The national telepsychiatry practice appoints Kara Birch, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, and Anna Lau, MSN, PMHNP-BC, WHNP-BC, to strengthen clinical excellence and nursing operations.
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As telepsychiatry expands access to mental health care, maintaining consistent quality and patient experience across diverse models of care has become increasingly important. Lavender, the largest nurse-owned telepsychiatry practice in the United States, has invested in its clinical leadership with the appointments of Kara Birch, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, as Director of Clinical Excellence, and Anna Lau, MSN, PMHNP-BC, WHNP-BC, as Director of Nursing Operations.
Birch and Lau collaborate to lead two connected areas of practice: Birch advances the clinical vision, standards and strategy shaping how Lavender delivers psychiatric care, while Lau oversees the operational structure supporting more than 140 nurse practitioners across a rapidly growing, national team. As Lavender expands its reach, the appointments formalize two leadership functions central to maintaining consistent standards, clinician support and patient experience across states.
“Expanding access is essential, but access alone is not enough,” said Brighid Gannon, DNP, PMHNP-BC, co-founder of Lavender. “Patients need to know that their care is safe, thoughtful and consistently held to a high standard. Clinicians also need the leadership, systems, and support to put those standards into practice. Kara and Anna bring complementary experience that will help us protect both as Lavender grows.”
Birch joined Lavender’s executive team in February 2026, bringing over 13 years of clinical strategy experience across academic medicine, community health systems, and digital health. She leads clinical quality, policy, education and credentialing practices underpinning care across the organization. Before joining Lavender, Birch designed a quality review system for Headway’s network of more than 5,000 clinicians. She is also a Full Professor at the UCSF School of Nursing, where her leadership has included launching California’s first statewide psychiatric nurse practitioner program across four UC campuses. She continues to see patients in an integrated mental health and obstetrics and gynecology setting, grounding her work in patient care.
“Clinical quality should be designed into how an organization operates,” said Birch. “It has to show up in the standards clinicians follow, the outcomes we measure, the education and support we provide, and the way clients experience care. My role is to connect those pieces so Lavender can keep growing while protecting the clinical rigor, compassion, and human connection that define our care.”
Lau was appointed Director of Nursing Operations in late 2025 after joining Lavender as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in 2023. She oversees more than 140 nurse practitioners, working with four leads to ensure day-to-day support is accessible across the practice.
With more than 15 years of experience spanning psychiatric care, women’s health, public health and clinical operations, Lau combines operational leadership with firsthand knowledge of Lavender’s clinicians, clients, and model of care.
“As we continue to expand across the United States, we are committed to ensuring our clinicians have access to the support and systems they need to care for our clients,” said Lau. “Our structure gives nurse practitioners clear places to go for guidance, problem-solving, and peer support, even when they are working across different states and schedules. That connection helps clinicians stay supported in the day-to-day work of caring for clients.”
About Lavender
Lavender is the largest nurse-owned telepsychiatry practice in the United States. Founded on the belief that psychiatric care should be kind, collaborative and effective, Lavender provides timely access to psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, medication management and therapy through more than 140 board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners serving clients in over 40 states. Lavender also works with employers and healthcare partners to integrate psychiatric services into existing care pathways.
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SOURCE Lavender
