To Serve and Heal
Virginia Beach Ketamine & Wellness was founded on the basic but significant principle of helping people in our community live their best lives.
We are committed to providing safe and compassionate ketamine-based care. Patients receive direct treatment from experienced anesthesia providers. Our knowledgeable team of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) have administered ketamine for close to two decades and treated tens of thousands of patients.
Sharing a Past. Shaping a Brighter Future.
In 1999, two strangers eagerly arrived for their first day of anesthesiology school, grabbing the last front-row seats in class. It was the start of a lifelong bond as friends and professional cohorts.
As military veterans in healthcare, Carolanne Garofalo and Tricia Lee have witnessed first-hand the positive effects of ketamine therapy for people experiencing chronic pain, crippling PTSD, and other depressive disorders. It is their mission to alleviate the emotional and physical pain that afflicts their patients, and bring wellness to the Hampton Roads community as a whole.
Our Team
Carolanne Garofalo, CRNA
Owner
Carolanne received her BSN at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and is a graduate of Old Dominion University, where she received her MS in Nursing. Carolanne has worked as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for almost 20 years, where her calm logic and extraordinary attention to detail play a key role in her patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing.
She is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists (VANA), and was an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
For the past two decades, Carolanne has spent her down time continuing to bring health and wellness to others as a certified fitness and Spin® instructor.
Tricia Lee, CRNA
Owner
Tricia is a graduate of Rutgers University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Old Dominion University, where she received her BS in Biological Sciences, BS in Nursing and MS in Nursing, respectively. As a CRNA, Tricia’s critical thinking skills and intellectual curiosity are second only to the respect and empathy she holds for her patients.
She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists (VANA), and has been an Army Reserve Officer since 1999.
Tricia’s love for running dominates her free time – whether it’s competing in a race, jogging around her neighborhood, or racing after her four children.
James Oleksa III, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Oleksa graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine. As a board certified anesthesiologist and perioperative physician for 19 years, he has provided knowledgeable and empathetic care for his patients throughout every phase of surgery.
Dr. Oleksa’s teamwork mindset, coupled with his attentive, patient-first focus, makes him a valued and effective Medical Director for Virginia Beach Ketamine & Wellness.