About Miramar Health
Our Mission:
Message from the Owner
My name is Tom Sauer, and I’m the founder of Miramar Health. More importantly, I am an 18-year Navy and Marine Corps Veteran. Not only did I spend most of my adult life wearing the cloth of this nation, but I also witnessed the despair and havoc wreaked by addiction and mental illness through the loss of my father days before shipping off to boot camp more than twenty years ago.
That’s why when it comes to our Veterans, we have real skin in the game. Not only are we Veteran owned and operated, but we are also focused exclusively on the unique needs of America’s Veterans under attack during our country’s addiction and mental health crisis. A substantial portion of our team consists of members from all services… We’ve been there.
Just as importantly, our team includes some of the very best and most experienced clinicians in America, including psychologists, physicians, therapists, nurses, and EMTs. Together, we provide the highest quality, top-tier mental health and addiction treatment available, all in a close, family-like environment.
I am exceptionally proud of the team we’ve assembled and the treatment we provide, and I think you will be as well.
How it Works
Call
With a brief phone call, one of our treatment specialists can guide you or a loved one through the brief and confidential admission process. We’ll answer all of your questions, and gain a better understanding of your personal situation to confirm that we’re the right program for you.
Virtual Tour
We invite you and any loved ones to virtually tour our facility and meet with our Program Director to get a first-hand look at our accommodations and better understand our program.
Get Started
After the tour we will schedule your arrival, arrange payment options with you, and work with your insurance company to provide them with proper medical and treatment information in order to apply for reimbursement. We’ll also provide you a list of recommended items to bring to treatment, as well as make ourselves available to you for any additional information and support.
Way of Life at Miramar Health
- Morning
- Midday
- Evening
Upon arising, our clients prepare themselves and their personal space for the day. Following a light breakfast, clients start their day with some meditation and spend the remainder of the morning in individual treatment and/or group treatment sessions.
- Breakfast
- Morning Motivation
- Therapy/ Treatment
Following lunch, our clients resume their individual and/or group therapy sessions. In the afternoon, clients are guided through fitness interventions either at the gym, park, or beach.
- Lunch
- Therapy/Treatment
- Exercise
After dinner, our clients attend off-campus meetings, lectures, and other events, until they return and ready themselves for retiring for the day. Physician appointments, private time, family therapy, and other activities are interspersed, as scheduled, throughout the daily schedule.
- Dinner
- Off Campus Personal Time
The Miramar Health Team
- Executive Team
- Leadership Team
- Team Leaders
- Specialists
Tom Sauer
CEO AND FOUNDER
A graduate of the US Naval Academy and an 18-year Navy and Marine Corps Veteran, behavioral health became a deep passion of Tom’s following the loss of his father to a meth overdose after decades of struggle with mental illness and addiction, just like so many millions of Americans suffering from our country’s disastrous mental health and addiction crisis. During his time as a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer, Tom trained and readied his team of Special Operations EOD Operators to locate and deal with terrorist nuclear weapons. He and his team deployed as the Western Pacific’s Crisis Response Force, in concert with US Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Joint Special Operations Command, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. His team worked directly with the highest levels of the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, The White House, and several “other” government organizations. As a former Navy Lieutenant Commander from one of the most selective, demanding, and dangerous careers fields on earth, Tom’s passion shifted to an even more deadly threat to America’s Veterans: Our mental health, addiction, and suicide crisis. Today, Miramar Health’s incredible team saves lives and relieves human suffering on a daily basis, and there’s no better group of Americans needing it more than our own Veterans. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the US Naval Academy, and graduate degrees from UCLA and the National University of Singapore.
Colin Myers
PRESIDENT
Dennis Hough
COO
Basharat Khan
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As Clinical Director at Miramar Health, Basharat’s aim has been to increase awareness and empathy toward helping veterans that suffer from substance abuse. His role and experiences have granted him gratitude, as he passionately works toward operating and building a program that intends to launch struggling veterans into life by means of helping them accomplish their physical, safety, belongingness, and esteem needs. He is dedicated to fostering a safe environment that is intended to improve a veteran’s chances of breaking the cycle and developing a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Joseph DeSanto
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dr. DeSanto has over 25 years of experience in Addiction Medicine and joined Miramar as the Medical Director in 2021. He oversees our medical staff and develops detox protocols to ensure the safety and comfort of patients. Dr. DeSanto received his Undergraduate degree from Lafayette College in Easton PA and obtained his MD from SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn NY. He completed his Internal Medicine Internship and Residency at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles CA. Dr. DeSanto is board certified in Internal Medicine and has practiced Addiction Medicine for over 15 years. He specializes in detox and has worked with several Drug and Alcohol treatment centers, holding various titles and treating thousands of patients in residential and acute levels of care. He has also worked in private practice since 2012.
Dr. DeSanto’s recovery journey and the doctors caring for him in treatment led him to this work. He saw an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives who need a unique type of physician and treatment in the relatively new specialty of addiction medicine. The gratitude of his patients and knowing that their recovery helps the whole family begin healing from the disease of addiction is what he finds most rewarding about this work. In his free time, Dr. DeSanto enjoys traveling, spending time with family, hiking, golfing, biking, and practicing yoga and Transcendental Meditation. Sobriety is at the core of his life, and he protects it above all else. Dr. DeSanto is active in his 12-step community, sponsors other members, and attends meetings several times a week.
Landon Sharp
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Robin Dorsey
DIRECTOR OF HR
Elizabeth Hagen
PROGRAM MANAGER
David Pham
NURSING SUPERVISOR
David brings five years of medical experience to Miramar Health. David has a strong work ethic and always strives to enhance the value and quality of patient care by working with integrity, honesty, and respect. He began his careers as a medical assistant but wanted to do more good for his patients and provide more comprehensive and client-focused care. David went back to school to become a nurse and has since poured his dedication to treatment and care into helping each of our patients take their first steps toward their new lives.
Jerry Bustos
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
Andrea Dressler
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Brendan Dowling
VETERAN OUTREACH MANAGER
As Miramar’s Veteran Outreach Manager, Brendan’s efforts focus on community engagement and raising Veteran awareness of available resources that will help them forge their own path to a free and positive future. Brendan’s prior Naval careers as a Development Group SEAL Chief and Combat Medic fuel his passion to continue service and meet Veteran’s where they are to expose them to the tools available for self-improvement. Post Naval service, Brendan leveraged his VA Education Benefits to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of San Diego. He then joined Tom’s team at Miramar to lock horns with the addiction and mental health crisis plaguing Veterans.
Amanda Walter
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Steven Liem
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Jeff Clay
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Kristal Gage
CASE MANAGER SUPERVISOR
Tim Mayo
DIRECTOR OF IT & SYSTEMS
Tim Mayo, Information Technology Manager, has been with Miramar since November 2021 and brings 26 years of IT experience to the organization. Tim holds multiple certifications with effuses in Networking, Administration, and Project Management. Born and raised in Southern California, he is married with two adult children and enjoys camping and dirt bike riding.
Kianah Penn
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Christopher Mac
IT SPECIALIST
Jordan Allen
VETERAN OUTREACH SPECIALIST
Jordon has been with Miramar since October of 2021 and started his journey working in the transportation department. While in this role, he learned a great deal about the healthcare industry and how vital a part he can play in someone’s journey towards recovery. He is a strong supporter of Miramar’s mission and the importance placed on serving and treating Veterans with the highest quality care possible, as these men and women have sacrificed so much for their country. He is honored and humbled to be working with such a phenomenal team of professionals in a highly focused, mission-driven organization.
Steven Montes
ADMISSIONS SPECIALIST
Locations
Laguna Hills
Corona Del Mar
Santa Ana
Mission Viejo
Get the Help You Deserve
Carnation House
License #: 300182CP Exp. Date: 5/31/2026
Dahlia House
License #: 300182BP Exp. Date: 5/31/2026
Hesperian House
License #: 300182IP
Exp. Date: 1/31/2025
Minter House
License #: 300182HP Exp. Date: 6/30/2025
Miramar Health Solutions
License #: 300182EP Exp. Date: 1/31/2025
Casa Santa Cruz
License #: 300182FP Exp. Date: 12/31/2024