, she was tasked with the daily operations of multiple inpatient units, along with a Crisis Center, which included crisis prevention and management as well as staff and patient education. During that time, she was recognized as a dedicated, ambitious, and reliable healthcare provider which she continues to be. Gladys has a passion for providing quality care to patients, and the leadership skills to inspire other staff to strive to provide optimal service to our patients.

Ashley GrayTherapist

Ashley Gray works as a Therapist at Malvern Behavioral Health. Ashley has prior experience working as a Therapeutic Support for individuals with behavior disorders such as Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and as a Family-Based Therapist in Philadelphia.

She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University, and received her Masters in Education for Secondary and Elementary School Counseling at Wilmington University.

Ashley enjoys learning from and working with young adults as they navigate through their mental health needs, and believes in team work in creating positive life changes.

Clara PeretzTherapist

Clara Peretz is a Licensed Social Worker and serves as a therapist at Malvern Behavioral Health. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.

Clara has worked with a wide range of clients in clinic-based and inpatient psychiatric settings, with incarcerated individuals, and with young adults in academic settings. Clara identifies and empathizes with the unique barriers faced by the LGBTQ+ community and is excited to work with clients of all gender and sexual identities.

In both individual and group therapy settings, Clara collaborates with clients to create and safe and affirming space where challenging thoughts, feelings, and experience can be explored. She aims to empower clients with education and therapeutic techniques for coping with trauma responses, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and substance use issues.