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The people behind
your care.

Board-certified psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners with decades of combined experience — in everyday psychiatric care, treatment-resistant conditions, and precision medicine.

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Fields of tulips in bloom
Universal Medical GroupCare team · Est. 2008
5
Clinicians on the team
100+
Years combined experience
30+
Years — Dr. Punia alone
5
Languages spoken
58
Counties via telehealth
TelePsychiatry across all 58 CA counties
Now accepting new patients
Most major insurance & self-pay
(925) 825-1766
The care team

Five clinicians, one standard of care.

A board-certified psychiatrist and four psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioners — each chosen for clinical depth and the way they listen.

The Universal Medical Group care team outside the Vallejo clinic
The UMG care team — outside the Vallejo clinic.
Dr. Surender Punia, MD — ABPN board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Universal Medical Group Founder, CEO & Medical Director

Surender Punia, MD

ABPN board-certified psychiatrist with more than 30 years of clinical experience.

Dr. Punia is an ABPN board-certified psychiatrist with over 30 years of clinical experience across inpatient, outpatient, forensic, and consultation-liaison settings. He completed his residency at Creighton University School of Medicine.

A Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA, 2018) and Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (FASCP, 2008), Dr. Punia serves as CMO at Fremont Hospital and holds active leadership roles at John Muir Behavioral Health Center and Adventist Health Vallejo. Fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi.

  • TrainingCreighton University School of Medicine
  • FellowshipFAPA · FASCP
  • Experience30+ years of psychiatry
  • LanguagesEnglish, Hindi, Urdu & Punjabi
  • FocusTreatment-resistant depression, Spravato®, TMS, pharmacogenomics, forensic & neuropsychiatry
Michelle Ladringan, DNP, PMHNP-BC — dual board-certified PMHNP and Family Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Michelle Ladringan, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner — FNP and PMHNP-BC.

Michelle Ladringan is a dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner holding both FNP and PMHNP-BC credentials, along with her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Her approach is rooted in compassion, active listening, and evidence-based care.

Michelle specializes in working with teens and adults managing a wide range of behavioral health conditions, and is especially skilled in ADHD evaluation, autism screening, mood management, and trauma-informed care.

  • CredentialsDNP · PMHNP-BC · FNP
  • SpecialtiesADHD evaluation, autism screening, mood management
  • PopulationTeens & adults
  • LanguagesEnglish & Tagalog
Manuel Salera, DNP, PMHNP-BC — board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at UMG Vallejo Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Manuel Salera, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Board-certified PMHNP-BC, based primarily at our Vallejo location.

Manuel Salera is a board-certified PMHNP-BC with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), based primarily at our Vallejo location. Manuel brings a strong clinical foundation in psychiatric evaluation and management of complex mental health conditions.

Committed to compassionate, patient-centered care, Manuel develops comprehensive treatment plans that integrate evidence-based psychopharmacology with holistic wellness strategies.

  • CredentialsDNP · PMHNP-BC
  • LocationVallejo, primary
  • FocusComplex psychiatric evaluations & psychopharmacology
  • LanguagesEnglish & Tagalog
Aniruddh (AJ) Verma, PMHNP-BC — board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Aniruddh (AJ) Verma, PMHNP-BC

Board-certified PMHNP-BC with a thoughtful, patient-first approach.

AJ Verma is a board-certified PMHNP-BC who earned his MSN from the University of Saint Joseph. He brings a thoughtful, patient-first approach with experience across mood disorders, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

AJ is dedicated to creating a supportive, non-judgmental environment where patients feel heard, empowered, and actively involved in their treatment — from the first visit through long-term care.

  • CredentialsPMHNP-BC · MSN
  • EducationUniversity of Saint Joseph
  • FocusMood disorders, anxiety & sleep
  • ApproachWarm, non-judgmental, patient-first
Harkirat Bajwa, DNP, PMHNP-BC — board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Harkirat Bajwa, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Board-certified PMHNP-BC with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of San Francisco.

Harkirat Bajwa is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), earned at the University of San Francisco. She brings a collaborative approach grounded in trust, compassion, and concordance.

Harkirat provides evidence-based, patient-centered care tailored to each individual's unique experiences and goals — integrating medication management, supportive care, and mindfulness-based stress reduction to help patients build healthy coping strategies, improve emotional well-being, and reach lasting wellness.

  • CredentialsDNP · PMHNP-BC
  • EducationUniversity of San Francisco
  • FocusDepression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, insomnia & ADHD
  • PopulationTeens & adults
  • LanguagesEnglish, Hindi & Punjabi
Stella Antony, DNP, PMHNP-BC — board-certified PMHNP providing TelePsychiatry and Fremont in-person care Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Stella Antony, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Board-certified PMHNP-BC providing TelePsychiatry and in-person care at our Fremont location.

Stella is passionate about helping individuals and families navigate mental health challenges with compassion, understanding, and hope. She cares for patients across the lifespan and has experience treating schizophrenia, mood disorders (including depression and bipolar disorder), ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, substance addiction, dual diagnosis, sleep disorders, and postpartum mental health conditions — including postpartum psychosis and postpartum blues.

Stella believes healing begins by meeting patients exactly where they are. She combines evidence-based treatment with empathy, faith, and genuine human connection to create a safe, supportive environment where patients feel heard, valued, and empowered on their recovery journey.

  • CredentialsDNP · PMHNP-BC
  • SettingsTelePsychiatry & Fremont
  • FocusSchizophrenia, mood disorders, postpartum, ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, dual diagnosis, sleep
  • PopulationLifespan (children through older adults)
  • LanguagesEnglish, Tamil & Malayalam
Why UMG

What sets this team apart.

The same clinical depth, whether you meet us in person or by secure video — and a practice built so that your language, your distance, and your insurance are never the reason you go without care.

  • StatewideTruly statewide TelePsychiatry — every patient in California can access UMG, with no geographic lottery.
  • We listen firstInitial appointments run 60–90 minutes. We want to understand your full story before anything else.
  • Seven languagesEnglish, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Tagalog, Tamil and Malayalam spoken in-house — your language is not a barrier.
  • AccessibleMost major commercial insurance accepted, with self-pay and sliding-scale options available.

Book with our team

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.

From the founder
Finding a Hindi-speaking psychiatrist felt impossible. Being understood in your own language is the difference between good care and excellent care.

On why UMG is built around access — Dr. Surender Punia, MD

Questions

What patients ask about our team.

Yes. Dr. Surender Punia MD is ABPN board-certified in psychiatry, a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA), and a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (FASCP). He has over 30 years of clinical experience and speaks English, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi.
Yes. Our providers offer TelePsychiatry across all 58 California counties — a full psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and follow-up care by secure video, from anywhere in the state. Telehealth appointments are often available sooner than in-person slots. Explore TelePsychiatry →
Between them, our clinicians speak seven languages. Dr. Punia speaks English, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi; Harkirat Bajwa also speaks Hindi and Punjabi; Michelle Ladringan and Manuel Salera both speak English and Tagalog; Stella Antony speaks Tamil and Malayalam. For many South Asian, Filipino, and immigrant patients, being understood in your own language is the difference between good care and excellent care.
Yes. Michelle Ladringan, DNP, PMHNP-BC is especially skilled in ADHD evaluation and autism screening for teens and adults, alongside mood management and trauma-informed care. All of our PMHNPs provide thorough evaluations and evidence-based treatment. More on ADHD evaluation →
You can book online any time, or call (925) 825-1766 Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and our team will match you to the right provider for your needs and location. We are currently accepting new patients.
About this practice

Universal Medical Group is a physician-led psychiatric practice founded in 2008 by Dr. Surender Punia MD, an ABPN board-certified psychiatrist, Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA), and Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (FASCP). The care team also includes Michelle Ladringan, DNP, PMHNP-BC (dual-certified FNP & PMHNP-BC), Manuel Salera, DNP, PMHNP-BC, Aniruddh (AJ) Verma, PMHNP-BC, Harkirat Bajwa, DNP, PMHNP-BC, and Stella Antony, DNP, PMHNP-BC (TelePsychiatry & Fremont — speaks Tamil and Malayalam). The practice has four physical locations — 91 Gregory Lane, Suite 20, Pleasant Hill CA 94523, 532 Oregon Street, Vallejo CA 94590, 509 4th Street, Suite A4, Davis CA 95616, and 39001 Sundale Drive, Fremont CA 94538 — and offers TelePsychiatry to patients across all 58 California counties. Services include psychiatric evaluation, medication management, Spravato® (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression, TMS therapy, pharmacogenomics testing, ADHD evaluation, and Suboxone MAT for opioid use disorder. The practice accepts most major commercial insurance, with self-pay and sliding scale options available. Dr. Punia speaks English, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi; Michelle and Manuel speak Tagalog; Stella speaks Tamil and Malayalam.

Begin

Meet the provider who's right for you.

Universal Medical Group is accepting new patients across California — in person and by TelePsychiatry. Tell us what you need, and we'll match you with the right clinician.

Book an appointment Call (925) 825-1766

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.