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Dr. Angel Rivera, M.D.

Bilingual Psychiatrist · Telemedicine Specialist

M.D.15+ Years ExperienceEnglish · Spanish

Focused on enhancing patient outcomes through the use of telemedicine and telepsychiatry.

About

Dr. Angel Rivera is a bilingual psychiatrist with over 15 years of diverse clinical experience spanning forensic psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, correctional medicine, crisis intervention, and telepsychiatry. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and completed residency training at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where he developed expertise in geriatric psychopharmacology and psychosocial treatment frameworks.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rivera has served in high-acuity clinical environments including maximum-security state prisons, county correctional facilities, and crisis stabilization units. He has held leadership roles including Chief Medical Officer at Thrive Talk, a telehealth mental health platform. His forensic psychiatry background includes comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, diagnostic clarification, medication management, and discharge planning in correctional and forensic settings.

Dr. Rivera is a member of the Florida Medical Association and is fluent in both English and Spanish, allowing him to provide culturally competent psychiatric care to diverse patient populations. His commitment to improving access to mental health services drives his focus on telemedicine and telepsychiatry as tools for reaching underserved communities.

Areas of Expertise

Psychiatry
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and treatment
Telepsychiatry
Remote patient care via telemedicine platforms
Forensic Psychiatry
Forensic evaluations and correctional settings
Geriatric Psychiatry
Specialized care for patients aged 55+
Crisis Intervention
CISD/crisis unit and acute stabilization
Medication Management
Psychopharmacology and treatment planning
Correctional Medicine
Maximum-security and state prison facilities
Substance Abuse
Assessment and treatment of chemical dependency

Clinical Experience

Staff Psychiatrist

Full-time
Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency
Hanford, California · 2020 – Present

Provides full-time psychiatric services for a county health and human services agency, delivering comprehensive mental health care to underserved populations.

Chief Medical Officer

Leadership
Thrive Talk

Served as Chief Medical Officer overseeing clinical operations and medical standards for a telehealth mental health platform.

Staff Psychiatrist

Full-time
Robert J. Demarco, CSCR
San Diego, California · 2015 – 2020

Assessed patients admitted to the inpatient CISD/crisis unit and Administrative Segregation inpatient unit in a forensic setting. Conducted intakes, developed treatment plans, and provided ongoing psychiatric care.

Staff Psychiatrist

Full-time
Santa Clara County Jail-Valley Medical Center
San Jose, California · 2013 – 2015

Delivered comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, diagnostic clarification, medication management, discharge planning, and referrals for psychological services within a county correctional facility.

Staff Psychiatrist

Full-time
CSP-Senior Impact
San Diego, California · 2012 – 2013

Provided geriatric psychiatric services for patients aged 55 and older, including diagnostic assessments, prescribing, and pharmacological management.

Staff Physician

Contract
Salinas Valley State Prison
Soledad, California · 2011 – 2012

Delivered psychiatric services at a maximum-security/forensic facility, including comprehensive evaluations, diagnostic clarification, medication management, and discharge planning.

Education & Training

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
1990

Psychiatry Residency

Mount Sinai Beth Israel
1992 – 1993

Trained in geriatric psychiatry including geriatric psychopharmacology, psychosocial frameworks, and clinical rotations in inpatient/outpatient nursing home and geriatric satellite clinics.

Residency Programs

UT Southwestern Medical Center
1990 – 1992

Trained in inpatient and outpatient psychiatry across Veterans Hospital, University Hospital, Parkland Hospital, and Terrell State Hospital.

Licenses & Certifications

MD

Medical Doctor

SUNY Downstate College of Medicine · Issued May 1990

Publications

Condom Knowledge, History of Use and Attitude among Chemically Addicted

Journal of Substance Abuse · June 1, 1999

Research examining the behavioral change of risky sexual practices in the context of the AIDS epidemic, with emphasis on condom use education for safe sex among chemically addicted populations.

Honors & Awards

Substance Abuse Rotation

May 1989

Senior Year Psychiatric Research Rotation

December 1988

Memberships

Florida Medical Association

Member

Languages

EnglishFluent
SpanishNative / Bilingual

Articles by Dr. Rivera

Articles authored by Dr. Rivera will appear here as they are published.

Dr. Rivera's profile is maintained by the Strong Health editorial team. All credentials and experience have been verified. For more information about our editorial standards, please visit our editorial policy.