Meet the Team

Leighton Kennedy, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Leighton Kennedy has over 25years of experience empowering, supporting, and treating persons through wellness and recovery, serving at various levels as a nurse/advanced practice registered nurse in direct care, management, and clinically in inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. The majority of these years have been used to serve adolescents, but he has worked and continues to work with individuals and families across the lifespan. Leighton became a registered nurse in the 1990s and completed graduate education in psychiatric nursing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (2007).  He has worked in outpatient and inpatient psychiatric settings and community programs, evaluating and treating people with mental health needs across the lifespan. He believes "making your experience in this environment relaxing and respectful is my aim to understand the reason why you came." In his spare time, he enjoys being with his family,  researching holistic health strategies, mentoring young people, and ‘jammin’ on his musical instruments. 
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Mei-Jen Hong-Hillary, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

​Mei-Jen Hong-Hillary is Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) at Innovo Life Mental Health Practice in Maryland.  She is a bilingual provider proficient in English and Chinese Mandarin.  Her professional background is rooted in providing comprehensive mental health care.  With advanced education and specialized training, she is equipped to assess, diagnose, and treat a diverse range of psychiatric disorders.   She conducts psychiatric evaluations, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and formulating evidence-based treatment plans tailored to individual needs.

​She is proficient in prescribing psychotropic medications, monitoring their effectiveness, and adjusting treatment strategies as necessary. Additionally her skills extends to delivering psychotherapeutic interventions, offering counseling and support to individuals and their families while cultivating a patient-centered approach.
"I emphasize empathy and understanding while fostering a therapeutic alliance to empower individuals in their journey toward mental well-being. My dedication to holistic and compassionate mental health care underscores my mission to contribute positively to the well-being of those grappling with mental health challenges".

​Jannice Grunder, BSN, RN
Certified Holistic Autoimmune Nutritionist

I started my career as a Registered Nurse in Medsurg, GI, and Postpartum specialties, but I felt limited in my ability to truly help patients heal. After getting seriously ill from a virus, I realized I didn’t want to rely on medicine for life. This pushed me to explore holistic health, and I eventually became a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Autoimmune Nutritionist. I also became a birth educator and doula to help women have healthy pregnancies and recover fully. Outside of work, I love doing birth and portrait photography, and spending time with my cockatiels and my new black lab puppy.