Lumin Health adds medical director and psychiatrist at Bethesda site

Lumin Health has named Michael Knable, DO, as site medical director and Samaneh Keshavarz, MD, as psychiatrist at its Bethesda, Maryland location. The hires are meant to strengthen psychiatrist-led ketamine and esketamine care for patients in the Washington, D.C. area as demand for treatment-resistant depression services grows.

Why it matters: - Lumin Health is expanding leadership at a Bethesda site built to serve patients with treatment-resistant depression and related conditions. - The additions add clinical oversight and specialized women’s mental health expertise in a market where patients often face long waits or unevenly supervised alternatives. - The Bethesda location is part of a broader push to increase access to insurance-covered ketamine and esketamine care in the Washington, D.C. region.

What happened: - Lumin Health announced two appointments at its Bethesda, Maryland location: Michael Knable, DO, DFAPA, as Site Medical Director and Samaneh Keshavarz, MD, as Psychiatrist. - Both physicians will support the clinical team treating patients in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. - The announcement was made on November 3, 2026.

The details: - Dr. Knable will lead clinical operations at Lumin Health Bethesda. - Dr. Knable will oversee the site’s care team and treatment delivery for people living with treatment-resistant depression and related conditions. - Dr. Knable will also uphold safety protocols at the site. - Dr. Knable will serve as a clinical partner for referring providers across the region. - Lumin Health said Dr. Knable brings more than three decades of leadership across inpatient, outpatient and research settings. - Dr. Keshavarz will provide psychiatric care to patients at the Bethesda site, including people who have not improved enough with traditional treatment approaches. - Dr. Keshavarz’s background in women’s mental health and reproductive psychiatry broadens the range of patients the site can support. - The Bethesda site can treat mood and anxiety disorders. - The Bethesda site can also support depression tied to hormonal and reproductive transitions across a woman’s lifespan. - Lumin Health describes the Bethesda location as a purpose-built outpatient setting with psychiatrist-led oversight, structured safety protocols and in-person emotional support.

Between the lines: - Demand for ketamine and esketamine treatment has grown after esketamine nasal spray received FDA approval and became eligible for coverage by most major insurers. - In major markets like Washington, D.C., patients often encounter months-long waitlists at large hospital systems. - Patients also face poorly supervised at-home programs, creating a gap for monitored outpatient care. - Lumin Health is positioning Bethesda as an alternative to those options, with tighter clinical supervision and a more structured care model. - Benjamin Yudkoff, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer, said the additions reflect the company’s goal of pairing experienced psychiatric leadership with closely supervised treatment.

What’s next: - Dr. Knable and Dr. Keshavarz will help strengthen care delivery at Lumin Health’s Bethesda site. - Their appointments add to a growing roster of certified and experienced medical professionals at Lumin Health sites in Massachusetts and Maryland. - Lumin Health operates five locations across Massachusetts and Maryland. - The company will continue partnering with community providers to expand access to insurance-covered esketamine and ketamine treatment.

The bottom line: - Lumin Health is betting on experienced psychiatric leadership and a supervised outpatient model to stand out in a crowded and uneven treatment landscape.