About Golden Coast Rehab

Daniel Leiderman is Co-Founder of Golden Coast Rehab and brings deep operational and clinical leadership experience to the organisation. With years spent managing licensed residential treatment facilities, Daniel has worked on the front lines of addiction and mental health care, overseeing day-to-day operations while keeping patient outcomes, safety, and dignity at the centre of everything he does.

Before co-founding Golden Coast Rehab, Daniel served as Managing Partner at a residential behavioural health facility in Dana Point, where he led multidisciplinary teams including therapists, medical staff, case managers, and residential aides. He has extensive experience navigating regulatory environments, maintaining compliance with DHCS and Joint Commission standards, and managing audits with precision. His role has consistently balanced operational discipline with compassionate care, ensuring programs run effectively without losing sight of the people they serve.

Daniel’s background also includes business development and admissions leadership across California’s treatment landscape, where he supported families through some of their most difficult moments and helped streamline access to appropriate levels of care. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Northern Arizona University, along with a background in hospitality management that shaped his people-first leadership style. At Golden Coast Rehab, Daniel focuses on building programs that are structured, ethical, and genuinely supportive of long-term recovery.

Dean Scaduto is the Founder of Golden Coast Rehab, built from a deeply personal commitment to improving how addiction and mental health care is delivered. After losing his cousin and more than 50 friends to addiction, Dean saw firsthand the gaps in access, speed, and quality of treatment. Golden Coast Rehab was created to offer people a real chance at recovery through care that is compassionate, timely, and grounded in dignity.

With years of experience building and scaling addiction treatment programs across multiple states, Dean understands both the clinical and operational realities of the recovery space. He has worked closely with clinicians, operators, and families, gaining a clear view of where traditional models fall short. At Golden Coast Rehab, his focus is on removing barriers to treatment and creating pathways to care that meet people where they are, not where the system expects them to be.

Beyond Golden Coast Rehab, Dean is a seasoned entrepreneur and healthcare growth strategist. He leads a healthcare-focused digital marketing firm and serves as a Techstars All-Star Mentor. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree in negotiation and conflict resolution from Columbia University. His background in technology and artificial intelligence supports Golden Coast Rehab’s forward-thinking approach, blending empathy with execution to help people take meaningful steps toward long-term recovery.

Dr. Sanjai Mathew Thankachen, MD, serves as Medical Director at Golden Coast Rehab, bringing decades of psychiatric and medical leadership experience to the program. A board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Thankachen provides clinical oversight across detoxification, medication management, and co-occurring mental health care, with a strong focus on patient safety, clinical accountability, and evidence-based treatment.

Dr. Thankachen completed his medical training at Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences in India, followed by a psychiatry residency at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York, with significant clinical rotations at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He has held long-standing leadership roles as Medical Director and Associate Medical Director at multiple hospitals and partial hospitalization programs across California, overseeing psychiatric services in both inpatient and outpatient settings. His work has consistently involved treating complex cases involving substance use disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and dual diagnoses.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Thankachen has an extensive background in psychiatric research, having worked with the Schizophrenia Research Unit at Stanford University and contributed to major studies including CATIE and CAFE. He is an active member of professional medical organizations and is affiliated with numerous hospitals and treatment centres throughout Southern California. At Golden Coast Rehab, Dr. Thankachen is committed to providing thoughtful, medically sound care that supports long-term recovery and overall mental wellbeing.

Matthew Beck, LMFT, is the Program Director at Golden Coast Rehab, bringing more than a decade of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Matthew is deeply committed to ethical, client-centred care and believes every individual deserves treatment that is collaborative, respectful, and tailored to their specific needs.

Matthew has spent over 10 years working directly with individuals and families affected by addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions. He works closely with multidisciplinary clinical teams to oversee care delivery, support staff, and maintain a strong standard of clinical integrity across programs. His therapeutic approach draws from person-centred, cognitive behavioural, and solution-focused modalities, allowing him to meet clients where they are while helping them build practical tools for long-term recovery.

Grounded in both professional expertise and personal lived experience, Matthew brings a unique depth of empathy to his work. His own recovery journey informs his clinical perspective and reinforces his belief in accountability, growth, and sustainable change. At Golden Coast Rehab, Matthew focuses on creating a supportive therapeutic environment where clients feel understood, empowered, and equipped to build meaningful, sober lives beyond treatment.

Sean Leonard, AGPCNP-BC, is a Nurse Practitioner at Golden Coast Rehab, bringing decades of hands-on clinical experience across medical, psychiatric, and addiction treatment settings. With a background spanning emergency care, home health, wound care, and psychiatric services, Sean plays a key role in supporting clients through both the medical and mental health aspects of recovery.

Sean has extensive experience working with individuals facing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. In his psychiatric roles, he has conducted comprehensive evaluations, prescribed and managed medications for mood and psychiatric disorders, and supported clients through detox and residential treatment environments. His approach is collaborative and practical, working closely with interdisciplinary teams to address each client’s medical, emotional, and social needs throughout the continuum of care.

In addition to his psychiatric expertise, Sean has a long-standing background in complex medical care, including primary care house calls, hospice face-to-face evaluations, and advanced wound, ostomy, and continence care. He holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University and is board certified as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse, and Certified Wound Specialist. At Golden Coast Rehab, Sean is valued for his clinical depth, steady presence, and commitment to delivering thoughtful, patient-centred care in support of long-term recovery.