The Summit Malibu Team

William Oswald, Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Over the past 30 years William Oswald has established himself as a pioneer in the alcohol and addiction recovery field. At the Adult Substance Abuse Program of Southern California (ASAP) he was one of the first to expand the scope of addiction treatment into mainstream medical facilities. In 1988 he founded Avalon Treatment Centers at Van Nuys Hospital, the first center to provide a broad range of social and therapeutic treatments that significantly reduced relapse rates. In the 1990s he established Lumax Mental Health, a company specializing in day treatment programs for dual diagnosis patients at area hospitals, and went on to direct business development for New Seasons Behavior Health Center, one of the first centers to utilize neurocognitive treatment for addiction. Mr. Oswald was also instrumental in creating Cocaine Anonymous, a 12-Step fellowship that has helped thousands.

Lisa Benya, D.O., Medical Director

Dr. Benya is a 1995 graduate of the Ohio University College Of Osteopathic Medicine. She is an nternal medicine doctor that has serviced the Malibu community for over 10 years. Her caring and compassionate approach combines both eastern and western medicine and has earned her a great reputation and a lot of respect in the community. In addition to her regular medical practice, she also offers top of the line spa treatments at her CURE Spas, located in Malibu, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills. Also, she has recently began a Concierge based medicine practice, offering personalized medical care 24/7.

Dr. Amiri, Psychiatrist

Dr. Rod Amiri was born in Ahvaz, Iran on July 26, 1972. At the age of thirteen, he escaped war-torn Iran and with the help of his family immigrated to the United States. After completing high school and college at the top of his class, he attended medical school at St. George’s University. He proceeded to complete his residency in psychiatry at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he served as Chief Resident.

During residency, Dr. Amiri mastered intensive psychotherapy skills and won several awards, scholarships,and fellowships offered by various organizations such as the California Society of Addiction Medicine(CSAM) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Furthermore, He has gained experience in teaching and was professor of anatomy and physiology at the American University of Complementary Medicine in Los Angeles from 2002-2004.

Dr. Amiri has presented nationally and has coauthored the chapter on Sexual Dysfunction due to general medical conditions for the Guidebook for Sexual Medicine. He has been awarded the Patients’ Choice Award as one of California’s favorite physicians every year since 2008. This is an honor given annually to less than 5% of all active physicians practicing in the United States.

Dr. Amiri is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He currently has a private practice in Beverly Hills, California, and serves as the consulting psychiatrist for Malibu Hills and Clearview Treatment centers.

William Stanley, Independently Affiliated Physician

Dr. William D. Stanley received his Doctorate of Medicine degree from UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ. He did his Residency training at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pa. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md. He did 1 year of a Master’s program in Anatomy at the University of Maryland Baltimore City campus prior to matriculating to medical school that next year.

He has worked in Internal Medicine for the majority of his professional life both inpatient and outpatient. He started Parkside Medical Assoc, PA in Trenton, NJ, employing 4 physicians. He noticed he had an interest in substance abuse and started involvement with ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) in 1998. He completed his Boards in ASAM in 2000 and, later, by ABAM (American Board of Addiction Medicine) in 2010. Since 2013 he has concentrated his time exclusively to the treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders. Prior to his joining Dr. Benya and her team in California, he was Medical Director of both an inpatient detox unit and 2 outpatient treatment programs, all located in New Jersey. He has an active license to practice medicine in both New Jersey and California.

Kristin Robert, Executive Director

Max Chesnoff, Administrative and Human Resources Director

Through previous work experience in mental health and dual-diagnosis treatment facilities, Max comes equipped with an extensive background in Human Resources, Operations, and Administration. He offers a tremendous amount of support and knowledge in helping Summit run smoothly and effectively. After assisting with our Joint Commission accreditation process in 2017, he was invited to join the team full-time in 2018. Although Max does play a crucial role in ensuring policies and procedures are in compliance with DHCS, JCAHO, & IMS regulations, he is primarily responsible for managing employee relations, payroll, benefits, hiring, and updating internal personnel databases. His roles also include but are not limited to maintaining inventory and supply, implementing marketing techniques and strategies, as well as facility maintenance and repairs. Max is an advocate for workplace equality, ethical treatment practices, and client rights. He is an extremely passionate, hardworking individual dedicated to helping Summit provide a positive, comfortable environment for all clients and staff.

Steven Buchan, Director of Admissions and Business Developement

Born and raised in San Pedro (The Harbor Area of Los Angeles), Steven moved to the San Fernando Valley in his early 20’s to try and get sober. While struggling for over a decade, Steven went in an out of treatment. Due to these experiences, he gained a unique perspective and knowledge of the struggles associated with the treatment and recovery process. Since starting work at Summit Malibu in June of 2015, Steven has progressed from a tech position, lead tech, Medication Room Supervisor, and ultimately the Director of Admissions and Business Development. Due to his extensive experience in all areas of our program, Steven has the ability to provide support to clients and staff in addition to developing a seamless admission process. His passion for helping alcoholics and addicts in addition to his leadership skills, has made him a vital member of the Summit team.

Steven is also very active in the recovery community. On his free time, he often picks up newly sober men at different programs and takes them to fellowship meetings. He strives daily to work a strong program while sponsoring men in the recovery community & giving them to tools to live a fulfilling life in sobriety. Outside of Summit and his sober community, Steven’s ultimate passion is surfing. He spends his times making his rounds up and down the coast of California competing against some of the best longboard surfers in the world.

Neda Dehghani, LMFT, Clinical Director

Neda obtained her MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University LA in 2004. She has worked with individuals and families in private practice, Juvenile Justice, community based, inpatient and outpatient settings since 2003, when she began her traineeship.

Mental Health is her second career; her first was in Sales, Marketing and Management in the Fashion and Textile industries. Neda has taught Substance Abuse & Dependence as well as Domestic Violence courses at Cal Lutheran University, to students in the Graduate MFT program. She has a private practice in Agoura Hills and does consulting & program development for Treatment Centers.

Jason Batanides, LMFT, Primary Therapist

Jason Batanides is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He received a BA from Pepperdine University and a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Phillips Graduate University. Jason has significant experience working in the field of addiction and recovery in residential treatment settings for the past four years. Jason provides therapeutic services for clients using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Schema Therapy, Relapse Prevention, and Mindfulness. Jason works with the client to create a treatment plan that will work best for them. Jason creates a therapeutic alliance with the client of warmth, empathy and genuine regard to better assist the client on their journey to recovery.

Joseph Neely, Lead Clinician Assistant

Jojo is originally from Kentucky. He came to California to find a new way of life. He found a community and realized quickly how important human connection and supportive leadership is to success. Jojo enjoys working with clients in all aspects, be it personal conversations in the evenings, to early morning intakes and community events. He is a team player who has worked in both the outpatient sober living environment and has now found his niche in the residential inpatient world. Jojo is forever grateful to the chance he was given and only hopes to help clients find the same opportunities. He loves shoes and sports, and is always smiling.

Donald Peake, Lead Clinician Assistant

Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Don moved to the Los Angeles area in the early 70’s with his wife Pam. Following 40+ year in the concert touring industry (representing both Artists and Promoters alike) he & Pam recently semi-retired in the city of Moorpark. Don brings with him a wealth of professional and personal life experiences. For the past 6 years Don has enjoyed working in the treatment field both in the Thousand Oaks area and now Malibu.

Don draws from his own personal experience in recovery sharing with clients offering compassion and encouragement during their time in treatment and beyond. He very much enjoys giving back to a program which has given so much to him.

When not at Summit Malibu you’ll find Don at family functions near Moorpark including his grandkids sporting & school event and if not there, crawling under some car fixing something or other (smile)

Corey Flynn, Clinician Assistant

Corey Flynn is a native resident of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley. After earning his Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Portland, he returned to Los Angeles in an attempt to gain new experience within the realm of mental health. He started at Summit Malibu in November of 2017 as an overnight Clinician Assistant, and after a few months moved to into daytime shifts.

Corey greatly enjoys his interactions with clients and his fellow staff at Summit, and hopes that he helps to foster positive psychology in the people around him. He brings a willingness to listen, and tries his hardest to help make the early stages of recovery clients experience at Summit as smooth and productive as possible.

Kyle Knechtly, Clinician Assistant

Two years ago, Kyle’s journey led him to Malibu where his dream became reality – warm, sandy beaches, surf and most importantly a community of caring and compassionate people. It is in Malibu that he found spiritual peace and rediscovered the joy in the simple things in life – without alcohol and drugs. He loves sharing his new found peace with others and helping others by listening, providing encouragement and knowledge of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Kyle is excited to continue his journey at Summit Malibu and is passionate about helping others envision a new healthy life, free of drugs. In his spare time, Kyle loves surfing and playing guitar.