Dr. Josh Potocko founded Althea NOLA to help bring accessible, medically supervised ketamine therapy to New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast.

Josh is a physician, neuroscientist, and retired U.S. Navy Commander with more than 28 years of experience in medicine, public health, toxicology, human performance, and safety culture. His background has shaped the way he approaches ketamine-assisted therapy: with careful screening, preparation, monitoring, and respect for each patient's comfort, goals, and needs.

Originally from Maryland, Josh first fell in love with New Orleans while at Tulane University in 2004, where he earned his M.S. in Neuroscience and served as Assistant Professor of Naval Science. He later earned his M.D. from the University of Colorado, completed residency training in Occupational Medicine at UCSF, and received his M.P.H. from UC Berkeley. He is board-certified in both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

After retiring from the Navy in 2022, Josh deepened his focus on psychedelic medicine through the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics Facilitation Certificate Program. At Althea NOLA, he leads an interdisciplinary team with the goal of helping patients feel informed, supported, and closely cared for throughout their treatment experience.

Kennedi is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over seven years of experience in patient care. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri and has spent the past four years specializing in ketamine-assisted therapy and integrative mental health.

Drawing from a strong foundation in holistic, trauma-informed care, Kennedi is passionate about forging authentic connections with her patients and guiding them toward healing through personalized treatment journeys.

At Althea NOLA, Kennedi leads clinical operations: the intake process, physiological monitoring during sessions, medication protocols, and the overall safety infrastructure of the practice. She works closely with Dr. Potocko on medical oversight and with Michael on keeping the clinical and therapeutic dimensions of care tightly integrated.

Outside of her nursing role, you'll find Kennedi, her partner, and their beloved dogs embarking on long adventures across the country in their Airstream.

Michael VanderWaal is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with multi-state licensure across Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana, and Florida. He brings over eight years of clinical experience working with people navigating grief, trauma, life transitions, addiction, and existential distress.

Michael earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and his BS in Psychology from Andrews University. His training began in residential addiction treatment and community mental health in Detroit, and expanded into private practice, group work, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. He is trained in KAP through Polaris Insight Center and Journey Clinical, holds a Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research from CIIS, and has completed the MAPS MDMA-Assisted Therapy training (Parts A-D). Beyond his clinical work, Michael founded Beyond Retreats, which offers therapeutic retreats in nature, and Caring Practitioners Circle, a vetted network of relational practitioners working in the psychedelic integration and mental health space.

At Althea NOLA, Michael leads the therapeutic side of care, including the Care Mapping Session that shapes each patient's path, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for patients who choose it, and ongoing integration work.

A New Orleans native, Star moved to the California Bay Area, where she spent 10 years with Apple, building a strong foundation in operations, leadership, and client experience.

After moving back to New Orleans, she entered the ketamine therapy space in 2021, drawn by both its clinical potential and its personal impact. Having experienced its transformative effects firsthand, she brings a deep belief in this work to everything she does.