Lisa Ramer, MS, BA, LPC
Executive Director
Lisa joins Samba with over 20 years of progressive behavioral health experience with some of Atlanta’s most prominent addiction and mental health treatment centers. Most recently, Ms. Ramer held leadership posts with Lakeview and Summit Ridge Behavioral health. She has worn every hat in the substance use treatment world and has had special success in helping patients take that first step toward recovery.
Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas and her master’s degree at Georgia State. She is a hands-on leader who is focused on collaborative and integrative care for all patients.
Carol E. Howard, MA CADC-II
Primary Therapist
Carol is a primary therapist helping patients in both partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. With over 12 years of progressive addiction treatment experience, Ms. Howard has worked for a number of prominent substance use disorder treatment programs in Atlanta, as well as the Georgia Department of Children and Families. The tandem experience gives her unique insights into the destructive force of addiction and how to help patients recover and find lasting recovery. Carol holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and is certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II) and Moral Reconation Therapy. She personifies Samba’s values of positivity and support with and empathetic style of care.
Jennifer Moon, MS, BS
Primary Therapist
Jennifer is a primary therapist helping patients in PHP, IOP, and OP addiction programs. With over 8 years of progressive addiction treatment experience, Ms. Moon has worked for a number of leading recovery centers in Atlanta, as well as the Forsyth County Drug Court. Her well-rounded experience of mental health treatment and as a drug court patient advocate, make her a great addition to her team. Jennifer earned her Masters in Community Counseling at the University of North Georgia.
Dr. Saleem Buluu, PHD, MA, MS, BS
Primary Therapist
Dr. Buluu joins Samba Recovery with 24 years of experience as a clinical director, residential liaison, researcher, and primary therapist. He has a PHD in Advanced Studies and two masters’ degrees in mental health counseling. Dr. Buluu has had special success utilizing an integrated theoretical approach which focuses on empathetic reasoning and developing patient rapport. Glasser (1960) reality therapy gearing towards the reality of the individual’s situation. He is also trained in exposure therapy and assists patients with co-occurring trauma disorder. Dr. Buluu wants to change the world one-day-at-a-time – we agree!
Jason Ritter
Group Facilitator
Jason joined Samba Recovery with a passion for helping others. He is a self-starter with a lot of energy that helped him pivot into the substance use treatment field less than four years. Mr. Ritter earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Penn State University and became successful entrepreneur in website design. Jason is one of our go-getters and his energy is infectious and motivated as creates a safe space for patients to open-up, relate, and support each other in our PHP and IOP group therapy sessions.
Simon Mayhew, BA
Business Development Director
Simon is our business development director focusing on community outreach and partnering within the Atlanta healthcare system to get help to those struggling with substance use disorder. Mr. Mayhew has a bachelor’s degree in commerce & business administration from Alabama. He has been instrumental in growing patient censuses at other Georgia treatment centers and is now spreading the word on Samba’s boutique-style of addiction care. Simon is in recovery himself and prides himself in finding help for anyone who asks, even it means referring them to someone who can better assist them.
Erica Bolar, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CNE-cl
Nurse Practitioner
Erica is an experienced FNP and nurse educator with a demonstrated history of excellence in clinical practice and higher education. She is a certified academic clinical nurse educator (CNE-cl) and graduate of Emory University and current adjunct faculty at Duke University School of Nursing. Ms. Bolar comes to Samba with 12 years of progressive experience in addiction pharmacology and works collaboratovely with our clinical team in providing medication assisted treatment for patients.
Griffin Houck
Case Manager
Griffin is our case manager focusing on each patient’s internal and external affairs. He keeps everything moving from FMLA applications, court correspondence, and discharge planning. Griffin is in recovery himself and a rising star in the Atlanta recovery community after just a few short years in substance use treatment with admired Atlanta recovery centers.
